By the time Liza Minnelli took the stage at Birdland, just after midnight, the party was in full swing: Michael Feinstein hugged the Broadway legend and a bubbly, upbeat crowd sang happy birthday to her.
Parker Posey performed a wild, gyrating dance to “Fever," as TV and movie stars Judith Light ( “Ugly Betty") and Corbin Bleu ("High School Musical") cheered from their tables. Miranda, the Internet singing sensation, closed out the three-hour bash with an atonal rendition of “Orange Colored Sky."
“Good night, folks, it's just another night at 'Cast Party,' “ said host Jim Caruso with a deadpan smile. “We'll do it all again next Monday."
For the last seven years, Caruso -- a genial, wisecracking emcee -- has hosted “Cast Party," one of New York's most distinctive open-mike nights. His weekly show at the historic club presents a sparkling A-list of Broadway, jazz and cabaret talent, plus rising stars and a parade of wannabes whose cringe-worthy acts rival anything on “American Idol."
It's a showbiz mecca, a place where the golden era of musical theater lives on. Once there were dozens of bars and after-hour parties in New York where singers schmoozed with friends, had a drink and swapped songs around a piano. The tradition continues at Birdland, where nobody cares if you miss a note or forget a lyric. This is a party, not an audition, and all are welcome:
So what good is sitting alone in your room? Caruso's soiree has become a magnet for tourists and others lured by the unpredictability of the lineup and the $20 admission, a true New York bargain.
“Jim had a great idea, and he created something special here, he made it his own," said Minnelli, who belted out two songs at her party this month with piano player Billy Stritch. “This is another great night at Birdland."
Now, Caruso is bringing the party to Los Angeles. On April 1, he and Stritch will host the West Coast debut of “Cast Party" at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. Although the lineup is still being put together, sponsors hope to make the Southern California shows a monthly affair.
“There's obviously a tremendous amount of talent in Los Angeles, and we're trying to duplicate what we've been able to do in New York," said Caruso, 52, whose ultimate goal is to turn “Cast Party" into a reality TV show. “It makes sense to bring it to the West Coast, because we're going to be providing a showcase which is hard to find out there."
For artists like Miranda, whose real name is Colleen Ballinger, Caruso's quest is a godsend. A serious, aspiring singer, she created an Internet persona -- an obnoxious, tone-deaf teenager who gives voice lessons -- and became an overnight star on YouTube. When Caruso sought her out, the Azusa Pacific University graduate flew to New York and gave her first live performance as Miranda at Birdland.
“Los Angeles has a musical theater community, and I know they crave something like 'Cast Party,' “ said the 22-year-old Ballinger, who recently moved to New York. “There are so many artists in L.A. who would love a place to showcase their talent, to sing for each other."
Parker Posey performed a wild, gyrating dance to “Fever," as TV and movie stars Judith Light ( “Ugly Betty") and Corbin Bleu ("High School Musical") cheered from their tables. Miranda, the Internet singing sensation, closed out the three-hour bash with an atonal rendition of “Orange Colored Sky."
“Good night, folks, it's just another night at 'Cast Party,' “ said host Jim Caruso with a deadpan smile. “We'll do it all again next Monday."
For the last seven years, Caruso -- a genial, wisecracking emcee -- has hosted “Cast Party," one of New York's most distinctive open-mike nights. His weekly show at the historic club presents a sparkling A-list of Broadway, jazz and cabaret talent, plus rising stars and a parade of wannabes whose cringe-worthy acts rival anything on “American Idol."
It's a showbiz mecca, a place where the golden era of musical theater lives on. Once there were dozens of bars and after-hour parties in New York where singers schmoozed with friends, had a drink and swapped songs around a piano. The tradition continues at Birdland, where nobody cares if you miss a note or forget a lyric. This is a party, not an audition, and all are welcome:
So what good is sitting alone in your room? Caruso's soiree has become a magnet for tourists and others lured by the unpredictability of the lineup and the $20 admission, a true New York bargain.
“Jim had a great idea, and he created something special here, he made it his own," said Minnelli, who belted out two songs at her party this month with piano player Billy Stritch. “This is another great night at Birdland."
Now, Caruso is bringing the party to Los Angeles. On April 1, he and Stritch will host the West Coast debut of “Cast Party" at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. Although the lineup is still being put together, sponsors hope to make the Southern California shows a monthly affair.
“There's obviously a tremendous amount of talent in Los Angeles, and we're trying to duplicate what we've been able to do in New York," said Caruso, 52, whose ultimate goal is to turn “Cast Party" into a reality TV show. “It makes sense to bring it to the West Coast, because we're going to be providing a showcase which is hard to find out there."
For artists like Miranda, whose real name is Colleen Ballinger, Caruso's quest is a godsend. A serious, aspiring singer, she created an Internet persona -- an obnoxious, tone-deaf teenager who gives voice lessons -- and became an overnight star on YouTube. When Caruso sought her out, the Azusa Pacific University graduate flew to New York and gave her first live performance as Miranda at Birdland.
“Los Angeles has a musical theater community, and I know they crave something like 'Cast Party,' “ said the 22-year-old Ballinger, who recently moved to New York. “There are so many artists in L.A. who would love a place to showcase their talent, to sing for each other."
