Photo Flash: Billy Stritch and Jim Caruso Perform in Concert at Birdland

On Monday, August 11, Billy Stritch and Jim Caruso took to the Birdland stage for the first time. OK, not exactly. They've been hosting Cast Party in the historic music room every week for eleven years - but this was the swinging duo's first time to be booked in concert! Thanks to their faithful Cast Party following, and the fact that Jim has been booking the Broadway at Birdland concert series for a decade, the room was packed with friends, fans and fellow performers. Caruso and Stritch were joined by Steve Doyle on bass, and jazz vocalist superstar Jane Monheit made a surprise musical cameo. Scroll down for photos!

The two performers, who have performed extensively on their own, gained national exposure together as the host and musical director of the wildly popular open mic, Cast Party, which celebrates talent every Monday at Birdland, tours nationally, and was part of this season's Lincoln Center American Songbook. For the past two years, they have been headlining at Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel, where they are constantly in the news when showbiz heavy-hitters like Liza Minnelli, Bono and Michael Feinstein join them in impromptu performances.

You can catch Caruso and Stritch holding court at Birdland every Monday night at 9:30pm, and at Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel every Sunday in September and December.

Photo Credit: Kevin Alvey