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Last Week
May 6, 2010
JACK DONAHUE (left, from Stephen Sorokoff) sang his heart out on the Birdland stage, once again!
JACK DONAHUE (left, from Stephen Sorokoff) sang his heart out on the Birdland stage, once again! His Sunday spectacular was a great showcase for his jazzy, vibey vocals, wonderful musicians and swinging arrangements of American standards. Plus, he’s one of the funniest guys on the jazz scene, and every word out of his mouth is a quotable quote. You may quote me.
Monday’s Billy Stritch concert (left, by Sorokoff), was a veritable mosh-pit of excitement, too.
Monday’s Billy Stritch concert (left, by Sorokoff), was a veritable mosh-pit of excitement, too. The place was packed with Stritch fans, including the newly-TONY-nominated Linda Lavin (go see her in Collected Stories!), drummiste Steve Bakunas, Erich M. Bergen and his mom Allison (AKA Krafts With Katy), stylist-to-the-stars Casey Paul, glama-diva Natalie Douglas, Sondheim on Sondheim conductor/pianist Mark Hartman, TV dude David Rasche, and iconic TV producer Gary Smith! Billy, Dave Ratajczak and David Finck put on a swell show of standards, thus the title, “I’ve Got My Standards.” Something tells me they’ll be back!
Marilyn Maye
And then came Cast Party. It was like CP All-Stars for the first two hours, that’s for sure – with performances by Marilyn Maye, Hilary Kole, Jane Scheckter, William Blake, Eve Plumb, Ray Jessell, Erich Bergen, Jenna Esposito, Joan Crowe, Caroline Amaradio, David Rasche, Jamie DeRoy, Aaron Weinstein and so many more! We were also thrilled to have Broadway’s Alex Gemignani showing off some of his compositions, sung by the hilarious and fabulous Tori Ross! It was great to see Monsieur Lionel Casseroux, too, who was our very first Cast Party presenter waaaay too many years ago! Tedd Firth, Steve Doyle and Dustin Jensen were the Cast Party Symphony Orchestra de la nuit, and couldn’t have made better music. We do it all over again this coming Monday. You’ll be there, right?

You have to check out the Music Theatre International site! They’re the world’s leading dramatic licensing agencies, and issue scripts, scores and all kind of great resources to schools, amateur and professional theatres across the globe. ANYway, they’ve been kind enough to start a link with our beloved Broadway at Birdland concert series, interviewing some of our most interesting and talented composers and performers from the Birdland dressing room! Look what Marcy & Zina had to say! And a huge THANK YOU to MTI! We love you!!

Jim Caruso
Jim Caruso's Cast Party and Theatermania.com are proud to present: Broadway at Birdland
JIM CARUSO IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE that multi-award-winning singer/songwriter Patrick DeGennaro will be returning to Birdland once again to to rock the house!  The concert, part of the Broadway at Birdland series, will take place on Monday, May 10 at 7pm.
JIM CARUSO IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE that multi-award-winning singer/songwriter Patrick DeGennaro will be returning to Birdland once again to to rock the house! The concert, part of the Broadway at Birdland series, will take place on Monday, May 10 at 7pm.

DeGennaro’s last four Birdland appearances were sold out, high-energy smash hits! His debut concert, "The Bacharach Songbook" earned him the 2007 MAC Award for Outstanding Male Vocalist, and the following show saw the premier of his original song, “Friend,” which was nominated for a 2008 MAC nomination for Song Of The Year. Often compared to Billy Joel and Elton John for his classic pop/rock style and piano playing, DeGennaro’s vocals are in a league of their own. The singer is know for a satisfying mix of hard-edged pop/rock, gospel, funk and silky-smooth R&B. DeGennaro and his band (Alec Berlin on guitar, Randy Landau on bass, Brian Wolfe on drums, Jorgen Kjaer on keyboards, with Lonna Marie, Jen Heaney, Alisa Schiff on backup vocals) have new original songs planned, plus favorites from the newly released UNBROKEN.

