2003 BACK STAGE MAGAZINE
Bistro Award Winners Announced

The winners of the 2003 Back Stage Bistro Awards for Outstanding Excellence in Cabaret:

Major Engagement: Christine Ebersole at Cafe Carlyle; Steven Lutvak at Joe's Pub.

Major Jazz Engagement: Jane Monheit at the Oak Room at The Algonquin.

Vocalist: Marcus Simeone at the Duplex and Don't Tell Mama.

International Artist: Barb Jungr at The Flea Theater.

Debut: Justin Daniel at Don't Tell Mama; Chad Kimball at Ars Nova Theater; Felicia Finley at Ars Nova Theater.

Return to Cabaret: Ellen Greene at The Bottom Line.

Outstanding Performer in a Revue: Eric Comstock, Bill Henderson, Dena DeRose for "Made for the Movies: A Hollywood Songbook" at the Oak Room at The Algonquin.

Musical Comedy Performer: John Flynn in "Dances with Pitchforks" at Don't Tell Mama, Joe's Pub, and Rose's Turn; Elaine Brier in "Jirque du Soleil" at Don't Tell Mama.

Musical Duo: Michael Holland and Karen Mack for "Ice Gasholes... the next decade" at Don't Tell Mama.

Theme Show: "Songs in the Style of Weill" written and performed by Lorinda Lisitza at Don't Tell Mama.

Singer/Songwriter/Instrumentalist: Ed Alstrom for "Acid Cabaret" at Don't Tell Mama and Danny's Skylight Room.

Consistent Excellence in Songwriting: John Bucchino.

Special Material: "The Song Is Mine" with lyric by John DePalma and music by James Followell.

Musical Director: D. Jay Bradley.

Director: Lina Koutrakos.

Recording: Darius de Haas for "Day Dream"; Jerry Scott for "...with a little help from my friends."

Continued Piano Bar Excellence: Jerry Scott at Danny's Skylight Room.

Piano Bar Entertainment: Leslie Anderson at Judy's Chelsea and Rose's Turn.

Special Award: To Matt Dennis, posthumously, in recognition of his contribution to the Great American Songbook; to Judy's Chelsea, for continuous excellence and nurturing of cabaret; to Joy Behar, in recognition of "Joy's Comedy Corner" on ABC's "The View" and its contributions made to the comedy industry; to Mark Nadler, in recognition of his continuing to raise the standards of cabaret performance.

A new award, the Ira Eaker Special Achievement Award, is being named for Sherry Eaker's father, who passed away this past June. Co-founder and copublisher of Back Stage, he had a passion for this art form and was the first one to write cabaret reviews in Back Stage - under the heading of "Bistro Bits"! For its debut year, the award goes to an outstanding performer on the rise, Peter Cincotti.

This year's Bob Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Barbara Carroll.

Winners of the 2003 Bistro Awards will be celebrated at a private black-tie party hosted by Back Stage.

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