In its eight year history, Caruso's famous open mike night at Birdland has seen a huge number of major stars drop in unannounced. Fans pack the place hoping it might be the night that Michael Feinstein, Liza, Chita, Tony Bennett, Larry Gatlin, Lucie, Marilyn Maye, Paul Schaffer, Cheyenne Jackson, might pop in and sing a song or two. At Town Hall, last night, February 17th, Cast Party brought out the big guns for The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party in support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDs.
For this special show produced by Scott Siegel as part of his first "Siegel Season at Town Hall, the iconic Liza Minnelli re-united with her pal, Broadway legend Chita Rivera, as well as Country Superstar Larry Gatlin of The Gatlin Brothers. The cast also included Broadway and Nightclub star Lucie Arnaz, Marilyn Maye (Johnny Carson's favorite singer, who holds the record for most appearances by a vocalist on "The Tonight Show"), YouTube sensation "Miranda Sings," Broadway star and Tony nominee Christopher Sieber, Two-Time Tony nominee Sally Mayes, International jazz star Hilary Kole, R&B tenor William Blake (on the heels of his Carnegie Hall debut), Nightlife Award-winning jazz violinist Aaron Weinstein, multi-award-winning cabaret artiste Natalie Douglas, Klea Blackhurst (Merman afficianado and star of the new IFC Comedy Series "The Onion News Network"), acrobat and comedian Rudi Macaggi (direct from "America's Got Talent"), the rocking Dueling Fiddlers and more.
The evening was be hosted by the multi-award winning Jim Caruso, with Billy Stritch at the piano, Steve Doyle on bass and Daniel Glass on drums.
BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you photo coverage below.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.
The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Jill Zaran Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Jill Zaran Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Jill Zaran & Lisa Wexler Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Chita Rivera & Richard Ridge Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Jim Caruso & Dave Koz Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Dave Koz Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Dave Koz Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Dave Koz Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Miranda Sings Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Miranda Sings Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Jenna Esposito & Miranda Sings Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Larry Gatlin Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Larry Gatlin Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Christopher Sieber Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Richie Ridge & Marilyn Mayes Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Marilyn Mayes, Christopher Sieber, Andrew, Karen Ziemba & Jim Caruso Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Karen Ziemba & Jim Caruso Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Chita Rivera & daughter Lisa Mordente Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Christopher Sieber, Andrew Gerle, Karen Ziemba & Jim Caruso Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Ensemble cast Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Ensemble cast Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Liza Minnelli Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Liza Minnelli & Chita Rivera Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Lucie Arnaz, Liza Minnelli & Billy Stritch Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Lucie Arnaz, Liza Minnelli & Billy Stritch Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Jim Caruso, Lucie Arnaz, Liza Minnelli Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Chita Rivera & daughter Lisa Mordente Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Liza Minnelli Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Lisa Mordente, Chita Rivera & Liza Minnelli Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Lisa Mordente, Chita Rivera & Liza Minnelli Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Lisa Mordente, Chita Rivera & Liza Minnelli Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Jim Caruso & Scott Siegel Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Chita Rivera & Jim Caruso Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Billy Stritch, Chita Rivera, Jim Caruso & Scott Siegel Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Billy Stritch, Chita Rivera, Jim Caruso, Scott Siegel, Hinton Battle, Vivian Nixon & dancer Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Jim Caruso, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Lucie Arnaz & Scott Siegel Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Lisa Mordente, Chita Rivera, Jim Caruso, Lucie Arnaz, Liza Minnelli, Billy Stritch, Marilyn Mayes & Scott Siegel Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Sally Mayes, Billy Stritch, Chita Rivera, Jim Caruso, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Lucie Arnaz, Scott Siegel Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Chita Rivera, Jim Caruso, Lucie Arnaz, Liza Minnelli & Billy Stritch Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Lisa Mordente, Chita Rivera, Jim Caruso, Lucie Arnaz, Liza Minnelli, Billy Stritch, Marilyn Mayes Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
Liza Minnelli & Billy Stritch Backstage at The Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a Benefit for BC/EFA at Town Hall in New York City.
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