The Broadway at Birdland concert series was welcomed vocalist/songwriter/pianist SPENCER DAY in concert on Monday, April 29. The Concord Records artist brought original songs from his new cd, 'The Mystery of You,' which was released on March 12. Scroll down for photos from the concert!
On Tuesday April 30th, 2013, members of the Broadway Company of Chicago joined forces with Sing For Your Seniors to bring a very special performance to the seniors at Encore Senior Center. The musical performance hosted by Sing For Your Seniors' Executive Director Jackie Vanderbeck, included songs of the performer's choosing as well of songs from Chicago. Scroll down for photos from the event!
Texas born and bred singer William Blake--who came to New York six years ago at age 24--has lately taken the town by storm with his terrific tribute show to the legendary Etta James. In the process, Blake has also managed to transform some of the town's most prestigious nightclub/cabaret venues into his own personal concert halls. First it was at Birdland, where in the summer of 2012 and with the support of 'Cast Party' impresario Jim Caruso, Blake launched his Echoes of Etta raucous, standing-room only crowds. Then last February, Blake, his five piece band and three girl backup singers, overpowered Joe's Pub. But the last two nights might have been Blake's most impressive performances to date, as he totally captured the crowd at the elegant and sedate Cafe Carlyle (for the room's new 10:45 'Second Act' sets). It was almost as if you were experiencing an R & B concert at Carnegie Hall.
On Monday, April 15, the Broadway at Birdland concert series presented the very first UKE NIGHT!, featuring ukulele performances by Broadway performers Marc Kudisch, Nancy Anderson, Clarke Thorell, Lauren Molina, Jason Poole, Erin Denman, Bev Ward, Kevin Worley, Hannah Elless, Mara Davi, Aaron Gaines, Brittney Bertier, and others. The evening was produced and hosted by Jeffry Denman. All proceeds will go to the Daniel Barden (one of the Sandy Hook children) Family Fund. Scroll down for photos from the concert!
On Monday, April 8, the Broadway at Birdland concert series presented an encore performance of 'Eleven O'Clock Numbers,' a musical review that ran at Feinstein's at the Regency Hotel for eight months. Scroll down for photos from the show!
It was one of the most love-filled, musically-thrilling birthday parties ever, when the folks at Jim Caruso's Cast Party celebrated the 85th Birthday of the most energetic, vocally dazzling, swinging nightclub divas on Earth, Marvelous Marilyn Maye. Scroll below for photos from the concert!
On Monday, April 1, Jim Caruso's Broadway at Birdland concert series welcomed the return of Broadway actress and cabaret star Karen Mason with her brand new show, 'Secrets of the Ancient Divas.' Scroll below for photos from the performance!
This past Monday night's performance of Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland was, once again, a stunning mix of extraordinary talent. It's always a swell soiree when there are two dazzling ladies like Colleen Zenk ('As The World Turns') and jazz superstar Jane Monheit are in the house. Scroll below for photos of the evening's performances!
Julie Halston has a lot of friends. She is certainly adored by some super-talented show biz glitterati, like Carl Andress, Mary Testa, Julia Murney, Max von Essen, Ms. Halston, Justin Squigs Robertson, David Garrison and Dan Butler, who attended 'Classical Julie' at Birdland this Monday, March 18. Scroll down for photos from the concert!
Leader of the rock group Phish, Trey Anastasio is making his Broadway debut as composer of the new musical Hands on a Hardbody, which opens on the Great White Way this month. Anastasio appeared on today's CBS SUNDAY MORNING to talk about his work on the show.
Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch return to Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel with their evening of swinging standards tonight, March 10, then running every Today in March, from 9:00 p.m. to midnight. The two performers, who have performed extensively on their own, gained national exposure together as the host and musical director of the wildly popular open mic, Cast Party, which celebrates talent every Monday at Birdland in NYC, and tours nationally. During their November run at Bemelmans, the duo received critical acclaim, and made news when rock legend Bono joined them in an impromptu performance. In their upcoming run, Caruso and Stritch will be joined by bassist Steve Doyle.
