JIM CARUSO'S CAST PARTY IS PROUD TO PRESENT television and Broadway star NICOLE PARKER in Suitcase Full of Lies, a musicale about a fictional television icon-of-sorts, Jillane Jenkins, on SUNDAY, February 7 at 6pm. This event is part of the long-running Broadway at Birdland concert series, which highlights performers and composers from the Great White Way at the historic music room.

Jillane Jenkins (played by Nicole Parker) won your heart as the irrepressible Callie Carter in the 1970's sitcom classic, "She's Got a Job!". Now, with her one-woman show, Suitcase Full of Lies, she will win your pity…and she will do it through song and dance! Called a "tour de force!" by her fourth husband, and "...(so) really ...show...(!)", by USA Today, Suitcase takes us on the journey of Jillane's career - from the height of her celebrity, to the dark secret of her father's painful struggle with eczema. If you see only one show this year about a semi-famous celebrity discussing her problems in front of an audience, make sure it's Suitcase Full of Lies!

Nicole Parker returns to New York after last year’s run as Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway. She also appeared on Broadway in Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. Other theater credits include Juliet in The Second City's Romeo and Juliet Musical at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and Pamina in The Magic Flute at the Falcon Theater in Los Angeles. For six seasons, Nicole was an actress and contributing writer on Fox TV's “MadTV.” She recently appeared in Judd Apatow's third film, “Funny People.” This summer, she won a Best Actress award for her work in the short film, “Weathered,” at the Damah Film Festival in Washington. Nicole is a proud cast member of Funny or Die's "Prop 8 Musical," written by Marc Shaiman, which received a GLAAD Media Award last year. Before joining “MadTV,” she spent two years in Amsterdam as a writer and performer at Boom Chicago, an American-based sketch and improv theater. While there, she created two new revues, both of which were performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Her other European performances with Boom included Frankfurt, Cannes, London, and Zurich. She is a founding member of the Waterwell Theater, a non-profit company in New York City. With Waterwell, she performed as Laurencia in their adaptation of Fuenteovejuna, and directed an original piece, Stuck.

NICOLE PARKER as Julliane Jenkins in: Suitcase Full of Lies

WHEN: Sunday, February 7 at 6pm
WHERE: Birdland, 315 West 44 Street, NYC
TICKETS: $25 and $35 with $10 food/drink minimum
RESERVATIONS: 212.581.3080 or BirdlandJazz.com

Jim Caruso’s Cast Party is proud to announce that for the first time in New York, singer/pianist Billy Stritch will join forces with the big band of Michael Berkowitz, as part of the Broadway at Birdland concert series.

Sixteen musicians, led by drummer Michael Berkowitz, will play the arrangements of Mel Torme, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Steve Lawrence and Frank Sinatra for the multi-talented award-winning performer, Billy Stritch.

Billy Stritch is one of the premier singer-pianists on the New York and national jazz and cabaret scene. His most recent nightclub act “Billy Stritch sings the Mel Tormé Songbook” earned rave reviews from the New York music critics. Stritch has appeared in cabaret venues across the nation as well as concert performances at the London Palladium, NHK Hall in Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro’s Municipale Auditorium. In New York, he has performed at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and completed 688 performances as Oscar the rehearsal pianist in the 2001 Broadway revival of 42nd Street which starred Christine Ebersole. It was in this production that Billy and Christine initially met, laying the groundwork for a happy and mutually rewarding musical collaboration. Their CD release “In Your Dreams” is available on Ghostlight Records. Billy is also a songwriter and arranger, and his composition “Does He Love You” was recorded by Reba McEntire and Linda Davis. The single reached the number one spot on the Billboard Country chart, winning a Grammy Award and selling over five million copies along the way. Billy has also written music for theater and for The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. He has arranged for many top performers and is a frequent collaborator with Liza Minnelli, having written the arrangements for Minnelli On Minnelli at the Palace Theater, Liza’s Christmas at Town Hall, and was musical supervisor and pianist for the Tony Award-winning, Liza’s At The Palace. Billy has played and sung on numerous television shows including “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” “Oprah,” “The CBS Morning Show,” “The Today Show” and “Inside The Actor’s Studio”. He has three CDs to his credit and his latest “Jazz Live,” recorded at The Jazz Standard in New York, was recently released on Fynsworth Alley Records. He is the winner of the Nashville Music City News Award, a BMI Song of the Year Award, and four awards from the Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets.

