JIM CARUSO IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE BROADWAY AND TELEVISION PERSONALITY JULIE HALSTON will appear at Manhattan’s premier club Birdland (315 West 44th Street, NYC) on Sunday, April 11 at 6pm. This concert is part of the award-winning concert series, Broadway at Birdland. Reservations are highly recommended by calling 212-581-3080 or by visiting www.birdlandjazz.com.

Broadway's Julie Halston returns to Birdland in a brand new show, which will combine her usual hysterical observations of life, show biz and the fall of western civilization. This extravaganza will also include guest star guest star ALISON FRASER, interviews and audience participation.

Ms. Halston is one of the busiest actress/comediennes working today. She was recently re-teamed with writer/actor Charles Busch off-Broadway in The Divine Sister. She also played Tina Carmello on the CBS sitcom “The Class” to great acclaim several seasons ago. Well-known to theatre audiences, she was last seen on Broadway in Hairspray after receiving rave reviews (as well as receiving Drama Desk and Drama League nominations) for her performance in William Hamilton’s White Chocolate. She received an Outer Critics Circle nomination for her performance in The Roundabout’s production of Twentieth Century. Other Broadway credits include Gypsy, The Women and The Man Who Came to Dinner. Off-Broadway credits include acclaimed performances in The Vagina Monologues, The Butter and Egg Man and The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told. She is a founding member of Charles Busch’s legendary theatre company, Theatre-in-Limbo and received a Drama Desk nomination for her performance in Mr. Busch’s play Red Scare on Sunset. She co-starred with Mr. Busch in many of his plays including Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, The Lady in Question and You Should be So Lucky. Miss Halston’s one woman show, Julie Halston’s Lifetime of Comedy which was developed from her wildly successful club act, ran Off-Broadway for six months and received an Outer Critics Circle Nomination for Best Comedy. CBS developed a pilot based on the play. Her film credits include “The Juror,” “Joe Gould’s Secret,” “Addams Family Values,” “Dottie Gets Spanked,” “Celebrity” and “David Searching.” She can be seen in Charles Busch’s latest film “A Very Serious Person” which has been selected for the Tribeca Film Festival. Television viewers may recognize her as Bitsy Von Muffling on “Sex and The City.” In January of this year, Julie co-authored the well-received book of original monologues “Monologues for Show-Offs” published by Heinemann Press.

JULIE HALSTON: THE COCKTAIL HOUR - A REALITY SHOW

WHEN: Sunday, April 11 at 6pm
WHERE: Birdland, 315 West 44 Street, NYC
TICKETS: $25 General/$35 Orchestra with $10 food/drink minimum
RESERVATIONS: 212.581.3080 or BirdlandJazz.com

THEN...

Jim Caruso’s Cast Party is proud to present the return of composer Scott Alan to Birdland on Monday, April 12 at 7pm. This event is part of the Broadway at Birdland concert series, which showcases performers and composers from the Great White Way. Mr. Alan will be joined by a host of Broadway leading men, all singing his theatrical, pop-infused compositions.

The concert will feature David Burtka (Gypsy), RJ Helton (“American Idol”), Darius de Haas (Rent), Bobby Steggert (Ragtime), Josh Lamon (Hair), Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (A Little Night Music), Nicholas Rodriguez (“One Life To Live”), Grasen Kingsberry (Finian’s Rainbow), Matt Doyle (Bye Bye Birdie), Michael Seelbach (Wicked), Jay A. Johnson (Hair), The Broadway Boys and Brandon Webman. Alan will accompany the performers at the piano, and also perform some of his own material.

Among the songs fans can expect to hear are selections from Alan's recordings "Dreaming Wide Awake" and "Keys” as well as songs from his upcoming recording, ‘”What I Wanna Be When I Grow Up.”

Scott Alan wrote the book, music and lyrics for the musical Detour in Los Angeles. Since returning to New York City five years ago, many of Broadway's elite have sung his music, including Liz Callaway, Shoshana Bean, Adriane Lenox, Stephanie J. Block, Cheyenne Jackson, Eden Espinosa and more, all of which can be found featured on his debut CD “Dreaming Wide Awake: The Music of Scott Alan” now available on his website and iTunes. He has sold out concerts of his music in New York City at The Duplex Cabaret Theatre, The Laurie Beechman Theatre and Birdland, London’s West End’s The Duchess Theatre and San Francisco’s Rrazz Room. In October 2008, Alan released the follow up CD, “Keys,” which features more of Broadway and West End elite singing his work, including Sutton Foster, Norm Lewis, Kerry Ellis, Randy Graff, Megan Hilty, Hadley Fraser, Julia Murney and many more. He is currently working on his third CD, “What I Wanna Be When I Grow Up.” His current theatre projects include Piece, which was featured at the 2003 Palo Alto TheatreWorks festival, 2005 NAMT festival and 2006 Seattle Theatre Festival and Home, a new song cycle, that is scheduled to debut in London in the Winter of 2010. Scott’s love for new talent helped conceive and produce the acclaimed monthly series, 'Monday Nights, New Voices' at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre, which is now heading into this sixth year. The series honors and celebrates new vocalists and new writers in the theatre community. Alan also produced and directed the Neo2 Benefit Concert at the York Theatre in 2006 featuring some of todays brightest up and coming composers and lyricists, sung by some of Broadways greatest performers. Click: scottalan.net.

SCOTT ALAN

WHEN: Monday, April 12 at 7pm
WHERE: Birdland, 315 West 44 Street, NYC
TICKETS: $25 Side/$35 Center seating with $10 food/drink minimum
RESERVATIONS: 212.581.3080 or BirdlandJazz.com

MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL. Join our vibrant new community to connect with theatre practitioners and fans from around the world. Share advice, photos, videos, sets, props, costumes and a whole lot more to bring your next production to life. Visit MTI ShowSpace by clicking: www.mtishowspace.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. ROCK OF AGES is 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!

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.