1996 BACK STAGE BISTRO AWARDS SHOW REPORT
MARCH 11, 1996

It has to be called one of the biggest, brightest and exciting cabaret shows in 1996. Held at the elegant SUPPER CLUB, this year's BISTRO AWARD show was packed to the brim with talent and thrills.

They packed the house - for the first time tickets were available to the general public - and all the Cabaret powers were there. (In the past, you had to be a former winner, current winner or a good friend of Sherry Eaker to get in). Sherry produced and hosted this year's event, with co-hosts John Hoglund, Roy Sander and Martin Schaeffer, along with guest host Angela LaGreca. Unfortunately, Marty Schaeffer was too ill to attend.

Director Sara Louise Lazarus and Technical Director Jaye Lee had their hands full, with 29 awards to be presented, 16 acts to show, and film clips, special presentations, etc. I could only imagine what was going on back stage as one act was receiving an award and the next act was being set up. All in all it went smoothly with only a few glitches.

The show opened with the dazzling duo of Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway doing a number from their "Sibling Revelry" show - with the gals receiving awards as well as their director Dan Foster.

BACK STAGE editor-in-chief Sherry Eaker gave a few welcoming remarks, and introduced Angela LaGreca as guest MC - given the job of moving the show along - and keeping us entertained while the stage was being prepared for the next act. Not an easy task, but Angela handled it with ease.

Charles Cermele followed with "Fly Me to the Moon" from his award winning recording "Look in My Eyes". This man sings like a dream. Outstanding Vocalist Tom Postilio was entertaining somewhere in the Mediterranean, so he was unable to accept in person. However a rather long message from him was read by John Hoglund, expressing his thanks.

Outstanding Songwriter John Wallowitch gave us a special treat when he sang from his show "Photographs", bringing on stage Lynn Lobban, Bertram Ross and Dixie Carter (currently appearing at the Cafe Carlisle) to sing his very funny "I'm Twenty Seven" gem. This was followed by the amazing Outstanding Vocalist Jane Scheckter singing "Fun to be Fooled".

Winner for Outstanding Theme Show, Katie LaBourdette, did a number from her "Cocktails With Marilyn" show, "I Wanna Be Loved By You". Her Marilyn Monroe impression is so convincing, it sent chills up my spine! She was accompanied by Daryl Kojak, who won an award for Outstanding Musical Direction - one that has been long overdue.

Outstanding Singer/Songwriter Rick Jensen sang his "Miss Manhattan (Won't You Marry Me?)" with Lina Koutrakos providing backups (and nearly stealing the act!). Vicki Stuart was home in London, unable to accept her award for Outstanding Theme Show ("We'll Meet Again") which moved from cabaret to Broadway last year.

It seems that every year a BISTRO goes to an act that I would never have chosen, and this year was no exception. Sorry, Marisa Diotolevi, I simply think your "Consummate Woman of the '90's" show was not of a calibre of the other performers and performances cited. The number she presented at the show: "The Kitty Litter starring Bessy Blue" was a case in point. And the acceptance speech given is best forgotten.

After a false start, Martha Lorin sang from her Outstanding Recording ("A Celebration of Ella") "I Didn't Know What Time It Was". I wish I could get my hands on a copy of this CD - everyone who has heard loves it.

Outstanding Singer/Instrumentalist Eric Hanson sang his "I Surrender", followed by the amazing Steve Hayes with a monologue from his show, "Tarring the Roof". He has to be one of the funniest men in town!

Outstanding Vocalist Aaron Lee Battle (another winner long overdue for an award) gave a stirring rendition of "Caravan" from his show.

This was followed by a very moving tribute to performers lost this year, made up of video clips from Bradshaw Smith's extensive collection. Danny Apolinar, Randy Allen, Bill Wright, Ted Hook, Julius Monk, Nancy LaMott, Arthur Siegel and others were remembered.

A special BISTRO TRIBUTE award was given to ASCAP's Michael Kerker - one of the unsung heros of cabaret. Somehow this man is able to see to the needs of both songwriters and singers on both Coasts! And he does it with such finesse, you don't even notice he was there!

Outstanding Vocalist Lisa Asher once again proved that she is here to stay, with her "My Old Kentucky Home/Wildflowers" medley from he show. This gal is great, but the arrangements by Jeff Waxman should have won an award as well. This spectacular duo are currently unmatched in cabaret.

John Pizzarelli (Outstanding Singer/Instrumentalist) was performing in California and unable to accept his award in person.

Another great talent, Nancy Timpanaro, did a number from her musical "Totie" (Outstanding Theme Show). This gal brought down the house with her depiction of singer/comic Totie Fields.

The trio of Kate Cogswell, Michael Marotta and Deborah Tranelli, who won for Best Performance in a Revue, sang and danced "Glitz" for us, from Francesca Blumenthal's hit show "Life is Not Like the Movies". Hope Hardcastle, who directed the show, was given the award for Outstanding Direction. Not one to make a long story short, Hope proceeded to thank everyone she has ever worked with or for, including her hairdresser! She paid special tribute to another unsung behind the scenes hero of cabaret, the late Roy Hemming.

Outstanding Comedy Performer John Fugelsang, gave us a sample of the material that brought him from the Duplex Star Search to having his own show on VH-1, a part in a major motion picture, and appearances on all the major networks - all in less than two years. This young man is brilliant, and is bringing back the comedy monologue as an art form (along with Steve Hayes, Julie Halston and others).

The final announced act of the evening was Christopher Durang and Dawne, (Outstanding Musical Comedy) the zany trio whose shows at TRIAD had the whole town talking. They gave us a sample of "Broadway Medley".

Finally, Margaret Whiting took the stage to present the Bob Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award to singer/songwriter Portia Nelson - a lady whose lifetime has certainly been one of achievement! Portia sang a number from her just released CD, "This Life". I must tell you, I received a copy of the CD just a few days ago - it is a must buy CD!!

I close with a quote from a very gracious award winner, Martha Lorin, who moved from New Mexico to break into the NYC jazz scene. "The song goes 'If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere' to which must be added, if you can't make it here, why would you want to try anywhere else?"

Congratulations to all the winners - not just of the recognition of work done in 1995 - but for daring to take part in this crazy world of cabaret, and proving that talent, hard work, with the help of very good friends, is recognized and rewarded in this town.

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