Jim Caruso's Cast Party and TheaterMania.com, the leading source for exclusive theater information and live-events tickets nationwide, are proud to announce the Birdland debut of Beverly and Kirby Ward, performing partners on-stage and happily married for over two decades off-, Monday, March 3, 2008 at 7:00pm, as part of the long-running, critically-heralded and popular concert series Broadway at Birdland.

A rare perfect example to the age-old adage that “the couple who performs together, stays together,” To Have and To Hold offers an intimate and telling glimpse into the life and love of Beverly and Kirby Ward, coming off 23 years of blissful marriage, all spent in musical theater.  Filled with stories from the road and their trademark personal spin on music ranging from Gershwin to The Beach Boys, the WARDs offer true onstage chemistry; indeed, they were once dubbed “the most romantic couple in southern California.”

Kirby Ward has been in the entertainment industry for over 35 years and is a veteran of over 60 theatrical productions.  As the original Bobby Child in the London West End premiere of Crazy For You, he received an Olivier Award nomination and later a Helen Hayes Award nomination at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.  Kirby was also featured in Hal Prince's hit Broadway revival of Show Boat.  As director and choreographer, Kirby has created material for Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor, worked with Bette Midler and James Caan on the film For The Boys, and directed and choreographed both off-Broadway and regionally all over the US.  He was named Best Director of 2002 and 2005 in Boston for his critically-acclaimed productions of Singin' in the Rain and Crazy For You, and recently received the San Diego Critics Circle Craig Noel Award for Best Director of a Musical.  Raves the Boston Globe, Kirby Ward “is a one-man dynamo who simply lights up the stage the moment he enters.”

Beverly Ward also starred in the U.S. national tour of Crazy For You, for which she too received a Helen Hayes Award nomination while playing the Kennedy Center in Washington DC - alongside fellow nominees and musical theater icons Carol Channing and Chita Rivera.  Coming from a very musical family (indeed, one that had to institute a “no singing at the dinner table” rule!), Beverly has recently added composer to her list of accomplishments.  As a singer/songwriter, she has performed at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village, New York City; the Thataway Café in Greenwich, CT; and The Space in New Haven, CT.  Describing her music, Beverly says, “I think it's folk...with some pop and jazz and maybe even country thrown into the mix.”

For more information, or for tickets, call Birdland at 212-581-3080 or click BirdlandJazz.com.

A few years ago, at the "dewey-fresh" age of 17, a bunch of friends told me about this thing called "Cast Party" that they'd heard about.  Being a theater kid, born and raised in Manhattan, it sounded like the place for me.  One night, I finally got to go.

It was literally heaven.  When I walked in, Liza Minnelli was onstage, on the couch was Stephen Schwartz, at the bar was Jason Robert Brown, and sitting down front...Lauren Bacall.  One by one, my favorite Broadway performers got up, did a number, then grabbed someone else to sing with them.  Over at the bar, people were writing songs.  It went on like this for hours. I came back week after week, clearing out my Mondays for the next year.  I eventually got my courage to perform at CP, and I've never stopped. 

I got my first professional gig after someone spotted me at Cast Party, which led to my next gig, then my next gig.  The day I found out I would be starring in the national tour of Jersey Boys, one of the first people I called was Jim Caruso.  I felt obligated to!  Part of the reason I felt so comfortable as a performer was due to the hundreds of hours I had spent watching Jim and all his friends on that stage - then getting up and performing for them.  Even now, on my time off from Jersey Boys, every Monday night, you know where I'll be. -- Erich Bergen

(Photo Credit: Mark Rupp)

MANHATTAN USER'S GUIDE (MUG) COVERS THE BEST IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, food and wine, information, services and shopping.   A must read for the well-informed New Yorker.

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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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