Christine Ebersole (photos by MaryAnn Lopinto)
For most, New York would be an empty nest without its rich night life. From piano bar dives, intimate cabarets, comedy clubs, jazz emporiums and Broadway belters in concert; it's all there for the taking. And, in these financially challenged times, the paying public is more discerning about where it spends its entertainment dollar. Likewise, night life mavens are more prudent than ever when an often high cover charge is slapped on the table for an evening's entertainment at one of the endless watering holes that dot the landscape. And, the critics who opine this scene are sharper than ever. Enter the Nightlife Awards.

On Monday, January 25, a bevy of musical and comedic miscellanea was on display at the eighth annual Nightlife Awards at The Town Hall. Conceived and produced by the ubiquitous producer/writer Scott Siegel, the event honored artists from the worlds of cabaret, comedy and jazz. Here, the winners are chosen by a diverse group of critics, writers and others who have informed opinions and good taste. It is the only awards show where the winners perform sans acceptance speeches. Previous winners have included: Betty Buckley, Keith Carradine, Karen Akers, Larry Gatlin, Freddy Cole, Donna Murphy, the late Alan King, Keely Smith, Marilyn Maye, Robert Klein, Christine Ebersole & Billy Stritch, Kristen Chenoweth, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Elaine Stritch and John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey. Among the assorted judges were entertainment critics, writers and others including: Adam Feldman (Time Out NY,) Rex Reed (The NY Observer,) Will Friedwald (Wall Street Journal,) Brian Scott Lipton (Theatermania.com,) Stu Hamstra (Cabaret Hotline Online,) Peter Leavy (Cabaret Scenes,) Matt Windman (AM NY,) Angela Bowers (VH-1,) David Hadju (The New Republic,) Rob Lester (Cabaret Scenes/NiteLifeExchange.com,) Erin Rose Foley (HBO,) Barbara Siegel (Talkinbroadway.com/TheaterMania.com,) Chris Mazilli (Gotham Comedy Club owner) and James Gavin (author/journalist among others.

Hosted this year by wacky Emmy winning comic writer Bruce Vilanch, the winners were a mixed bag of artists from the worlds of cabaret, comedy and jazz. The evening opened with Christine Ebersole, who sang a cutesy, “I’ve Got Five Dollars” followed by Molaskey and Pizzarelli's bravura “The World Is Waiting For You With A Song” medley. Vilanch, who referred to the Pizzarelli's as “the Brangelina of cabaret,” launched into the first of several riotous turns introducing himself as Chastity Bono noting a penchant for being mistaken for her, Jerry Garcia or Michael Moore. His ongoing spins on Moms Mabley's off-color jokes and references to his own days at seventies hotspot Reno Sweeney had the house roaring with laughter. He even tied Ebersole into her role as Edie Beale on Broadway in “Grey Gardens” and himself as one of the few who would still admit to seeing Ms. Beale in her one night appearance at the fabled club. He recalled opening for Baby Jane Dexter there as well as the night Peter Allen was arrested for disturbing the piece while performing his club act. He also mentioned other long gone clubs like Les Mouches. And, stretching the years even further, he recalled the late, infamous transsexual Christine Jorgensen who notoriously left the Army, had a sex change and started a club act. A campy hotbed of juicy backstage gossip, Vilanch, who replaced Harvey Fierstein on Broadway in “Hairspray,” with his spit-fire gibes, was himself a major highlight and a terrific host. Hopefully, he will write his memoirs.


Baby Jane Dexter
Eliminating acceptance speeches, the three hour show moved along with one performer after another. Other particular standouts in the first act included pop baritone Kurt Elling who won in the category of outstanding jazz vocalist in a major engagement and delivered a languid, finely crafted “All The Way,” impeccably arranged by brilliant jazz pianist Laurence Hobgood that was riveting. Winning in the piano bar category, Anne Steele shined with “My Foolish Heart.” A winner this year for outstanding cabaret vocalist, Baby Jane Dexter was a big hit (in spite of an over amplified piano) with a yearning “Love Hurts” fused with a manic “Not A Day Goes By.”

James Barbour
Guest artist James Barbour, who performed a series of shows at Sardi's last year, took command of the stage with a powerful “Measure Of A Man” showing what a Broadway leading man is all about. Another guest, Birdland's Cast Party host Jim Caruso, who bowed on Broadway last year with Liza Minnelli, did a fine job on his own with “Side By Side,” until You tube wannabe Miranda Sings interrupted to give him a tongue in cheek singing lesson that left several audience members scratching their heads.

The second act took off like a comet with Johnny Rodgers and his band, who tied with Dexter in the cabaret vocalist category, bringing the house down with a rousing “Birth of the Blues” that raised the roof. After Broadway's Martin Vidnovic sang a theatrical “It Was A Very Good Year,” he introduced the song's 90 year old composer Ervin Drake who was in the audience to thunderous applause. Outstanding comic duo Slovin and Allen read twisted asides from both Barack Obama's book “The Audacity Of Hope” and Hillary Rodham Clinton's “It Takes A Village.” Classy Sheila Jordon, at 81, received an outstanding jazz vocalist award and sang a gentle “Autumn In New York.” Dynamic Howard Fishman was joined by Nellie McKay and had fun with “When It Rains.” Tovah Feldshuh, who has a long history of cabaret credits, surprised everyone with an over the top vaudevillesque spoof on the late Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir doing stand-up comedy Sophie Tucker style that had the hall screaming with laughter.

Broadway's Cheyenne Jackson, who won with Michael Feinstein in the cabaret duo or group after making his cabaret debut recently, offered a well sung “Don't Get Around Much Anymore” a la Michael Buble'. Book-ending the show, Ebersole closed the evening after Vilanch referred to his good friend as “the Meryl Streep of cabaret,” as she sang-acted a reading of “The Music That Makes Me Dance.”


Eric Comstock and Babara Fasano
There were a few no-shows among the winners like jazzers Hank Jones and Bad Plus and comics Louis CK and John Mulaney. Other talents who contributed to the evening included, Todd Barry, Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano, Jay Leonhart, David Rasche, Gretchen Reinhagen and the aforementioned Nellie McKay. As guests, the New York Tap Ensemble literally stole the evening with their show-stopping brand of shuffling, body-slapping and rhythmic tap dancing choreographed by Noah Racey.

Overall, this was an ambitious and significant event for the nightlife community and it continues to grow in stature. This was the eighth Nightlife Awards and it's the only award show of its kind in spite of some formidable talents that don't make the cut. This cheered happening has raised the bar on awards shows - and the party's just getting started.