Minnelli, Lavin, Block and More Honor Jim Caruso, June 25

Carolyn Montgomery and Reveille Productions have announced the fifth show of a six-part series called "Roasts, Toasts & Tributes," which will celebrate some of New York's finest and most beloved cabaret personalities.

On Sunday, June 25, the show will pay tribute to cabaret star and "Cast Party" host Jim Caruso at 9pm at The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street, NYC). Friends and co-workers scheduled to serenade Caruso that night include Liza Minnelli, Linda Lavin, Julie Halston, Stephanie J. Block, Amanda Green, Hilary Kole, Todd Londagin, Karen Mason, Johnny Rodgers, and Billy Stritch (cast subject to change.) A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

"The series awards each winner with the Sidney Myer Award for Excellence in Cabaret (The "Sidney"), which is named after long-time booking manager at Don't Tell Mama, Sidney Myer. His support, enthusiasm and energetic contributions to the world of cabaret have consistently sustained this very special performance genre," state press notes.

For the past three years, Jim Caruso has hosted "Cast Party," the weekly Monday night showbiz bash at Birdland; it was recently honored with a New York Nightlife Award. As a singer, Caruso has won four MAC Awards and two Bistro Awards for his sold-out New York runs at Birdland, the Oak Room, Arci's Place, and The Russian Tea Room. He was featured in a tribute to Kander & Ebb, backed by the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, and recently performed a tribute to Hope & Crosby in an evening hosted by Michael Feinstein at Zankel Hall. With Wiseguys, his vocal trio, he traveled the world with Liza Minnelli, sang at Carnegie Hall with Rosemary Clooney and performed at White House State Dinners. Caruso guest-hosted "Broadway On Broadway 2000" in Times Square for a crowd of 100,000 theater fans, hosted the 2000 MAC Awards at Town Hall in Manhattan and has co-hosted the Drama Desk Award webcasts with Rex Reed for the past five years. His debut recording, "Caruso Live and In Person" was released on the LML Music label, and within two weeks, went to number one on both the album and singles charts at Outvoice.com. He has contributed to InStyle Magazine, Theatermania and InTheater Magazine, and produced for E! Entertainment and Fox Television.

MAC, Bistro and Nightlife Award winning performer Carolyn Montgomery hosts the "Roasts, Toasts & Tributes" series, accompanied by co-hosts Jay Rogers (Drama Desk nominee/When Pig's Fly) and Julie Reyburn (MAC, Bistro and Nightlife Award winner). Tickets are $25.00 and are available by calling The Metropolitan Room at 212-206-0440.

For more information, visit www.RoastsToastsTributes.com, www.Jim-Caruso.com, or www.CastParty.com.