Jim Caruso's Cast Party with Billy Stritch
Birdland315 West 44th Street, New York 10036
Jim Caruso hosts Cast Party at Birdland, joined by Billy Stritch on piano, Steve Doyle on bass and Daniel Glass on drums. The long-running Monday-night event is an impromptu vocal open mic and variety show: audience members, emerging performers and show-business guests can take a turn with the house trio, while Caruso keeps the proceedings moving. Expect a mix shaped by Broadway, jazz and cabaret, with the grand piano open to willing singers.
Cast Party is a New York City institution that has brought “Broadway glitz and urbane wit” to Birdland for decades. Caruso and Stritch have also taken the format to London, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco, as well as Dave Koz jazz cruises. The show has received BroadwayWorld, MAC, Bistro and Nightlife awards, and its appeal lies in the unpredictable handoff between seasoned guests, newcomers and the room itself. As Next Magazine put it, “No one can be called a true New Yorker until they’ve been to the Cast Party.”
Birdland offers a refined jazz experience in a room where the audience sits at tables close to the stage, allowing every note to reach you clearly. The venue features a full menu with dishes like New Orleans-style gumbo alongside a well-stocked bar, making it easy to enjoy a meal or drinks while listening. Each show is ticketed per set, encouraging focused listening as the music unfolds in roughly 45-minute segments. The club’s walls echo decades of jazz history, having hosted legends and continuing to attract top contemporary artists. Located in Manhattan’s Theater District, the space balances a serious music environment with the energy of a night out, where attentive audiences savor the performances without distraction. Booking ahead is essential, as the club fills quickly for its celebrated lineup.