Jim Caruso’s Cast Party (Photo: Christopher Boudewyn)
What have all those Broadway hopefuls been doing with their time over the past 18 months? Hopefully vocalizing, because Jim Caruso’s Cast Party – the weekly talent celebration that has been in residence every Monday for 17 years – will reopen on Monday, July 5 at 8 p.m. at Birdland Jazz Club. Host Caruso will move his popular virtual variety show “Pajama Cast Party” to Wednesdays at 8 p.m. beginning July 7.
Jim Caruso’s Cast Party is a wildly popular weekly open mic night that has brought a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the legendary Birdland in New York City every Monday night since 2004. It’s a cool open mic night and hilariously impromptu variety show in which showbiz superstars hit the stage alongside up-and-comers, serving jaw-dropping music and general razzle-dazzle.
Cast Party is the ultimate spot to mix and mingle with talented show folk and their fans. The buoyant, sharp and charming Caruso guides the entire affair, while musical genius Billy Stritch (Liza Minnelli, Tony Bennett) holds court at the ivories and leads the Cast Party Symphony Orchestra (Steve Doyle on bass and Daniel Glass on drums). The best part is that the audience is invited to participate in the musical festivities.
Jim Caruso didn’t let last year’s pandemic shutdown of Birdland put a halt to his Monday event. Instead, with the technical expertise of producer Ruby Locknar, he went virtual, bringing the popular musical variety show into viewers’ homes everywhere via the YouTube Cast Party Network. With Birdland’s return to in-person events, the virtual Party will move to Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
