| It's Always A Party With Jim Caruso! |
| Written by Cecily Van Horn | |||
| Tuesday, 21 February 2012 04:44 | |||
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It was originally started 8 years ago at a nightclub in New York and has kept going ever since. Caruso, Billy Stritch, and friends have toured with it all over the United States and maybe one day will be fortunate enough to take it around the world. The Cast party will be hitting Town Hall on February 23rd. The celebrities this year include a wonderful cast, Golden Globe and Tony Winner Linda Lavin, exceptionally talented jazz and adult contemporary vocalist Jane Monheit, nine-time Grammy award-winner Janis Siegel, David Ippolito AKA “That Guitar Man From Central Park”, "Celebrity Apprentice" Lisa Lampanell, and so many other absolutely amazing talents. It’s highly recommend you see the show! The show will also be raising money for the Benefit for the Actors Fund in New York. Times Square (TS): You’re quite the Jim-of-all-trades: a singer, theatre actor, and MC of Cast Party. What drew you to the industry? Jim Caruso (JC): Haha, may I quote you? [Why yes you may!] Well both my parents were musicians and actually when I was born they were hoping for a piano [insert laugh here]. I was doing theatre at a very young age and kind of swerved into the nightclub scene in my 20’s in Dallas, Texas of all places...The cabaret forefront of America. And moved here [New York] with a vocal group called Wiseguys in the 90’s...I have been performing since I was a near child really. TS: Being originally from Pennsylvania. What are your thoughts on the music industry in NYC? JC: Well I’ve lived here for over twenty years so I’m really a New Yorker at this point. Although since we’ve been taking Cast Party on the road so much, I am realizing that there is incredible talent everywhere. I used to host an open-mic night in Dallas and these four girls would come in and sing bluegrass. They were The Dixie Chicks. There’s [truly] brilliant talent everywhere [not just New York]. TS: Indeed you’re right on that one. So tell me about Cast Party (It was started as a fluke at a nightclub). Why do you think it has been so successful after so many years? JC: It’s hard to say. I didn’t do it on purpose, haha. Believe me it wasn’t my goal to host an open-mic for my living. I didn’t even know what an open-mic was...But evidentially there was a need for an outlet for so many incredible Broadway performers. Who do 8 shows a week doing their track [and] on their night off they want to be able to show off and be able to sing an Adele song, to sing their favourite country song, or to do something beyond what they are doing in their day job...haha. I didn’t realize they were waiting for us; I would have done it a lot sooner. Haha. TS: It’s actually very interesting that the show includes a mix of big name performers and newbies fresh off the bus. What inspired you to structure it that way? JC: It came upon me; I didn’t come upon the concept. Every week I have absolutely no idea who is going to come in. It’s always a surprise. So it’s putting a show together on the fly...If you read those crazy lists it’s like Liza, Chita Rivera, Jon Bon Jovi, [etc] and then the lady that comes from Long Island who wrote a song about her feet following Liza Minnelli. Haha. Believe me it’s nothing that I could have dreamed up. It’s just the way the event goes and that’s part of the fun. TS: It must be somewhat intimidating for newcomers to perform after someone like Liza Minnelli...They must be like “What am I doing??” scared. JC: Haha. Well sometimes they get to open for Liza or she opens for them. I think part of the reason that it’s not particularly intimidating is that the energy of Cast Party is very upbeat. There’s never been boo-ing or screaming “get off the stage.” I always wanted it to be a positive experience for people no matter who they are. If it’s Martin Short trying out a new song before he goes on Letterman or the kid that just got his first chorus job here in New York and wants to tryout an original tune. I want it to be equal opportunity fun and positive experience. TS: Is it ever risky to have new acts that you don’t get to preview before they hit the stage? JC: Yeah it can be risky, but that’s also part of the fun in the ‘yikes is that really a man playing the didgeridoo...do we need to hear the didgeridoo...haha.’ But I know that’s part of the fun and what people end up talking about at the end of the night are the really wacky people...the combination of celebrities that come in and the wacky types. Its’ kind of like the gong show in that way. Oie god, that’s a scary thought, haha. TS: How would you describe the Cast Party experience to someone who has never heard of the show? JC: One of the TV stations called it an extreme open-mic...it was ABC TV and that pretty much explains it. You’ll see some of the greatest performers in the world and also other people, haha. It runs the gamut from A to Z and it’s a very upbeat, fun, funny, musically terrific evening that runs every Monday night at Birdland. TS: Also you’ll be hosting it at Town Hall on February 23rd. Will this be a first time Cast Party there? JC: No we did this last year, it was so fun! The producer Scott Siegel produces quite a few events there [at Town Hall] every year. Last year he asked me to present and host Cast Party as part of his Town Hall Series and of course I was thrilled. It was a big smash! We had a blast and it was sold out. It was a thrilling night and we raised a lot of money for Broadway Cares which is always a nice icing on the cake. So when he asked again this year, I jumped at the chance and opened up my address book and started calling all my friends. This year it’s Benefit for the Actors Fund which is such a great organization that takes care of all kinds of people in the performing arts in their time of need. TS: Well Jim, it has been a hoot talking to you. I wish you and the Cast Party all the best at the upcoming show! JC: Thank you so much.
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