Photo Flash: Cast Party at Birdland Celebrates The Late Kay Thompson's 100th Birthday

At Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland on Monday night, there was an on-and-off-stage celebration for the late, great Kay Thompson's 100th birthday.  The event was built around a new 3-CD box set collection called "Think Pink!  A Kay Thompson Party."  Friends and fans of the former MGM vocal coach/nightclub singer/"Eloise" author gathered to sing her songs and praises at the weekly open mic.

Host Jim Caruso (recently seen singing Thompson arrangements as one of the Williams Brothers on Broadway in the Tony-winning Liza's At The Palace) hosted the fun, with music aficionados like Michael Feinstein and Sam Irvin (co-producers of the CD set), "Eloise" illustrator Hilary Knight, Boys In The Band playwright Mart Crowley, and performances by Ruth Williamson, John "Lypsinka" Epperson, Dori Legg, Peter Mintun, Billy Stritch and Clarke Thorell.  There were also performances by Broadway's Marc Kudisch and Jeffry Denman, Erich Bergen from "Gossip Girl", and folk music superstar Christine Lavin.  The cast Party took place after Stephanie J. Block's Broadway at Birdland holiday concert.

Photo credit: Stephen Sorokoff

Jim Caruso

John Lypsinka Epperson with Clarke Thorell & Jim Caruso

Billy Stritch, Ruth Williamson, Clarke Thorell, Erich Bergen & Jim Caruso

Billy Stritch, Ruth Williamson, Clarke Thorell, Erich Bergen & Jim Caruso

Billy Stritch

Ruth Williamson

Jeffry Denman & Marc Kudisch

Stephanie J. Block & Jamie deRoy

Erich Bergen

Billy Steeves & Natalie Hill

Stephanie J. Block