Julie Halston attacked the Birdland stage with an animalistic energy that caught even the most fanatical of her admirers off-guard. The opening night of her four-show run, 'Classical Julie,' was a who's who of the showbiz scene, and included Tyne Daley, Lisa Lampanelli, Charles Busch, James Lecesne, Danny Visconti, Shirley Herz, Peter Bartlett, Dan Butler, Klea Blackhurst, Natalie Douglas and Ed Windels, among many others. BroadwayWorld has photos from the concert below!
Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch return to Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel with their evening of swinging standards on Sunday, March 10, then running every Sunday in March, from 9:00 p.m. to midnight. The two performers, who have performed extensively on their own, gained national exposure together as the host and musical director of the wildly popular open mic, Cast Party, which celebrates talent every Monday at Birdland in NYC, and tours nationally. During their November run at Bemelmans, the duo received critical acclaim, and made news when rock legend Bono joined them in an impromptu performance. In their upcoming run, Caruso and Stritch will be joined by bassist Steve Doyle.
On Monday, February 25, the Broadway at Birdland concert series presented the third annual Broadway Belts for PFF, which raised over $70,000 for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. The evening was hosted by Julie Halston, and starred Klea Blackhurst, Linda Lavin, Emily Bergl, Debbie Gravitte, Emma Hunton, Alyssa Paulsen, Robert Creighton, Max von Essen, John McDaniel, and Ed Watts. The show was directed by Carl Andress, with musical direction by Jesse Kissel.
Singer Ann Hampton Callaway called it 'Musical Church,' and deemed host Jim Caruso the 'Irreverent Reverend!' Monday night's Cast Party was the be-all and end-all of extreme open-mic madness, with impromptu performances by some of the best and brightest on the Broadway, jazz, cabaret and concert scenes. Callaway led a blues vocal quintet, along with headliner Lorna Luft, Broadway leading lady Carrie Manolakos, Birdland's William Blake and Manilow-co-star Muffy Hendrix. Scroll below for photos from the concert!
Singer Lorna Luft has been absent from the New York nightclub scene since the closing of Rainbow & Stars at the top of Rockefeller Center, so it was a historic comeback-of-sorts when she returned to town as part of the Broadway at Birdland concert series for two very special nights. Check out photos from the concert below!
Jim Caruso's Cast Party continues to dazzle packed houses of showbiz insiders and the folks who love them every Monday night at the historic music room, Birdland. This past week, Carol Woods, currently Mama Morton in Chicago on Broadway, delighted the audience with a soulful performance of 'God Bless The Child,' and her co-workers, Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly) and Patrick Rinn led the applause. Scroll below for photos from the concert!
On Tuesday, February 11, singer Lorna Luft debuted her new nightclub act at Birdland - and there were some showbiz heavy-hitters in the house to cheer her on! Lorna's bff Barry Manilow (on his night off from an 8-show week of Broadway concerts) led the applause, sister Liza Minnelli started the first of many standing ovations, and playwright/actor Charles Busch cheered heartily. Scroll below for photos from the concert!
On Monday, February 11th, members of the Broadway company of Mamma Mia! teamed up with Sing For Your Seniors to bring an extra-special performance to the patients of Calvary Cancer Hospital in the Bronx. The event was part of Sing For Your Seniors' new 'Broadway Sessions' program, which brings members of a current Broadway cast to perform at one of its centers. Scroll below for photos from the performance!
Cast Party host Jim Caruso turned one year older this past week, so the Monday night 'extreme' open mic was awash in birthday balloons and party hats. The cast of the Broadway production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roofshowed up to celebrate their success, and their very own 'Brick,' Benjamin Walker, performed a very blue/bluesy 'New York State Of Mind.' Cast member Emily Bergl showed why she's one of the most popular ladies in cabaret when she sang her heart out, too. Scroll below for photos from the concert!
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