Photo Flash: Clint Holmes, CENTRAL AVENUE BREAKDOWN and More at Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland
By: BWW News Desk Jul. 17, 2012
A few fresh faces and a slew of beloved regulars showed up to serenade each other at Jim Caruso's Cast Party on Monday night, July 16, 2012. Check out photos from the performances below, featuring Clint Holmes, the cast of Central Avenue Breakdown and more!After the star-studded energy of composer Frank Wildhorn's "Frank & Friends" concert, the musical mojo was flowing at Birdland, the storied music room situated right in the middle of Manhattan's theater district. Host Caruso, along with the Cast Party Symphony Orchestra (Tedd Firth, Steve Doyle & Daniel Glass), led the impromptu performances into the wee hours, all watched-over by a packed house, which included TV/Broadway icon Linda Lavin, and soon-to-be star of Jekyll & Hyde Constantine Maroulis. The always-swinging Jane Monheit thrilled the crowd with a tune, and Vegas/Café Carlyle headliner Clint Holmes dazzled with some scat in waltz-time. Vocalists William Blake, Alana Adderly, and Eric Millegan shared the stage with the cast of Central Avenue Breakdown from the NYMF festival. Young violinist Jonathan Russell brilliantly accompanied soprano Sarah Rice, Julia Bonnet (first winner of the Michael Feinstein Initiative) showed off her gorgeous vocal chops, and both Eric Contractor and Scott Reeves each showed off their jazz guitar riffs. Wade Dinkins even proposed to his girlfriend with a very special love song, and the crowd went wild when she accepted. The evening ended with a thrilling display of tap dancing, thanks to the electric feet of Andrew Nemr, a Gregory Hines protégé.
The wide musical diversity is business as usual at Cast Party, which takes place every single Monday night at 9:30. For more about Birdland, visit BirdlandJazz.com.Photo credit: Seth Walters
Central Avenue Breakdown
Central Avenue Breakdown
Eric Contractor
Great Expectations
Mario Loor and Company
Sarah Rice and Jonathan Russell
Scott Reeves and Company
Tedd Firth, Jonathan Russell and Steve Doyle
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