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Since 2010, “A Swinging Christmas” has been a wildly successful extravaganza celebrating the holidays, at the historic New York City music room Birdland, to sold-out audiences. For tickets visit: brushfire.com/jmproductions/concerts/581382In the tradition of beloved seasonal specials, Blackhurst, Caruso, and Stritch plan to perform swinging arrangements of “Christmas Waltz,” Kay Thompson’s “Holiday Season,” “Sleigh Ride,” “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” and “Snow,” among other favorites.
The cast includes KLEA BLACKHURST who is an actress, singer, and comedienne known for her award-winning tribute to Ethel Merman, Everything the Traffic Will Allow. She recently appeared at Carnegie Hall as Emily Whitman in Follies in Concert. She appeared Off-Broadway with Hayley Mills in Party Face, at City Center Stage 2.
Blackhurst starred in Hazel during its world premiere production at Drury Lane in Chicago, as Dolly Levi in the Fiftieth Anniversary production of Hello, Dolly! at The Goodspeed Opera House and as Miss Lemon in The Nutty Professor, directed by legendary comedian, Jerry Lewis and featuring a score by Marvin Hamlisch and Rupert Holmes. Klea also played Rose in Drury Lane Chicago’s production of Gypsy.
She’s performed with symphony orchestras and in theatrical productions across the country and abroad including the London Palladium presentation of Jerry Herman’s Broadway with Angela Lansbury, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra tribute to Marvin Hamlisch, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, 15 Mabel Mercer Foundation Cabaret Conventions, New York’s Town Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, New York’s 92nd Street Y Lyrics & Lyricists, The Chicago Humanities Festival and as Ado Annie in the BBC concert of Oklahoma! in London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Joining Klea is JIM CARUSO who most recently performed the role of Theodore Whitman in Follies in Concert at Carnegie Hall. He made his Broadway debut alongside Liza Minnelli in the Tony Award-winning Liza’s at The Palace, singing, dancing, and celebrating the music and arrangements of Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers. He has won seven MAC, nine BroadwayWorld, and two Summit Awards for his work in nightclubs.
At Carnegie Hall, he has performed with the New York Pops in tributes to Barry Manilow, Kander & Ebb, Bing Crosby (with Rosemary Clooney) celebrating Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope & Bing Crosby (with Michael Feinstein). He was also honored to sing with a bevy of Broadway stars at President Clinton’s First State Dinner at the White House.
For twenty-one years, Jim has hosted the weekly showbiz bash, Jim Caruso’s Cast Party” at Birdland, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and across the country. He also stormed YouTube with seventy-six episodes of “Pajama Cast Party.” Jim produces the weekly Broadway at Birdland concert series and performs weekly with Billy Stritch at Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel.
Rounding out the cast is BILLY STRITCH who is one of the premier singer-pianists in the New York and national jazz and cabaret scenes. A chance meeting with Liza Minnelli in March of 1991 resulted in her asking him to create vocal arrangements for the record-breaking extravaganza Liza Stepping Out at Radio City Music Hall. In addition to his 25-year collaboration with Liza, Billy recently toured with the legendary Tony Bennett as Tony’s pianist and musical director.
A solo entertainer in his own right, he has performed his own shows (including tributes to Mel Tormé and Cy Coleman) in concert halls and nightclubs across the country. Billy also serves as music director for such leading vocalists as Linda Lavin, Christine Ebersole, Paulo Szot, and Marilyn Maye. He is the co-writer of the Grammy-winning song “Does He Love You” recorded by Reba McEntire and Linda Davis.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
United First Parish Church (Unitarian Universalist) Quincy, MA, 1306 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02169, United States,Quincy, Massachusetts
