Tag: Billy Stritch

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Jim Caruso’s “Cast Party” returns to The Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz Room

Jim Caruso brought his fabulous open mic night “Cast Party” back to the Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz Room this week, and the return engagement proved once again – this is one of the best “shows” in Las Vegas.

Already running 10 years in NYC at Birdland, this marks the second time Caruso, along with partner in crime/music director Billy Stritch, have played the Cabaret Jazz room bringing together some of Las Vegas’ best and brightest talents to drop by and perform. The format provides for a wide swath of talent, style and content. You never know what you’re going to get with “Cast Party” – and this evening was packed with talent.

In addition to Caruso and Stritch, just a few of the local luminaries included Frankie Moreno, Jasmine Trias (American Idol), Mark Shunock (Rock of Ages), Reva Rice (Vegas the Show), Maren Wade (Vegas the Show), Skye Dee Miles, Pascale Elia, Philip Officer, Amanda Avila and many more. Check out the pics below. As always, click on the pic to enlarge.

And the next time “Cast Party” hits Las Vegas don’t miss it.

You can find more about “Cast Party” by going to the official website.

Billy Stritch (at the piano) and host Jim Caruso get the party started

Las Vegas headliner Frankie Moreno banters with Jim Caruso

Frankie Moreno at the piano with another showstopper

American Idol’s Jasmine Trias sings “At Last” – fabulously

Mark Shunock, star of ROCK OF AGES, sings “What You’d Call A Dream”

Maren Wade and Amanda Avila sing “Let Me Be Your Star” from SMASH

Tropicana headliner Skye Dee Miles chats before singing “Big, Blonde and Beautiful”

Reva Rice, award-winning star of VEGAS THE SHOW knocks it out of the park
with “Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries”

Broadway’s Philip Officer sings

Pascale Elia serves up some fabulous French

Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch close the show

The stage of the gorgeous Cabaret Jazz room at the Smith Center
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Jim Caruso of “Cast Party” stops by The Candi & Randy Show

Jim Caruso from NYC’s “Cast Party” dropped by The Candi & Randy Show today to talk about bringing the best party in town to Las Vegas at the Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz.

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 since 2003.

“Cast Party” is 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.

Jim guides the entire affair like a bubbly cruise director, musical director Billy Stritch holds court at the ivories and the audience is invited to participate in the festivities!  Cast Party has been honored with two BroadwayWorld Awards, a MAC Award, Bistro Award and a Nightlife Award.

It’s the party that would happen if somehow David Letterman and Ed Sullivan threw a hip house party around a nine-foot concert grand piano!

Don’t miss Jim and Billy in Las Vegas on October 9th at Cabaret Jazz at the Smith Center at 9:30pm

Check out my interview with Jim Caruso below: 

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Jim Caruso’s “Cast Party” back in Las Vegas October 9th

Jim Caruso’s Cast Party, the wildly popular weekly soiree that brings a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the legendary Birdland in New York City for ten years every Monday night, is coming back the Cabaret Jazz room at the Smith Center on October 9th.

In case you somehow missed the Cast Party debut last spring, this is a cool cabaret night out via a hilariously impromptu variety show. Showbiz superstars hit the stage alongside up-and-comers, serving up jaw-dropping music and general razzle-dazzle. Cabaret super-star Ann Hampton Callaway says “Cast Party is come what ‘mayhem!’”

The buoyant and sharp Jim Caruso guides the entire affair like a charming, witty cruise director; musical genius Billy Stritch holds court at the ivories; and the audience is invited to participate in the festivities. Says Caruso, “I can’t tell you how excited both Billy and I are at having a regular home at that incredible Smith Center. It is a party. And that’s what I want everyone to know. It’s a really fun party with people you know, some people you don’t know, and some people you will never need to know in your life (laughs). What makes this whole thing work is the audience and how they take this whole experience in.”

Some of the A-Listers seen at Cast Party include Liza Minnelli, Michael Feinstein, Clint Holmes, Donny Osmond, Martin Short, Melissa Manchester, Josh Groban, Frankie Moreno, Jon Bon Jovi, Dave Koz, Carol Channing, Stephen Schwartz and Tony Bennett!
Jim Caruso has been spreading the fun all across the country, celebrating local talent in Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Austin, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Orlando, the Hamptons, Provincetown, and on the high seas.

Somewhere between “There’s no business like show business” and “there’s no place like home,” you’ll find Cast Party – On The Road!

For more info about Cast Party in NYC  click on CastPartyNYC.com

Ticket prices for Cast Party in Las Vegas – $20-$30

October 9, 2013, 9:30p.m.

More info about Cast Party in Las Vegas at the Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz can be found here.

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Cabaret Jazz hosts packed house with CAST PARTY

This past Wednesday saw the Smith Center debut of the uber-popular CAST PARTY.

Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch brought their NYC-based “open mic” house party to Cabaret Jazz and a packed house.

With a concept that encourages locals and Strip headliners to get up and sing (or anything really), the talent and fun included such Vegas names as Clint Holmes, Frankie Moreno, Tina Walsh, Mark Shunock, Maren Wade, Erich Bergen and more.

Las Vegas Sun has a gallery of pics from the night:

Billy Stritch and Jim Caruso open the show

The one and only Clint Holmes gets the party started

Erich Bergen, of JERSEY BOYS, laughs with Jim Caruso

The fabulous Frankie Moreno

Maren Wade, currently with FANTASY, laughs with Jim Caruso

Mark Shunock, of ROCK OF AGES,  sings at Cast Party

Billy Stritch and Jim Caruso banter during Cast Party at Cabaret Jazz

All pics by Sam Morris/Las Vegas Sun.  See more here.

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Las Vegas: Jim Caruso’s CAST PARTY at the Smith Center tonight

Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch host CAST PARTY in Las Vegas tonight at the Smith Center

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. Broadway and showbiz superstars often show up and hit the stage unannounced alongside up-and-comers, serving up jaw-dropping music and general razzle-dazzle.

Since opening night in 2003, 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 along with musical director Billy Stritch at the ivories,

It’s the party that would happen if somehow David Letterman and Ed Sullivan threw a hip house party around a nine-foot concert grand piano!

Last fall, Caruso and Stritch brought the event to town and folks like Donny Osmond, Frankie Moreno, Clint Holmes, performers from JERSEY BOYS,  PHANTOM, VEGAS THE SHOW all showed up to sing the party on.

And tonight, Cast Party comes to Cabaret Jazz at the Smith Center at 9:30 p.m.  (tickets are $20 and $30 and available on the Smith Center website ).

Come on down, grab a cocktail and enjoy the show. You NEVER know who’s going to show up!