Cast Party Hosted Block, Morrison, and More
Broadway fans got an extra-special treat at Birdland last night. Between the Broadway at Birdland concert celebrating David Green's songs, and the following Jim Caruso's Cast Party, some of the Great White Way's most elite personalities showed up to entertain and applaud each other. Stephen Schwartz (composer/Wicked), pianist/singer Michael Feinstein, Ragtime composers Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty, Barry Humphries (Dame Edna), Brent Barrett (The Phantom in Phantom of the Opera/Las Vegas), lyricist David Zippel (City of Angels), Carol Woods (Mama Morton/Chicago), Kevin Chamberlain (Amos/Chicago), Stephanie J. Block (Wicked and upcoming 9 to 5), Marissa Perry (Tracey Turnblad in Hairspray) and Matthew Morrison (Lt. Cable/South Pacific). During Cast Party, Broadway's extreme open mic, a crazed "Dame Edna" fan presented Barry Humphries (Edna's alter-ego) with a huge bouquet of gladioli. Of course, Edna is known to fling the long-stemmed flowers into the audience by the dozens during her shows. It was a fitting welcome back to New York!
Jim Caruso's Cast Party is a wildly popular weekly soiree that brings a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the legendary Birdland in New York City every Monday night. It's a cool cabaret night-out enlivened by a hilariously impromptu variety show. Showbiz superstars hit the stage alongside up-and-comers, serving up jaw-dropping music and general razzle-dazzle.For the past five years, it's been the ultimate spot to mix and mingle with Manhattan show folk and their fans. Caruso guides the entire affair like a bubbly cruise director, musical genius Billy Stritch holds court at the ivories, Steve Doyle bops on bass, and the audience is invited to participate in the festivities! It's the party that would happen if somehow David Letterman and Ed Sullivan threw a hip house party around the nine-foot concert grand piano! www.castpartynyc.com
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