Michael Berkowitz is the Music Director/Conductor for Liza Minnelli, working with her on the Tony Award Winning, Liza's At The Palace on Broadway and in concerts around the world. Michael will be seen on PBS stations all over the country as Liza's Conductor/Drummer this December, when "Liza's at the Palace" is aired. Michael is currently the Principal Pops Conductor of the Santa Rosa Symphony in Santa Rosa, Ca. Previous posts have included the Carolina Pops in Greensboro, NC and the Paducah Pops. He served as Marvin Hamlisch's Music Director for 9 years, appearing with him at the White House, the London Symphony and the Academy Awards as well as virtually every Symphony in the US. Michael also had a 13-year working relationship with arranger Nelson Riddle, as his Drummer, Assistant Conductor and Musical Contractor. Michael worked closely with Riddle on projects with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Linda Ronstadt, television specials and recordings. On Broadway, Michael has collaborated with theatre legends such as Harold Prince, Stephen Sondheim, Jule Styne, Michael Bennett, Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins and Michael Kidd. Jerome Robbins requested Michael for the Premiere of his West Side Story Suite for the New York City Ballet. Michael performed this Ballet with the NYCB over 50 times, including two tours to Japan and the Kennedy Center. His recordings include the Original Cast Albums of Jerome Robbins Broadway, Liza's At The Palace, Follies with the NY Philharmonic, My Favorite Broadway, Anyone Can Whistle, Betty Buckley at Carnegie Hall, Tribute To Stephen Sondheim at Carnegie Hall, Route 66 with the Cincinnati Pops and many more. In addition to Ms. Minnelli, Michael has appeared with Elaine Paige, Michael Crawford, Beyonce, Harry Connick Jr., Steve Lawrence, Helen Reddy, Jon Bon Jovi, Chuck Berry, Ringo Starr, Roger Daltrey, Hal Linden, Sting, and Billy Joel, to name a few. Symphony Orchestra appearances include The London Symphony,The New York Philharmonic, The Naples Symphony, The Lexington Symphony, The New Mexico Symphony, The Virginia Symphony, The Colorado Symphony, The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, The Symphony Orchestra of Guatemala, The Elgin Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, The Hartford Symphony as well as orchestras throughout Italy, France, Sweden and Germany. Michael's creative Pops programs include everything from Broadway to Hollywood, Garland to Sinatra, Motown to John Denver and the Beatles, most with the original arrangements! His acclaimed conducting technique as well as his comfortable and humorous manner on the Podium, have made him a favorite of audiences and Orchestras throughout the US and abroad.

BILLY STRITCH WITH THE MICHAEL BERKOWITZ BIG BAND

WHEN: Monday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Birdland, 315 West 44 Street, NYC
TICKETS: $30 and $40 with $10 food/drink minimum
RESERVATIONS: 212.581.3080 or BirdlandJazz.com

JIM CARUSO AND BROADWAY AT BIRDLAND ARE PROUD TO PRESENT JAMIE DEROY & FRIENDS IN: THE OSCAR SHOW - Academy Award Winning Songs, and Songs from Academy Award Winning Films! Joining Jamie will be: Christina Bianco, Gregg Edelman, Bonnie Langford, John McDaniel, Peter Sachon and Terri White - plus an Oscar-winning surprise guest! Barry Kleinbort will direct, with musical direction by Lanny Meyers. WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010 at 6:00 P.M. WHERE: BIRDLAND - 315 W 44th St., NYC. Tickets are $35/Center or $25/Side Seating, with a $10 food and drink minimum. For tickets, call 212.581.3080 or visit: www.birdlandjazz.com.

IN 1987 ON THE SUNSET STRIP, A SMALL TOWN GIRL MET A BIG CITY ROCKER and in LA’s most legendary rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80s. Coming to Broadway March 17, 2009 is ROCK OF AGES, an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and many more. Don’t miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on.

JIM CARUSO…THE PARTY CONTINUES ON CD: Caruso: Live and In Person, with Billy Stritch on piano. "Jim is funny, facile and fabulous! He performs with charm, wit and style, and is vastly entertaining." -- Michael Feinstein. "A cabaret-lover's dream!" -- Chip Deffaa, New York Post. "An unbeatable act of jazz, pop, comedy and conversation that is different from anything else in town." -- Rex Reed, New York Observer. "This impish, twinkling-eyed performer exudes the buoyant spirits of a conetmporary vaudevillian…with an extremely tart lemon tucked firmly in his cheek." -- Stephen Holden, New York Times.

STEVE DOYLE, THE CAST PARTY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BASS PLAYER, has been an active part of the jazz and cabaret scene in New York for the past 18 years, performing with many internationally renowned artists including Bucky Pizzarelli, Billy Stritch, Tony Desare, Rigmor Gustafssen, Klea Blackhurst, Hilary Kole, Dave Stryker, Steve Slagle, Christine Ebersole, Pekka Pylkannen, Stephanie Block, K.T. Sullivan, Emily Skinner, Freddie Bryant, Marilyn Maye, Lari White and many others. Get the full scoop and check out his 1997 CD, Presence, at www.stevedoyle.com.

