This fun-filled musical night that takes the audience through a love affair with New York City and an actor’s journey to Broadway.
BIRDLAND THEATER will present rising actress and vocalist Ava Paris Locknar in “Tall Girl Singing" on Thursday, April 18 at 8:30 PM. This fun-filled musical night that takes the audience through a love affair with New York City and an actor’s journey to Broadway. Join Locknar for a night of storytelling, laughs, belty Broadway classics, songs by Victoria Shaw, Billy Stritch, and so much more. The show features special guests Nicolas King and Jonathon Timpanelli, with music director Mason Margut. There is a $30 music charge. Birdland is located at 315 West 44th Street in New York.
Ava Paris Locknar was born and raised in Nashville and New York, and grew up surrounded by the arts. She completed her studies at the William Esper Studio in 2023 and has been acting in New York City ever since. Ava worked with the Reckless Few on their recent production A Matter of Faith, as well as their premiere performance of Five Times in One Night by Chiara Atik. Her singing credits include performances at the Birdland Jazz Club, as well as background vocals for Kristin Chenoweth and Alice Cooper. Catch her on TikTok daily @rubylocknarofficial
BIRDLAND THEATER will present Ava Paris Locknar in “Tall Girl Singing,” on Thursday, April 18 at 8:30 PM. There is a $30 music charge and a $20 food and beverage minimum. Birdland is located at 315 West 44th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues) in Manhattan. For reservations, please call (212) 581-3080 or visit www.BirdlandJazz.com.
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UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS AT
BIRDLAND THEATER AND BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB
Jim Caruso’s Cast Party
“Jim Caruso’s Cast Party,” a New York institution for two decades, is a wildly popular weekly open mic night/variety show that has brought a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to Birdland since 2003. Called “show-business heaven” by The New York Times and “the gold-standard of open mic nights” by The Wall Street Journal, “Cast Party” presents a potent mix of Broadway stars, jazz swingers and cabaret legends, in addition to new faces and rising talent from every genre. The buoyant, sharp and charming Caruso guides the entire affair, while musical genius Billy Stritch (Liza Minnelli, Tony Bennett) holds court at the ivories and leads the Cast Party Symphony Orchestra (Steve Doyle on bass and Daniel Glass on drums). Eric Adams, the Mayor of the City of New York, recently proclaimed, “Whereas, I am enormously proud to lead a city renowned as a global capital of the arts, ‘Jim Caruso’s Cast Party’ has enriched our dynamic cultural landscape since 2003, and on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, I am pleased to recognize the weekly show's tremendous contributions to our performing arts and nightlife sectors.”
$30 + $20 food/drink minimum
The Lineup with Susie Mosher
“The Lineup with Susie Mosher” is a wild, anything-goes variety show featuring entertainers from the Broadway, cabaret and comedy scenes, ranging from today’s hottest headliners to the best up-and-coming stars of tomorrow. Mosher – the noted actress and singer from Broadway and beyond, called “one of those talents you need to see to believe” by Time Out New York – hosts the spontaneous extravaganza every Tuesday, and each Lineup is unique and promises to deliver an unforgettable night of quintessential New York City entertainment.
$20 + $20 food/drink minimum
Christine Lavin and Julie Gold with Special Guests – “April Fools”
Julie Gold, and Christine Lavin - with special guests Buskin & Batteau and John Forster - will get together (as they do every April) to share some of their funniest musical offerings, and prove it's never too late to make April Fools of themselves. Multi-instrumentalists Buskin & Batteau have been winning hearts and minds with their soulful acoustic ballads and fun-filled performances for decades. About clever songwriter John Forster, Tom Lehrer says, “You don’t need me anymore. Now you've got John Forster to kick around.” Julie Gold, Grammy Award-winning author of the Bette Midler anthem, “From a Distance,” has had songs covered by Patti LuPone, Patti LaBelle, Elaine Paige, and so many more. Christine Lavin’s humorous songs have been sung by Betty Buckley, Sutton Foster, and Klea Blackhurst.
$30 tables / $20 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
Alice Ripley and John McDaniel
Tony Award-winning singer and actress Alice Ripley and Grammy and Emmy Award-winning music director and pianist John McDaniel will appear in concert for Ripley to sing the songs she made famous on Broadway. McDaniel will join her on piano and the two will share their many stories from a lifetime spent in music. Ripley received the Tony Award for “Best Actress in a Musical” in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Next to Normal. She made her Broadway debut in The Who’s Tommy in 1992. Other original Broadway casts include Side Show (“Best Actress in a Musical” Tony nomination), Sunset Boulevard, American Psycho, The Rocky Horror Show, and James Joyce’s The Dead. McDaniel is a Grammy and Emmy Award-winning music director, composer, director, arranger, orchestrator, and producer, and is an Artistic Director at the Tony Award-winning Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. Most recently, John arranged, orchestrated and was the music director for Carol Burnett’s 90th Birthday Special on NBC, which won the Emmy Award for “Outstanding Primetime Variety Special.” John has collaborated with Cab Calloway, Shirley MacLaine, George Burns, Kristin Chenoweth, Joel Grey, Betty Buckley, Bette Midler, Shirley Jones, and Katy Perry.
$40 tables / $30 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
Wendy Moten – “Sings Richard Whiting with a Splash of Soul”
After several sold-out concerts at Birdland, the Nashville vocalist best known for her 2021 run on NBC’s “The Voice” returns with “Wendy Moten Sings Richard Whiting with a Splash of Soul.” Wendy will celebrate the brilliance of Whiting classics, joined onstage by Henry Hey on keyboards,, Brian Delaney on drums, Aurelien Budynek on guitar, and David Santos on bass. Most recently Wendy made another appearance on “The Voice” to perform with CeeLo Green for Blake Shelton’s final show. Wendy’s new single “Don’t Give Up” was recently released. Moten is a bridge from Memphis to Nashville to the rest of the world. Respected in the music business as a consummate professional for years, the wider public discovered her talent and charm NBC’s “The Voice.” She turned all four judges chairs during her blind audition and ended up as a finalist. A native of Memphis, Wendy sang Pop/R&B on a major label in the ‘90s, then moved to Nashville to become an in-demand harmony singer. She has recorded duets with Michael McDonald, Julio Iglesias, Kirk Whalum, Peabo Bryson, Vince Gill, Keb’ Mo’, Buddy Guy, Paul Brown, John Oates, and others. Wendy has performed as a solo artist on the Grand Ole Opry multiple times and recently with Blake Shelton.
$50 tables / $50 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
Cashino
The LA and NYC cult hit returns to its roots at Birdland – don’t miss the chance to see all four Cashino shows in their original form. Susie Mosher (Hairspray and host of Birdland’s “The Lineup”) and recording artist John Boswell star as Johnny Niagra and Pepper Cole in a special run of the critically acclaimed multimedia musical show starting April 30. Each Cashino starts with a different short film about the lives of the two legendary singers as they embark on a quest to become internet entrepreneurs in the early 2000s, followed by a high energy and emotionally charged live set. Known for seamlessly blending ‘80s pop/rock with classic show tunes, Cashino medleys include: “The Queen & I,” “Midler on the Roof,” “Chicago” and “The Prince & The Poppins.” Film cameos include: Kaye Ballard, Dan Bucatinsky, Mo Gaffney, Kathy Najimy, Peter Facinelli, Will Ferrell, Dan Finnerty, Jenny McCarthy, Michael Orland, Tiffani Thiessen, and more. Whether you’re a longtime fan or first-timer, get ready for a multimedia musical experience that will rock your world.
$35 tables / $25 bar + $20 food/drink minimum
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