Starring Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso, and Billy Stritch
“A Swinging Christmas” has been a sold-out extravaganza celebrating the holidays at the historic showplace Birdland in New York since 2010. Now the merry show comes to Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Grill for one night only on Tuesday, December 17.
In the tradition of beloved seasonal specials, Blackhurst, Caruso, and Stritch will perform swinging arrangements of “Christmas Waltz,” “Holiday Season”, “Sleigh Ride”, “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” “Snow”, and “It Happened in Sun Valley, along with other holiday favorites. Steve Doyle will join the singers on bass and Daniel Glass on drums.
Klea Blackhurst 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 has performed at the London Palladium with Angela Lansbury and with the Pittsburgh and Atlantia Symphonies. She has brought her cabaret act to Café Carlyle, Joe’s Pub, and Birdland.
Jim Caruso made his Broadway debut alongside Liza Minnelli in the Tony Award-winning “Liza’s at the Palace!” He has won seven MAC, nine Broadway World, and two Summit Awards for his work in nightclubs. At Carnegie Hall, he has performed with the New York Pops in tributes to Bary Manilow, Kander & Ebb and most recently performed the role of Theodore Whitman in “Follies in Concert”. He hosts “Jim Caruso’s Cast Party” every Monday night at Birdland and Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel every Sunday with Billy Stritch.
Billy Stritch is one of the premier singer-pianists in the New York and national 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 toured with Tony Bennett as Tony’s pianist and musical director. A solo entertainer in his own right, he has performed across the country in addition to serving as music director for Linda Lavin, Christine Ebersole, Paulo Szot, and Marilyn Maye. He joins Jim Caruso at Birdland on Monday nights and at Bemelmans Bar on Sundays.
