It is an open mic where the person ahead of you in the queue might be a Tony winner who just finished a run and wanted one more song. Jim Caruso hosts with the timing of someone who has done this for two decades, Billy Stritch plays whatever key you need, and the room — Birdland's jazz-club red, tables tight together — turns strangers into a single audience fast. Skip the tourist bar and buy a seat here instead.
What to expect
Doors open ahead of the set and the room fills with a mix of theater people, cabaret regulars and curious walk-ins. Caruso opens, the band plays, and then it is a rolling parade of singers, comics and instrumentalists from the signup list. Sets run short, the standard is startlingly high, and drop-ins from Broadway casts are common rather than promised.
Good to know
- A/C/E to 42nd St–Port Authority leaves you a block from the club on West 44th
- There is a food-or-drink minimum per person on top of the cover charge
- Reserve ahead — the room is small and Monday nights fill with regulars
- Want to perform? Bring sheet music in your key and add your name to the signup
- Seating is communal at shared tables, so come ready to talk to neighbors
- It runs late; plan your train home accordingly
Get Saturday planned every Thursday
One email a week — the best of the NYC weekend board. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Common questions
Can anyone sing?
Yes. Cast Party is an open mic — add your name to the list and bring music in your key for the house band.
Do I have to perform?
Not at all. Most of the room comes purely to watch, and the audience is a big part of the atmosphere.
Is there a dress code?
No formal code, though many in the room are coming straight from a theater and dress up a little.
More this weekend
