INTERVIEW: Jim Caruso still throws the biggest ‘Cast Party’ in town, 16 years and counting
Photo: Image courtesy of Bill Westmoreland / Provided by Jim Caruso with permission.
Jim Caruso knows how to throw a party. In fact, he has been throwing a musical party for more than 15 years, and he shows no signs of turning off the music (let’s hope the lights stay on though).
Jim Caruso’s Cast Party is a weekly open-mic night at the legendary Birdland jazz club on West 44th Street in the heart of New York City’s Theatre District. Caruso, the band and guest performers take to the stage every Monday at 9:30 p.m., following Broadway at Birdland!
Here’s how the official website describes the process for the evening: Caruso starts taking names around 9 p.m. Anyone on the list can be chosen at anytime, but they need to make sure they bring sheet music (three copies are preferred, so the pianist Billy Stritch, bassist Steve Doyle and drummer Daniel Glass can accompany the performer).
Other than that, Caruso, who emcees the night, is open to many different musical interpretations. The vibe is admittedly fun and light, so weepy ballads are discouraged. Speeches are strictly prohibited (thank God!), and fun is required of everyone.
There must be something working right in Caruso’s musical gumbo because he has one of the longest running residencies in New York City. His work has attracted both established performers (Liza!) and up-and-coming stars. It’s an open-mic night for anyone and everyone — except those weepy ballad singers.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Caruso about the exciting evening of music. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
For someone who has yet to enjoy a performance of Cast Party, what can they expect?
Folks who venture into Cast Party can expect to be entertained by a shocking variety of talented folks! It’s like The Ed Sullivan Show on acid. Broadway stars, jazzers, cabaret divas, tappers, instrumentalists and songwriters perform impromptu songs, and get masterful support by the Cast Party Symphony Orchestra (Billy Stritch on piano, Steve Doyle on bass and Daniel Glass on drums). We’ve also had our share of kooky moments — with hula dancers, magicians, stilt walkers, jugglers and one memorable contortionist who sat on his own face. It’s always a high-energy, funny and fun event, whether we’re on our home turf at Birdland in NYC, or on the road in the many cities we’ve been lucky enough to take the Party!
How did the idea for this evening begin way back when? What was the original inspiration?
In 2002, I was doing press for a now-defunct nightclub and having a perfectly dreary time writing press releases for drink specials. Nothing was happening, and nobody cared. One Monday night, I decided to throw a Christmas party, and all my friends ended up around the piano, like in MGM movies. We sang ’em all, stayed all night and had a ball. The next day the manager of the room called to see if I would do it again the following Monday, since the Broadway theaters are dark, and performers are ‘at liberty’ to play and entertain each other. We did. And we did it the following week, too. Word started spreading, and suddenly it was ‘a thing.’ We were lucky enough to move the fun to Birdland, where Cast Party took on a life of its own. It changed my life!
Who are some of the singers who have graced your stage?
Some of the bold-name singers who have graced the Cast Party stage include Liza Minnelli, Martin Short, Natalie Cole, Darren Criss, Tony Bennett, Ariana Grande, Elaine Page, Phoebe Snow, Melissa Manchester, Charlie Puth, Carol Channing, Donny Osmond, Jeffrey Osborne, Larry Gatlin, Melba Moore, Dame Edna, Ricki Lake, Shirley Bassey, Jane Monheit, Kurt Elling, Paul Shaffer, Michael Feinstein … on and on. We’ve had 5-year-olds singing from Les Miserable and 92-year-old Marilyn Maye belting out show tunes and causing a frenzy. But everyone is welcome to perform! All you need is some sheet music and a dream to sing at Cast Party!
What’s your fondest memories of Cast Party over the years? Was there one particularly memorable night?
I love that we’ve become a New York tradition for so many tourists! People from Kentucky, or England … or Brazil … come up to me with stories of great Cast Party moments. We’ve become part of their lives … of their history. That means the world to me!
We celebrated Liza Minnelli’s birthday at Cast Party one year. I told her to invite anyone and everyone, and boy, did she ever. The place was packed with Broadway stars, fashionistas and a few old MGM girls. Of course, we brought out a cake, and the whole room got to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ while Liza stood on stage in floods of tears. She thanked us all by singing the most heartfelt ‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’ you’ve ever heard.
What’s the future hold for Cast Party? Still partying?
The future of Cast Party is very bright! Billy Stritch and I absolutely love celebrating great talent, so we schlep the Party across the country. We’ve gone to L.A., Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Austin … even London and on the high seas. There are brilliant performers everywhere, and we get to cavort with them! How lucky are we?
When did you first fall in love with theater, music and comedy?
I was an only child and developed a great imagination by putting on shows for my parents! I was dazzled by Carol Burnett and Dick Van Dyke — and knew that I wanted to sing, dance and entertain folks at an extremely young age. In fact, I asked my mother for an agent when I was 5, which terrified her. As I grew older, I decided that I wanted to be an Osmond Brother, which didn’t really work out. I will say that Donny was kind enough to make me an honorary brother when he sang at Cast Party. (He was kidding, but the next day I instructed my attorney to start drawing up papers.)
I knew I wanted a life filled with talented, funny people, so it’s not surprising that I spend my days and nights creating shows filled with musical geniuses! I have a real love for the folks who perform for and with us! Not to sound too altruistic, but I feel like Cast Party is a tiny ray of light reminding us of the beauty people can create on their own! Giving someone a stage lets them show us who they are.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Jim Caruso’s Cast Party plays Mondays at 9:30 p.m. at the Birdland jazz club in New York City. Click here for more information and tickets.
