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Photos: Jim Caruso's Cast Party Continues To Dazzle

You can’t say Jim Caruso’s Cast Party hasn’t had staying power!  Every Monday night for the past eighteen years, musical talent has been celebrated on the Birdland stage.  Superstars, up-and-comers, Broadway legends, jazzers and cabaret divas have all been in the spotlight and taken a turn at the grand piano. 

Photos: JIM CARUSO'S CAST PARTY Presents Broadway, Jazz & More At Birdland

Historically, Monday night has been known as a dark night on the show biz scene, but Cast Party changed all that eighteen years ago.  That’s when host Jim Caruso decided to shine a bright spotlight on Broadway, jazz and cabaret stars, all the while thrilling the people who love those folks!

Photos: The Musical Fun Continues At Jim Caruso's Cast Party!

The musical, magical Cast Party, hosted by Jim Caruso, continues at Birdland!  After running full-steam for eighteen years, you’d think the energy would have faded a bit.  But you’d be wrong!  

Photos: A Bevy Of Singers Join JIM CARUSO'S CAST Party At Birdland

This past Monday’s Cast Party – the weekly open mic/variety show that has been in residence at Birdland every Monday for eighteen years was yet another celebration of fantastic talent!  Host Jim Caruso, along with Billy Stritch on piano, Steve Doyle on bass and Daniel Glass on the drums introduced dozens of singers – young and old, up-and-comers and established – to the packed house.

Photos: JIM CARUSO'S CAST PARTY Returns to Birdland!

After fifteen months of unwanted hiatus, host/producer Jim Caruso brought his notorious 'Cast Party' back to it's home on the Birdland stage. July 5 marked the return of the wildly popular weekly open mic/variety show that has been bringing Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the historic music room every Monday since 2004.

Photo Flash: The Metropolitan Room Crowns New MetroStar Emily Ellet

It's reigning Em! Last night, Monday August 21, the actress and singer Emily Ellet was mobbed by her many friends and admirers in the audience when it was announced that she had eeked out a photo-finish win in one of the most competitive MetroStar contests in years. Her outstanding mini-set, in which she delivered a dazzingly original interpretation of the '80s disco anthem 'It's Raining Men,' put her ahead of the other four MetroStar finalists, each of whom delivered nearly flawless performances. Scroll down for photos from the final!

5 Finalists Picked For Finale Of 10th Annual Metrostar Talent Challenge Next Monday

Last night five finalists were selected to compete in next Monday's highly anticipated finale of the 2017 "MetroStar Talent Challenge" at the Metropolitan Room. 

2017 MetroStar TOP 13 Advance to QUARTERS at Met

Next week's quarter finals of the 2017 "MetroStar Talent Challenge" features thirteen exciting talents vying to become the 10th MetroStar Talent Challenge winner.  MetroStar's Top 13 is a baker's dozen of singers from a variety of backgrounds, including Broadway and cabaret, as well as a number of brand new talents, like 16-year-old Jackie Mate, who are hoping to make a big splash in their cabaret debuts.

Sue Matsuki & Gregory Toroian Announce 2017 Productions

To Celebrate their 23rd year of artistic collaboration, MAC Award Winning Duo Sue Matsuki & Gregory Toroian and Matsuki Productions are launching a new monthly series at Don't Tell Mama called "Coming Home to Mama". Each show will feature a wonderful Special Guest and each show will have a certain theme or celebrate a monthly holiday. They will also be bringing back encore performances of a few of the shows they have performed over the years.

Photo Flash: Performers Gifted with Squigs Drawings at Jim Caruso's Cast Party

On Monday, January 9, Birdland once again hosted Justin "Squigs" Robertson as special guest artist-in-residence at Jim Caruso's Cast Party. Over twenty impromptu performers were delighted by the gift of an original "Squigs," swiftly drawn during their performance on the Birdland stage.

Joseph Macchia's CABARET CARES Children's HIV/AIDS Charity To Honor JULIE WILSON With Variety Show at Metropolitan Room, 3/17

The art of cabaret lost its Queen almost a year ago when the Julie Wilson died on April 5 at age 90. There will likely be a number of tributes to Ms. Wilson throughout this year and a big one is happening on March 17 at 7 pm at the Metropolitan Room, where Joseph Macchia's Cabaret Cares/Help Is On the Way charity will pay tribute to the cabaret legend with a star-studded variety show that will also raise money for the organization that supports children living with HIV/AIDS. 