PATRICK DeGENNARO

WHEN: Monday, May 10 at 7pm
WHERE: Birdland
, 315 West 44 Street, NYC
TICKETS: Cover $25 or $35, plus $10 food/drink minimum
RESERVATIONS: 212.581.3080 or BirdlandJazz.com

THEN...
Jim Caruso is proud to announce that Broadway’s Meredith Patterson, Emmy nominated Musical Director Rob Berman, and jazz pianist Ross Patterson are returning to Birdland with their collaboration, Sweet Old Fashioned Girl.
Jim Caruso is proud to announce that Broadway’s Meredith Patterson, Emmy nominated Musical Director Rob Berman, and jazz pianist Ross Patterson are returning to Birdland with their collaboration, Sweet Old Fashioned Girl. The concert is part of the Broadway at Birdland concert series.

Recently, Ms. Patterson made her soap opera debut as Francesca on ABC's “All My Children,” was featured in the critically acclaimed documentary “Every Little Step,” and originated the role of Judy Haynes on Broadway in Irving Berlin's White Christmas. She made her primetime television debut as Missy Tiggs, opposite Tom Selleck & Candace Bergen on ABC’s “Boston Legal,” garnered glowing reviews as Polly Browne in The Boy Friend under the direction of the legendary Julie Andrews, and received critical acclaim in her Los Angeles debut, The Underpants. Ms. Patterson is best known in the theater world for her amazing life imitating art story of being plucked out of the chorus to star as Peggy Sawyer in her first Broadway musical, 2001’s Tony Award winning revival of 42nd Street.

MEREDITH PATTERSON: SWEET OLD FASHIONED GIRL

WHEN: Sunday, May 16 at 6pm
WHERE: Birdland
, 315 West 44 Street, NYC
TICKETS: $25 or $35 cover plus $10 food/drink minimum
RESERVATIONS: 212.581.3080 or BirdlandJazz.com

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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.
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.
HERE'S OUR FRIEND Ben Ross cavorting on a cold Canadian beach, but keeping warm in the newest, freshest version of the Cast Party t-shirt! Can you believe this 100% cotton beauty can be yours for a mere $20 plus $5 for shipping? They come in S, M, L and XL! Click: CastPartyNYC.com/Goods.
HERE'S OUR FRIEND Ben Ross cavorting on a cold Canadian beach, but keeping warm in the newest, freshest version of the Cast Party t-shirt!  Can you believe this 100% cotton beauty can be yours for a mere $20 plus $5 for shipping?  They come in S, M, L and XL! Click: CastPartyNYC.com/Goods.
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.

JIM CARUSO…THE PARTY CONTINUES ON CD: Caruso: Live and In Person, with Billy Stritch on piano.
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.
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
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.
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 Marylin Maye.
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.
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.
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!
TRAVERSE CITY WEB DESIGN - BRINGING YOU THIS VERY CAST PARTY NEWSLETTER, offers a full line of web design and online marketing services. Click: www.traversecitywebdesign.com
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!
KEN KLEIBER'S OFFERING VIDEOGRAPHY SERVICES.
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!

Squigs draws the showbiz! www.squigsink.com - this week's pic - L-R: Steve Doyle, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch - The Cast Party Symphony Orchestra!
Nite Life Exchange: It's All About Entertainment!
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About Us
Look at all the illustrious people!
When:
Every Monday at 9:30 PM!

Where:
BIRDLAND
315 West 44th Street (between 8th & 9th), NYC
212.581.3080

"...an extreme open mic!" -- ABC-TV

"Jim Caruso is uber-talented!" -- Entertainment Weekly

"Pianist Billy Stritch is thrilling...guaranteed to send you into orbit."
-- Rex Reed, New York Observer

"A vital pulse point of the musical-theater bloodstream: Every week a star or standard might be born." -- Time Out New York

"Bassist Steve Doyle gives firm support and swings solidly." -- Jazz Times

BEST OF NEW YORK Issue -- New York Magazine

"Starrier than the Hayden Planetarium... a hotspot where Broadway and Hollywood tip, twirl and hit the mic. It's become the place to cruise, schmooze, sing and be seen." -- Playbill

"The Broadway at Birdland series is a talk of the town carnival of talent, and is like no other happening in Manhattan It's evolved into an integral part of New York nightlife." -- John Hoglund, TheaterScene.net
This newsletter brought to you each week by Jim Caruso and Traverse City Web Design.
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Copyright Jim Caruso's Cast Party®, All Rights Reserved, 2006-2008. Newsletter by: Traverse City Web Design

Click for more featured concerts! www.castpartynyc.com/Concerts.htm