The golden era of Hollywood soirees — with starlets lounging around a piano — may be long gone. But the next best thing comes to L.A. this week when Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a high-energy New York bash based in the Birdland nightclub, arrives at the Magic Castle for two nights. Where else can you find an open mic that puts wannabes on the same stage as Michael Feinstein, Melissa Manchester, Joely Fisher, Cybill Shepherd and other stars? You never know who's going to show up, and there's a strong Broadway flavor when pros like Daisy Eagan, Shoshana Bean and Victoria Oscar swing by, along with writers like David Zippel (City of Angels) and Legally Blonde's Lawrence O'Keefe and Neil Benjamin. Caruso, who hosts the freewheeling night with legendary pianist Billy Stritch, calls the L.A. show “a Who's Whotenanny” of talent. “I want an award for that line,” he says. So what good is sitting alone in your room?

Wed., Oct. 6, 8 p.m.; Thu., Oct. 7, 8 p.m., 2010

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