Jim Caruso’s Cast Party Moves to Ars Nova Theater

Jim Caruso’s Cast Party, which had become a popular weekly event on Monday nights in the King Kong Room of The Supper Club, will move to the Ars Nova Theater at 511 West 54th Street as of Monday, February 9.

“Yay!” says Caruso of the move. “The space at Ars Nova is fantastic. We’re going to try to un-proscenium it a little; we’ll be doing cabaret seating at tables with candles. I think there’ll even be some tables on the stage. The room has such a fantastic vibe; the owners came to our rescue when I had to find homes for 11 different shows that had been booked at the King Kong Room, so I’m thrilled that we’ll be moving the Cast Party there, too.”

Beginning in December 2002, Caruso threw a bash at the King Kong Room almost every Monday night for over a year. On the afternoon of January 12, the club’s management abruptly informed him that the event that night would be the last in the space; ironically, earlier in the evening, Caruso was at The Town Hall to pick up a Nightlife Award for his Cast Party performances. The weekly open-mic gatherings boasted such frequent performers and attendees as John Bucchino, Stephen Schwartz, Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich, and Natalie Douglas, as well as appearances by such stars as Liza Minnelli, Linda Lavin, Michael Feinstein, Brett Sommers, Melissa Errico, Brent Barrett, and Raúl Esparza.

“The whole concept of Ars Nova is to give back to the community,” Caruso told TheaterMania. “So I think it’s the perfect fit for the Cast Party, which turned into sort of a weekly town meeting. We all met to celebrate each other’s openings and CD releases and so on. It became more of a community event than I ever would have imagined. People hooked up romantically there, people got jobs through networking — everyone but me, that is!”

Caruso notes that, whereas there was no cover charge or minimum for the Cast Party at the King Kong Room, there will be an $8 cover at Ars Nova. “But that’s $8 for four hours of entertainment,” he’s quick to point out, “and the drinks will only be $5. So you can come, get looped, and pay the cover for the same price you would have paid for a vodka and tonic at the other place.”

Jim Caruso’s Cast Party will be held every Monday night at Ars Nova at 10pm, beginning February 9, with Billy Stritch as resident pianist and Steve Doyle on bass.