If you have spent more than twelve minutes with me, you know that I am in love with a fake person named Miranda Sings. I first saw her on YouTube when she gave a “free voice lesson” to the interwebs. I thought she was a neo-Florence Foster Jenkins, as did most everyone. I wrote to “her,” inviting her to Cast Party, my weekly open mic night at Birdland. I heard back from her creator, Colleen Ballinger, a wildly intelligent and brilliantly funny actress. That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship and subsequent business relationship. “Miranda” became a regular on my Broadway at Birdland concert series, until our walls couldn’t hold her fan base. Now, she’s playing the biggest theaters in the world (Kennedy Center!), just signed for the second season of her Netflix sit-com “Haters Back Off,” had a #1 book on the New York Times Bestseller List, has guested on the Tonight Show, and hangs with Jerry Seinfeld. Colleen’s online following rivals the Catholic Church (almost a billion hits), yet she’s still as funny and normal and adorable as ever. This insane video clip makes me hysterical, as do most of her awkward shenanigans.
Jim Caruso 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 six MAC Awards for his nightclub appearances, performed with the New York Pops in a tribute to Kander & Ebb, performed with Rosemary Clooney in a celebration of Bing Crosby, and sang songs of Hope & Crosby with Michael Feinstein at Carnegie Hall. Jim was honored to sing with Barbara Cookat President Clinton’s First State Dinner at the White House. For the past fourteen years, he has hosted the weekly showbiz bash “Jim Caruso‘s Cast Party” at Birdland, Town Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center and across the globe. He also produces the Broadway at Birdland concert series and has a weekly segment on Legends Radio 100.3 FM called “A New York Minute withJim Caruso.” As a crooner, he performs regularly with Billy Stritch at Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel. His two cds, “The Swing Set” and “Caruso Live and In Person” are available online.
Jim Caruso 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 six MAC Awards for his nightclub appearances, performed with the New York Pops in a tribute to Kander & Ebb, performed with Rosemary Clooney in a celebration of Bing Crosby, and sang songs of Hope & Crosby with Michael Feinstein at Carnegie Hall. Jim was honored to sing with Barbara Cookat President Clinton’s First State Dinner at the White House. For the past fourteen years, he has hosted the weekly showbiz bash “Jim Caruso‘s Cast Party” at Birdland, Town Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center and across the globe. He also produces the Broadway at Birdland concert series and has a weekly segment on Legends Radio 100.3 FM called “A New York Minute withJim Caruso.” As a crooner, he performs regularly with Billy Stritch at Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel. His two cds, “The Swing Set” and “Caruso Live and In Person” are available online.
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