Eric Michael Gillett, Karen Mason, Maryann Lopinto, David Friedman, Anita Gillette
by: Eric J. Grimm
The 30th annual MAC Awards celebrating outstanding achievements in cabaret, comedy, and jazz took place on Tuesday, March 29th at the historic B.B. King’s Blues Club in Times Square. The best of New York’s nightlife entertainers filled the Music Room for a long but entertaining evening. Theater Pizzazz was onsite to cover the event and also take part in the ceremony.
Theater Pizzazz’s editor and founder, Sandi Durell, co-presented with WBAI’s David Kenney, the first two awards of the evening for outstanding Revue and Special Production. A major highlight of the show was the presentation of the Board of Directors Award to photographer and frequent Theater Pizzazz contributor Maryann Lopinto. Maryann’s touching and funny speech hit upon the major theme of many of the acceptance speeches: a deep appreciation for the tight-knit cabaret community. Congratulations Maryann! (and even though dressed to the nines, Maryann was still photographing all evening long, backstage and front)
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Amanda McBroom; the Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Award to The Actors Fund: Jamie deRoy & Friends Cabaret Initiative; the Hanson Award to Sally Darling. The evening was directed by Lennie Watts, produced by Julie Miller with Matt Baker as musical director.
Below find the list of Winners in All Categories:
Female Vocalist
Tanya Moberly
Songs I Feel Like Singing
Don’t Tell Mama
Male Vocalist
Kristoffer Lowe
You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me
Metropolitan Room
Major Artist
Stacy Sullivan
Since You’ve Asked
Metropolitan Room
Celebrity Artist
Karen Mason
Mason at Mama’s in March; Love Secrets of the Ancient Divas; Next to Norma; Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!
Don’t Tell Mama, Rrazz Room (New Hope), Rrazz Room at the Prince (Philadelphia), Kennedy Center, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
New York Debut – Female
Natalie Arneson
Mama Drama
The Duplex
New York Debut – Male
Charles Baran
Recipes for Disaster!
Metropolitan Room
Musical Comedy Performer
TIE
Barbara Malley
Eat! Drink! Be Merry!
Don’t Tell Mama
and
Molly Pope
Molly Pope Likes Your Status
The Duplex
Impersonation/Characterization/Drag Artist
Doris Dear
Doris Dear’s Gurl Talk: Unplugged; Doris Dear’s Gurl Talk: The Rumpus Room Edition
Don’t Tell Mama
Duo/Group
Kim Grogg and Kim Sutton
Whenever I Call You Friend
Don’t Tell Mama
Major Duo/Group
Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano
Shoulder Season; Something to Live For: The Strayhorn Centennial; others
Metropolitan Room, National Jazz Museum in Harlem, Birdland, Jazz at Kitano, others
Revue
Another Hundred People
Performed by KT Sullivan and Jeff Harnar, directed by Sondra Lee, musical direction by Jon Weber
Laurie Beechman
Recurring Series
Ricky Ritzel’s Broadway
Created and produced by Ricky Ritzel, staged by Jay Rogers and Aaron Morishita
Don’t Tell Mama, Urban Stages
Special Production
Mama’s Next Big Act
Created and hosted by Lennie Watts, produced by Limor Shekhter and Lennie Watts
Don’t Tell Mama
Emcee
Bobbie Horowitz
It’s Just a Number
Metropolitan Room
Ensemble Instrumentalist
Sean Harkness
Guitar
Piano Bar Instrumentalist
Nate Buccieri
Brandy’s, Don’t Tell Mama
Restaurant/Hotel Lounge Instrumentalist
Sheree Sano
Don’t Tell Mama Happy Hour
Piano Bar Singing Entertainer – Female
Jennifer Pace
Brandy’s
Piano Bar Singing Entertainer – Male
Tommy J. Dose
Don’t Tell Mama
Musical Director
Steven Ray Watkins
Lennie Watts (Don’t Tell Mama), Tanya Moberly (Don’t Tell Mama), Eve Eaton (Don’t Tell Mama), Heather Villaescusa (Don’t Tell Mama), Wendy Russell (Don’t Tell Mama)
Director
Lennie Watts
Kristoffer Lowe (Metropolitan Room), Eve Eaton (Don’t Tell Mama), Kim Grogg & Kim Sutton (Don’t Tell Mama), Raissa Katona Bennett & Kenneth Gartman (Laurie Beechman)
Technical Director
Collette Black
Karen Kohler, William Ludwig, and Sebastian Stert: In This Town: The Songs of Marlene Dietrich & Hildegard Knef; Wendy A. Russell: Where Have I Been All My Life?; Helen Glassman: Confessions of a Native New Yorker: Jerry Phelps: Can’t Have It All
Don’t Tell Mama
Recording (Lamott Friedman Award)
Jim Speake
Sweet Life
Major Recording
Barbara Fasano
Busy Being Free
Song
Hold On Tight
Music by Meg Flather and John Mettam, Lyrics by Meg Flather
Comedy/Novelty Song
TIE
The Egg Nog Song
Music by Derek Gregor, Lyrics by Sam Carner
and
The Mermaid and The Whale
Music by Carolyn Montgomery-Forant and Jeff Cubeta, lyrics by Carolyn Montgomery-Forant
Show Of The Year
Mason at Mama’s In March
Performed by Karen Mason, musical direction by Christopher Denny, directed by Barry Kleinbort
Don’t Tell Mama
*All Photos: Maryann Lopinto
