The 28th Annual MAC Awards

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All Photos by Stephen Sorokoff

 

“Was I supposed to campaign?” Joked eternally pixyish Anita Gillette as she accepted her Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC) award for Celebrity Artist. “This community is solid and friendly. I’m just stunned.” Cady Huffman presented the award to her and later Ms. Gillette returned to do a segment from her award-winning act. She hilariously reminisced about a down period in her career when she went into “real estate” and became an inept rent collector in Los Angles. Then she performed a sweet “Life is Just A Bowl of Cherries” and followed that with a leggy dance exit off stage.

 

 

Host Terese Genecco

 

The 28^th annual MAC Awards were held at the packed Times Square nightclub B.B. King’s. Competitive awards in 25 categories ranging from piano bar entertainer to directing, recording, comedy and drag were handed out. Winners who were present later returned to perform. A number of honorary awards were also given. The spectrum of entertainment figures recognized ranged from the celebrated to those just beginning their careers. That this is an inclusive festivity and collective was an ever-present theme.

 

Lasting three and a half hours with no intermission, the show remained buoyant throughout its length and never flagged. This was a testament to the sharp presentational talents of producer Julie Miller, director Lennie Watts and stage manager Amy Wolk. Musical director Don Rebic on piano led the band with Jeff Ganz on acoustic guitar, Daniel Glass on drums, all of whom kept it all musically vibrant.

 

“Applause” from the eponymous Broadway musical mashed up with Lady Gaga’s recent pop tune “Applause” was the brash opening number performed by the show’s very talented and funny host, vocalist and comedian Terese Genecco. She reappeared throughout each time clad in a different over the top male outfit.

 

 

Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Linda Lavin and Presenter Jim Caruso

 

“After years of performing in clubs called upstairs and downstairs she finally elevated herself to street level!” Joked ubiquitous presenter and performer Jim Caruso in his eloquent introduction to Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Linda Lavin. “This is a true honor.” She paid tribute to cabaret impresario Jan Wallman, “Thank you for changing my life.” Seated at a piano she then performed very emotional renditions of “Long Ago and Far Away” and “It Amazes Me.”

 

The awards for New York debut male and female went to seasoned performers. “I feel like a kid!” said Mary Lahti. In the mold of Mel Torme, Gary Crawford delightfully performed a warm jazzy song, “Make Yourself At Home.”

 

Two scholarships for Performing Arts education were awarded to young girls from Wingspan Arts, Jenna Barricklo and Sofia Bryant. Ms. Bryant’s performance of the old show business anthem, “I’ve Got to Be Me,” was quite thrilling and showed the torch is being passed on.

 

 

Duo/Group Winners Tanya Holt and Marcus Simeone

 

The ample old style drag performer Ruby Rims wittily presented the award for Impersonation/Characterization/Drag Artist to Roger Antony Mapes. In garish makeup and a huge beehive/bouffant he did a rousing inspirational song from his Rev. Yolanda’s Old Time Gospel Hour.

 

With Sean Harkness on guitar playing a somber tune, Rickey Ritzel announced and described those in the cabaret world had died in the past year while slides of their images were projected on screens on each side of the stage. Included was MAC co-founder Erv Raible to whom the show was dedicated. Earlier those screens projected and continued to project the evening’s presentations.

 

“She’s been performing for 70 years and she didn’t start in a cradle! She was on Johnny Carson 76 times. The lady is truly possessed.” Enthused legendary costume designer Bob Mackie in his introduction of Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Marilyn Maye. “Enough talk! I’ll just sing!” Glancing at lyric sheets on a music stand she did a funny topical special material parody song. “I’ll know it in a year. I’ll be 86 soon. Shhh—don’t tell anyone.” Then she sang an awesome version of “Here’s To Life.”

 

 

Best Recording and Best Major Artist winner Marissa Mulder

 

“That’s New York! Come out and support us!” exclaimed youthful Piano Bar Instrumentalist winner Nate Buccieri. That summed up the spirit of the event.

 

Other awards were:

 

2014 Board of Directors Award for the Eugene O’Neill Cabaret and Performance Conference accepted by director John McDaniel.

 

The Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Award went to the Park Concert Series (formerly The Concerts for City Greens), and was accepted by its founder, Raissa Katona Bennett.

 

The Hanson Award went to vocalist Amy Beth Williams.

