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Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC) celebrates its annual Gala on March 27, 2014 at BB King’s, hosted by multiple MAC Award winner, Terese Genecco. The gala will be produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, the current MAC President.

Two Lifetime Achievement awards will be given this year: one to Tony Award winning actress, television star and singer,Linda Lavin, and the other will be presented to the 85 year old Marvelous Marilyn Maye, who is everywhere!  Marilyn Maye appeared 76 times on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

The Board of Directors Award will be given to the Eugene O’Neill Cabaret and Performance Conference for their dedication to the art of cabaret. In addition, MAC will continue its tradition of awarding a scholarship to a teen (who will perform at the awards show!) through WINGSPAN, providing a year of after school music education.

Nominees in 20 categories are voted anonymously by the general membership. Final nominees are announced in early March, the winners kept secret until the ballot is opened on stage at the awards gala. At that time, several of the winners will perform after receiving their award. Award categories include Male/Female Vocalist, Celebrity Artist, Benefit Series (Ruth Kurtzman Award), Recurring Series, Musical Director, Recording (Lamott-Friedman Recording Award) and Major Recording among others.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs (MAC) was founded in 1983, primarily as an organization for cabaret owners, managers, and booking agents to meet and exchange ideas. The organization started accepting performers in 1985. MAC’s mission is to advance the art and business of live entertainment, heighten public awareness of the field’s contributions and vitality, to honor its creativity, to build its current and future audiences, and to speak out as an influential voice on behalf of MAC members and the industry at large.?Members of MAC include cabaret, comedy and jazz artists and directors, technicians, management, club owners and personnel, members of the journalism and PR professions and a wide variety of supporters of live entertainment.

The MAC Awards Gala is Thursday March 27, 2014 at BB King’s Blues Club and Grill, 237 W. 42 St between 7th and 8th Avenues. Tickets start at $50.00. For additional information on MAC, to become a member, or to order tickets to the event, visit macnyc.com.