BWW Review: Urban Stages Winter Rhythms Show Celebrating Famous Duets Is Widely Varied and Entertaining

Described as “An Afternoon of Famous Duets,” Saturday's Urban Stages Winter Rhythms presentation (Day Four of the 11-day, 20-show festival) was unexpectedly sweeping in its approach, covering duos that sang pop, folk, jazz, Great American Songbook, and musical theater tunes. With veteran cabaret singer Sue Matsuki serving as producer and host, and Musical Director Gregory Toroian on piano, the show encompassed both the predictable and the surprising and was a genuine pleasure.

Photo Flash: Lillias White, Cady Huffman and More Celebrate Andy Propst's Book 'YOU FASCINATE ME SO' at Birdland

On Monday, April 27, Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland was the place to celebrate Andy Propst's new book, 'You Fascinate Me So: The Life and Times of Cy Coleman.' Scroll down for photos from the concert!

Anita Gillette Dazzles in Birdland Return; Elizabeth Stanley to Get CARRIED AWAY Next Week

The Broadway at Birdland concert series is proud to announce that On The Town star Elizabeth Stanley will be celebrating the show's creators Betty Comden and Adolph Green in concert in 'Carried Away' on Monday, April 6 at 7pm. Elizabeth's very special guest will be Television/Broadway star Andrew Rannells.

CABARET LIFE NYC: Darling and Ditzy Dana Lorge is Finally Back Hosting a New Variety Show at the Met Room

When Dana Lorge's run as a Variety Show hosted ended at the Iguana Restaurant last July-and after winning two 2012 MAC Awards for 'Best Variety Show' and 'Best Variety Show Host'-who knew she'd be reduced to being a cabaret audience member searching for a new showcase? But a Metropolitan Room Mentch has come to the rescue in the form of Bernie Furshpan (the Met Room's General Partner and Manager), who has provided Dana with a monthly forum for her unique brand of cabaret shtick beginning Friday, April 5 at 7-8:15 pm. While the new show won't be the two-hour plus extravaganza of yore featuring more than a dozen performers, Dana's new 'Variety Show' promises to feature a solid group of experienced and well-known cabaret and musical theater pros. For the April 5 opener, the Lorge Lineup features Richard Skipper, her former Award-winning Co-host from the Iguana days; film and stage actor Jim Brochu (of Zero Mostel One-Man Show fame), singers LaTanya Hall (from the CBS show 'Blue Bloods) and Peggy Herman Klat, Rick Crom (Creator of Newsical the Musical), and Mr. Furshpan, who will show off his stand-up comedy chops. But the real star of the show will always be the hilarious, unpredictable, darling Dana, who will both crack you up with her infectious humor and surprise you with her engaging singing performances.

Photo Flash: Iain Armitage, Jenna Esposito & More at Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland

Jim Caruso's Cast Party continues to pack 'em in at Birdland every Monday night at 9:30. This past week, August 20th, the 'extreme' open mic night was booked solid with spectacular talent. It was an evening filled with great music, fun folks, and so many laughs, all watched over by one of the ultimate New Yorkers, Mr. Tommy Tune. Check out photos from this week's show below!

Concerts for City Greens Continue 6/20

Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor concert series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, will add flashes of comedy as several quick-silvered wits join the musical mix on Wednesday June 20 at 6:30pm at Tudor City Greens.

Photo Flash: Chita Rivera, Peter Jobeck, et al. at Jim Caruso's CAST PARTY

Last night, Broadway divas Chita Rivera, Charlotte d'Amboise, Linda Lavin, composer John Bucchino, the legendary Marilyn Maye, sax man Dave Koz, internet sensation Colleen Ballinger/Miranda Sings and West End leading man/Swedish pop star Peter Jöback were all seen cavorting, cheering and/or entertaining each other at Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland.

Unity Center for Practical Spirituality Presents Hear Our Song 4/8

Unity Center for Practical Spirituality is proud to present an upcoming musical extravaganza: 'Hear Our Song,' to be held at the Norwalk City Hall, Concert Hall at 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, on Friday April 8, 2011 at 8 pm.

Unity Center for Practical Spirituality Presents Hear Our Song 4/8

Unity Center for Practical Spirituality is proud to present an upcoming musical extravaganza: 'Hear Our Song,' to be held at the Norwalk City Hall, Concert Hall at 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, on Friday April 8, 2011 at 8 pm.

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