 

Complete list of competitive awards:

 

FEMALE VOCALIST

BILLIE ROE, 1978 NYC Underground

Metropolitan Room, Duplex

 

MALE VOCALIST

JONATHAN WHITTON, The Free Residency; Black Sheep Carnival

Don’t Tell Mama

 

MAJOR ARTIST

MARISSA MULDER, Tom…In His Words: The Songs of Tom Waits

Metropolitan Room, Stage 72, Joe’s Pub

 

CELEBRITY ARTIST

ANITA GILLETTE, After All

Metropolitan Room, St. James Studio (London), Cape May Stage (NJ)

 

NEW YORK DEBUT – FEMALE

MARY LAHTI, A Kid Again

Duplex

 

NEW YORK DEBUT – MALE

GARY CRAWFORD, In Love With Love

Metropolitan Room, Don’t Tell Mama

 

MUSICAL COMEDY PERFORMER

COLLEEN MCHUGH, Calendar Girl

Duplex

 

IMPERSONATION/CHARACTERIZATION/DRAG ARTIST

ROGER ANTHONY MAPES, Rev. Yolanda’s Old Time Gospel Hour

Duplex

 

DUO/GROUP

TANYA HOLT & MARCUS SIMEONE, Quiet Storm

Metropolitan Room

 

REVUE

TWENTIETH CENTURY GIRL: THE LOIS MORTON SONGBOOK, Music and lyrics by Lois Morton, directed by Lennie Watts, musical direction and arrangements by Paul Greenwood

Don’t Tell Mama, Duplex

 

RECURRING SERIES

SALON (founder, artistic director and host, Mark Janis)

 

SPECIAL PRODUCTION

THE AMANDA MCBROOM PROJECT. Conceived and Directed by Eric Michael Gillett, songs by Amanda McBroom

Laurie Beechman Theater

 

EMCEE-RECURRING SERIES

DANA LORGE

 

ENSEMBLE INSTRUMENTALIST

SEAN HARKNESS, Guitar

Lauren Fox (Metropolitan Room); Terese Genecco’s Little Big Band (Iridium, 54 Below, Cutting Room); Karen Akers (Allen Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center), Joanne Tatham (Café Carlyle)

 

PIANO BAR INSTRUMENTALIST

NATE BUCCIERI

Don’t Tell Mama, Duplex

 

RESTAURANT/HOTEL LOUNGE INSTRUMENTALIST

BILL ZEFFIRO

La Mediterranée

 

PIANO BAR/RESTAURANT SINGING ENTERTAINER – FEMALE

ALISON NUSBAUM

Don’t Tell Mama

 

PIANO BAR /RESTAURANT SINGING ENTERTAINER – MALE

BOBBY BELFRY

Brandy’s

 

MUSICAL DIRECTOR

TRACY STARK

Barb Jungr (Joe’s Pub, O’Neill Conference, 59E59), Billie Roe (Metropolitan Room, Duplex), Tanya Holt & Marcus Simeone (Metropolitan Room)

 

DIRECTOR

LENNIE WATTS

Billie Roe (Metropolitan Room, Duplex), Marquee Five (54 Below), Picture Perfect – The Music and Lyrics of Scott Evan Davis (Duplex, Catalina Jazz Club), 20th Century Girl: The Lois Morton Songbook (Don’t Tell Mama, Duplex)

 

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

JEAN-PIERRE PERREAUX

Marilyn Maye, Anita Gillette, Annie Ross (Metropolitan Room)

 

BEST RECORDING (LaMott Friedman Award)

MARISSA MULDER

“Tom… In His Words”

 

BEST SONG

THE RIGHT TIME by Andrew Sotomayor

 

COMEDY/NOVELTY SONG

SHALOM, SANTA

Music by Douglas J. Cohen and Lyrics by Tom Toce

 

SHOW OF THE YEAR

ECHOES OF ETTA: A TRIBUTE TO ETTA JAMES, Created and conceived by William Blake and Michael Thomas Murray, starring William Blake, musical direction by Michael Thomas Murray Birdland, Joe’s Pub, Café Carlyle

 

 

28^th Annual MAC Awards (March 27^th, 2014)

B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd Street, in Manhattan

For tickets, visit http://www.macnyc.com

Running time: Three and a half hours without intermission