Jim Caruso's Cast Party and TheaterMania.com are proud to announce the return of honored and hugely successful songwriter & performer Victoria Shaw and her celebrated showcase Under The Covers With Victoria Shaw, Monday, February 25, 2008 at 7:00pm, as part of the long-running, critically-heralded and popular concert series Broadway at Birdland.

Hosted by Shaw, Under The Covers… has become a recurrent highlight, featuring a wide variety of top-selling songwriters and musical acts from across the pop, rock and country worlds, and offering intimate acoustic performances of huge hit songs - along with the little-known stories behind them. Already confirmed to join Shaw are Grammy-winning songwriter Marcus Hummon, and Richie McDonald, who was lead singer of the popular country band Lonestar.

Responsible for over 65 million album sales, Shaw is best-known as the writer of “The River,” one of Garth Brooks's biggest hits, as well as “I Love The Way You Love Me,” recorded by John Michael Montgomery, and “Nobody Wants To Be Lonely,” performed by Ricky Martin and Christina Aguilera. Her songs have also been recorded by such major stars as Olivia Newton John, Boyzone, Faith Hill, LeAnn Rimes, Reba McEntire, Tricia Yearwood, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Michael McDonald. The winner of two Emmy Awards, Shaw is also an accomplished singer, releasing four albums (two on Warner Bros. Records and two independently, on her own Taffeta label), and touring extensively throughout the U.S. and across Europe. She also notably opened for Garth Brooks at his historic 1997 Central Park concert.

Marcus Hummon is one of Nashville's most consistently successful and innovative songwriter/musicians. He wrote Rascal Flatts' “Bless the Broken Road,” which won the Grammy for Best Country Song in 2005, and scored back-to-back chart-smashing singles with the Dixie Chicks: "Ready to Run," which also won a Grammy, and "Cowboy, Take Me Away.” In addition to penning songs like Tim McGraw's #1 hit, "One of These Days” and Sara Evans's chart-topper “Born to Fly,” a CMA nominee for Song of the Year, he has also recorded four albums of his own.

For more than a dozen years, Richie McDonald was the voice and most recognizable face for the platinum-selling, CMA- and ACM Award-winning country group, Lonestar.  As frontman for one of the most successful bands of the '90s, McDonald's vocals propelled songs like “Amazed” and “I'm Already There” to the top of the charts, earning him Songwriter and Song of the Year honors from BMI. In 2007, McDonald left Lonestar and is currently working on his first solo album, to be released later this year.

Call Birdland for reservations: 212-581-3080 or www.BirdlandJazz.com.

Grammy winner Lari White will explore the endless varieties of love in the Oak Room’s Valentine Show, “Love Letters,” February 12 to March 1.  Among Lari’s selections are “Lush Life (Strayhorn), “Sorry/Grateful” (Sondheim), “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” (Bacharach/David), “I Wish I Were in Love Again” (Rodgers & Hart), “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” (Bergmans/Legrand) and “A Box of Old Love Letters,” among others.  Musical director is Don Rebic, with Steve Doyle on bass and Eric Michael Gillette as director.  Shows are Tuesday through Thursday at 9 pm and Friday and Saturday at 9 and 11:30, with a $65 cover charge per person and $30 food and beverage minimum or $70 prix fixe dinner (dinner is required at the early shows Friday and Saturday).  Reservations: 212-419-9331 or bmcgurn@algonquinhotel.com.

In recent years, Lari, a Florida native who divides her time between New York and Nashville, has produced country superstar Toby Keith’s platinum album, “White Trash with Money,” co-starred as June Cash in the Broadway musical, Ring of Fire, based on the songs of Johnny Cash, and starred in a salute to Marilyn and Alan Bergman for Lincoln Center’s American Songbook Series.  A graduate of the University of Miami, where as an Isaac Bashevis Singer scholar she studied voice and musical engineering, Lari moved to Nashville, where she won first prize on the Nashville Network’s talent show “You Can Be A Star.”  An RCA recording contract led to her Gold album, “Wishes.”  More solo albums followed and she earned Best Gospel Album Grammys for the 1995 compilation “Amazing Grace” and “The Apostle” soundtracks.  She appeared as the Angel Sculptress in the Tom Hanks’ film "Cast Away," and in Lifetime’s "No Regrets."  She’s currently producing an album on Mac Davis and preparing for a spring concert with the Nashville Symphony with Marvin Hamlisch, who conducted her Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Pops in 2007.

“Every once in a while you hear a new voice that sings and soars and brings new pleasures. Such a voice is Lari White.”...Alan and Marilyn Bergman

NICOLE DILLENBERG'S NEW SHOW, THE POPULAR SONGS OF WORLD WAR ONE, celebrates some of our most treasured popular songs, and honors the thread that runs from Dillenberg’s great grandparents down to her. Though only one American veteran of WW1 survives today, many of the songs from the era remain famous. From early Irving Berlin, to classics like “Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag,” and “It’s A Long Way To Tipperary,” Dillenberg shares with us how modern and universal these songs truly are—and how, musically, they bridge the gap between hymn, folk song, vaudeville, and the pop songs of today. Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22 Street, NYC, February 24 & 25 @ 9:30pm M Bar, 1253 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, February 10 & 17 @ 7:30pm. Click: http://www.nicoledillenberg.com

BILLY STRITCH HAS A NEW CD AND A NEW WEBSITE! At last, Billy Stritch has his own dot-com - and a brand-new album to boot! While you're at the site (created by the Cast Party Webmistress, Kate Botello), peruse Billy's bio, find out where he's playing and read reviews. Listen to clips of Billy's latest, Billy Stritch Sings Mel Tormè, and pick up a copy for yourself and someone you love.

