Sixteen years ago what started as a private party gradually turned into one of New York City’s best-known weekly music events. It’s an open mic night on steroids called Jim Caruso’s Cast Party. Every Monday night at Birdland the famous and the unknown get the same chance to sing for the crowd in the club that has seen such legends as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk perform. And there’s always a crowd. One reason is that the “Cast Party Symphony Orchestra” is regularly anchored on piano by Billy Stritch (best known as Liza Minnelli’s accompanist.) The other is that the eponymous host is so damned personable and supportive. Cast Party has ventured west for two nights at Upstairs at Vitello’s in Studio City this Thursday and Friday.
I spoke to Caruso by phone from his home in New York about his road show version of Cast Partyand his personal wish list of participants while in LA.
When you take Cast Party on the road, how broadly is the concept of the show recognized?
Happily, and because of the Internet, it’s pretty well known. It’s unbelievable. We’ve done London and Los Angeles many times. We’ve gone to San Francisco, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Miami, Delray Beach six times, Dallas, Austin. That’s not to say that I don’t get on Facebook and say, “who knows the best tap dancer in Cleveland or who is the musical theatre diva in Delray Beach?” Literally within minutes I have a list of people to contact. That’s not to say that we don’t keep it open as an open mic night, but I like to have a list of ringers before we get there just for my own nervous system.
When non-pros get up to sing do they realize what it means to have Billy Stritch playing piano for them?
We always laugh at some of the people who don’t have a clue how fortunate they are to sing with the Cast Party Symphony Orchestra in New York. You don’t understand you just had one of the great accompanists in the world with two of the greatest musicians in New York accompany you. Turn around and enjoy it.
What makes Billy Stritch (who has his own show at Vitello’s the night before) more than just Liza’s accompanist? (In addition to Liza he is Music Director for Tony Bennett, Linda Lavin, Christine Ebersole, Marilyn Maye and more.)
It’s the fact that Billy is an entertainer. We are both obsessed with those great variety shows of the 70s. As musically savvy as he is, he knows how to put on a great show. There are a lot of good piano players, but not a lot of good entertainers. I would certainly classify him as a wonderful entertainer.
If a star comes up to the mic, does he or she get any special treatment?
As you know it can be Liza, it can be the lady who wrote a song about her flower garden. It’s a very democratic system. Everybody is invited and everybody is equally celebrated. If somebody is not so professional they still get the same amount of time and attention, as does someone who is a very fancy esteemed entertainer. There’s no booing. There’s not “get her off the stage” or snarky bitchy hosting involved.
You prefer upbeat songs because it is a party. And you keep your energy and sense of humor up at all times. What gets you down?
I don’t like to see talent mishandled. I don’t like to see talent made fun of. When I watch the television competition shows that really bothers me. When I see the judges rolling their eyes, who the hell are you? The Chitas, the Lizas, the pros in this town, would never do that in 1,000 years. That’s why there is no Broadway Idol. This community would never stand for it. And by the way, these people who are coming in to sing for us are giving me a career. They are creating the show that I am hosting. If somebody isn’t my personal taste, it’s not for me to denigrate them because they chose to come in and sing their song.
When you come to Los Angeles do you have a wish list in your pocket?
I do. Some of my wish list shows up. Last time we had Megan Hilty, Jane Monheit, JoAnne Worley, and Colleen Ballinger who I love who is Miranda Sings. It was just a thrilling night and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I always go back to the people I grew up watching and being obsessed with: Carol Burnett, Dick Van Dyke. If either one would show up I would literally drop dead. I think Bruno Mars would get it. Ricky Martin would so dig it. I know he would! People like that who would play along. Barry Manilow has come to see us, but he’s never performed which kind of kills me because I know he’s that kind of entertainer. Streisand is the ultimate. I don’t know if an open mic is her thing so much. She knows Billy. We have friends in common. I know her sister and her son. They’ve both been to see us. Would it kill you, Barbra?
16 years down the road, do you still enjoy hosting Cast Party?
We figured out a couple years ago that at Birdland we’ve served 75,000 cocktails, had 11 ukuleles, three Osmonds, one ex-Village People member, two Miss America’s and 4,000 performances of “Orange Colored Sky.” It’s not paving roads. It’s hosting an open mic night. It’s fun. I throw a party and people actually show up. And I don’t have to clean up afterwards!
All images Courtesy of Jim Caruso