TEDD FIRTH, OF THE CAST PARTY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, is a New York City based accompanist, jazz pianist and arranger. He has accompanied many renowned artists, including Lee Ann Womack, Faith Prince, Tom Wopat, Margaret Whiting, Maureen McGovern and Marilyn Maye. Among the jazz musicians he has worked with are John Pizzarelli, Houston Person, Benny Golson and Joe Morello. Mr. Firth's New York appearances include the Blue Note, Birdland, the Iridium, the Algonquin, the Rainbow Room, Carnegie Hall, and the Russian Tea Room. Tedd's arrangements have been performed by the Philadelphia Pops and the Ocean City Pops. Find him on MySpace Music at www.myspace.com/teddfirth.

BILLY STRITCH'S WATERS OF MARCH: THE BRAZILIAN ALBUM: "...Stritch imaginatively captures the magic of the bossa nova rhythm on some terrific cuts, including three by Brazilian music icon Antonio Carlos Jobim. Of these, probably the most memorable is "Someone to Light Up My Life," which most Americans first heard on Sarah Vaughan's legendary Brazilian album. Here Stritch captures the simple sensitivity and all the yearning poignancy the composer had in mind when he first penned it. Sergio Mendez's "So Many Stars" takes you on an indolent, dreamy, and gentle journey...[Stritch's] phrasings and delicate nuances are so insightful that the album becomes a powerful musical statement with many subtle, yet potent, moments." -- John Hoglund, Backstage. The CD and all things Billy Stritch are at www.billystritch.com.

TRAVERSE CITY WEB DESIGN - BRINGING YOU THIS VERY CAST PARTY NEWSLETTER, offers a full line of web design and online marketing services. We have a wide range of packages and services ideal for entertainers and performers - from one-page "portfolio" sites, to press kits, to full online archives, we can create and host a site that's perfect for you. We also offer marketing services, such as online mass mailings, and can help maximize your site's presence in search engines. Friends & family discount! Mention the Cast Party Newsletter and receive 10% off. Get online with us!

KEN KLEIBER'S OFFERING VIDEOGRAPHY SERVICES. You have the talent, you booked the room and the crowds came. But what about that sought-after agent who was escorting his star client to a premiere? Or that family member who got stuck out-of-town due to inclement weather? Or that best friend who got the 24-hour flu? They can all re-live your shining performance through the magic of digital video. Videographer Ken Kleiber (host of TV, internet & radio’s "That’s Kentertainment!") not only interviews the stars, he films them too. With over 6 years of videotaping experience, Ken has filmed hundreds of hours of cabarets, concerts, live theatre, dance recitals, comedy sets, interviews, on-tape auditions, parties and more. For more information on Ken’s videotaping, copying and transferring services, please contact Ken at kentertain@yahoo.com. Don’t let that once-in-a-lifetime moment be…just once!

LIZA'S AT THE PALACE...THE 2-CD SET! Two years of touring with the incomparable Liza Minnelli resulted in a triumphant run of Liza's At The Palace at The Palace Theatre. Check out the website for beautiful video footage, photos, and the brand-new 2-CD set of this unforgettable show. The first act is pure Liza at the top of her form, and the second act celebrates the late, extremely great Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers' historic nightclub act that took the world by storm in the late 40's. Cortés Alexander, Johnny Rodgers, Tiger Martina and I worked hard to approximate the blend and unique sound that Bob, Dick, Don and Andy Williams brought to Kay's ingenius vocal arrangements. With old pal Billy Stritch at the piano, this project was an absolute dream come true! Hurry to: LizasAtThePalace.com for an exclusive preview of the 2-CD set available at The Palace Theater, online and in stores.

SQUIGS DRAWS THE STARS. Justin 'Squigs' Robertson is quickly becoming known far and wide for capturing show biz folk in pen and ink. He loves sushi. His favorite song is 'It's Only A Paper Moon'. And he genuflects upon merely hearing the name of Al Hirschfeld. His whimsical illustration and design is aided and abetted by his parallel career onstage. Squigs is currently posting a fresh weekly sketch or two celebrating the American theatre on his Facebook page, 'Squigs Knows His Lines.' Drop by and become a fan. You can also visit Squigs' website for a look at his take on such talented friends of Cast Party as Jeff Blumenkrantz, Julia Murney, Christine Ebersole, Victoria Clark, Kelli O'Hara, Bob Martin and Liza Minnelli. www.squigsink.com. Visit Squigs on Facebook, too!

This newsletter brought to you each week by Jim Caruso and Traverse City Web Design.