For everything Billy Stritch: www.billystritch.com.

JIM CARUSO…THE PARTY CONTINUES ON CD: Caruso: Live and In Person, with Billy Stritch on piano. "Jim is funny, facile and fabulous! He performs with charm, wit and style, and is vastly entertaining." -- Michael Feinstein. "A cabaret-lover's dream!" -- Chip Deffaa, New York Post. "An unbeatable act of jazz, pop, comedy and conversation that is different from anything else in town." -- Rex Reed, New York Observer. "This impish, twinkling-eyed performer exudes the buoyant spirits of a conetmporary vaudevillian…with an extremely tart lemon tucked firmly in his cheek." -- Stephen Holden, New York Times.

ELAINE PAIGE , THE "FIRST LADY OF BRITISH MUSICAL THEATRE," HOSTS AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS WEEKLY RADIO SHOW on BBC Radio 2 every Sunday night.  The program is devoted to musical theatre and film music from Hollywood, Broadway and the West End.  The celebrated star of Evita, Cats, Chess and Sunset Boulevard has interviewed a host of stars including Angela Lansbury, Sir Elton John, and Michael Feinstein, and continues to delight audiences with a unque mix of show music and juicy interviews. Click on BBC: Elaine Paige on Sunday to hear the current show.

KEN KLEIBER'S OFFERING VIDEOGRAPHY SERVICES. You have the talent, you booked the room and the crowds came. But what about that sought-after agent who was escorting his star client to a premiere? Or that family member who got stuck out-of-town due to inclement weather? Or that best friend who got the 24-hour flu? They can all re-live your shining performance through the magic of digital video. Videographer Ken Kleiber (host of TV, internet & radio’s "That’s Kentertainment!") not only interviews the stars, he films them too. With over 6 years of videotaping experience, Ken has filmed hundreds of hours of cabarets, concerts, live theatre, dance recitals, comedy sets, interviews, on-tape auditions, parties and more. For more information on Ken’s videotaping, copying and transferring services, please contact Ken at kentertain@yahoo.com. Don’t let that once-in-a-lifetime moment be…just once!

MINNELLI & CARUSO: TOGETHER AGAIN… I'm beyond excited to tell you that I'll be performing on the road with myamazing friend Liza Minnelli quite a bit this next year! We're re-creating Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers' historic nightclub act that took the world by storm in the late 40's and early 50's. Cortes Alexander, Johnny Rodgers, Brian Lane Green and I are working hard to approximate the blend and unique sound that Bob, Dick, Don, and Andy Williams brought to Kay's ingenious vocal arrangements, with Billy Stritch will be at the piano. Watch this space for details… hopefully we'll be coming to a theater near you!

SQUIGS DRAWS THE STARS. Justin 'Squigs' Robertson is well known in the Los Angeles theatre community for capturing show biz folks in pen and ink, and his acclaim is quickly spreading across the country. He loves sushi. His favorite song is 'It's Only A Paper Moon'. And he genuflects upon merely hearing the name of Al Hirschfeld. His whimsical illustration and design is aided and abetted by his parallel career as an actor and entertainer. You can visit for a look at Squigs' take on such talented friends of Cast Party as Jeff Blumenkrantz, Julia Murney, Christine Ebersole, Victoria Clark, Kelli O'Hara, Bob Martin and Liza Minnelli. www.squigsink.com

CHARLIE LAPSON'S SIGNATURE COLLECTION is the culmination of years of training, world travel, and professional experience as one of Hollywood's top designers. His luxurious handbags and men's wallets are produced by factories in Tuscany, Italy made of fine Italian leather. Lapson's handbags and clutches have been worn by the elite of Hollywood to numerous red carpet events and on camera as well. Celebrities such as Felicity Huffman, Eva Longoria, and Debra Messing can be seen at award shows adorned with Charlie Lapson Jewelry. The collection is created by using the most brilliant diamonds and precious gemstones mixed with 18 kt gold, and molding them into works of art. Celebrities dazzle with glamorous bold statement pieces. Look for large colored gemstones and mixes of textures with unique shapes. Style fit for a star!

OUR UPDATED T-SHIRT is now available in Tootsie-Roll brown with safety-cone orange trim, as seen at left, where Jim reveals his secret identity as -- Superhost! Show your love for a certain Monday night Open Mic extravaganza by wearing this 100% cotton, Peruvian-made, American-printed piece of art! The wry "Got Mic?" logo is on the front, and our logo is on the back. They're only $20 and available if you click http://www.castpartynyc.com/Goods.htm.

TheaterMania.com:
"The Party simply glows with New York nightlife ambiance. It feels like a throwback to another era but it has this era's top-notch entertainers dropping in to schmooze, sing, eat, and drink. Caruso consistently provides a flow of exciting singers, and he's definitely hip, cool and classy all by himself."

Bookings for Jim Caruso's Cast Party® for theaters, arts presenters, corporations and private events:

Ligeti Artists LLC
Peter Ligeti
mrligeti@aol.com
212.396.1111

For online booking information, click: The Show Store

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