1998 BACK STAGE BISTRO AWARDS GALA REPORT

Each year BACK STAGE, the weekly magazine covering NYC theater, cabaret and other entertainment events presents the BISTRO AWARD to outstanding cabaret performers and performances of the previous year. The awards were begun by the late Bob Harrington, who was the cabaret reviewer for BACK STAGE for many years, and wrote the Bistro Bits column in the paper.

Currently the recipients are chosen by the 2 cabaret reviewers of the BACK STAGE namely John Hoglund and Roy Sander. One of the most important rules of the judging is that you can only win one BISTRO AWARD in a single venue in your lifetime.

The awards were presented at a special ceremony and show at The Supper Club on Monday, March 9th. Here is a report on that event.

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BACK STAGE BISTRO AWARD GALA
MONDAY MARCH 8 - SUPPER CLUB IN NYC

The elegant Supper Club never looked as festive! This former ballroom of the Edison Hotel (which for a short time became the Edison Theater where the famous "nudie musical" OH! CALCUTTA played several years ago) was in all its glory. Just looking around the room one could sense excitement, glamour and anticipation.

The BACK STAGE BISTRO AWARDS GALA has become an annual high point in the cabaret world, where the best of NYC cabaret for the previous year, as chosen by BACK STAGE Cabaret Critics John Hoglund and Roy Sander, are honored. This is not a popularity contest. It is not decided by a mass voting. It is the choice of John and Roy, two of the most experienced and knowledgeable people in the field and highly respected in the cabaret community. To be so recognized is indeed a mark of achievement.

The BISTROS recognize achievement in a wide variety of categories, from outstanding performances to outstanding accomplishments by members of the cabaret community. They are not limited in nature: new categories can be easily drawn up each year as they best describe the recipients. The BISTRO is a one-time honor. Previous winners are excluded from consideration in the same category.

The thing that makes the AWARD GALA so special and exciting it that each winner is asked to do a number from the show or presentation for which they received acknowledgement. With awards in 33 categories this year, the show was varied, interesting, and a bit on the long side (starting at 6:30 pm and running until after 10 pm). Consequently, this will be a long report.

Let me stop at this point and mention that yours truly was ill the night of the show. I had eaten no solid food since Saturday evening, and had actually skipped work on Monday. So I arrived at the Supper Club around 6 PM, missing most of the cocktail reception which had started around 5 pm in the Blue Room (at one time the lobby of the Edison Hotel). The place was packed when I arrived, and since I was refraining from any alcohol, I didn't bother to join the line at the bar (only one bartender on duty!). But festive spirits abounded, accompanied by the inimitable Jerry Scott at the piano, and in spite of my tummy-churnings, I found my mood getting into party mode.

The main room soon opened and I found my table in the press section in the balcony. This area has two great attractions: a direct line of sight to the stage, and a few steps to the upstairs (and less busy) bar. I had a glass of ginger-ale and bitters and my spirits brightened even as my tummy was soothed.

Host Sherry Eaker, editor-in-chief of Back Stage Magazine, and show director Sara Louise Lazarus intend for the guests at the AWARDS GALA to have fun. They were well aware that the evening would be a long one, and one could tell they made special plans to keep everything rolling and festive. So the opening act of Jim and Bob Walton (whose show "My Brother's Keeper" won a BISTRO last year) started the show with an up-beat and funny curtain raiser.

They were no sooner rushed off stage when Liza Asher and the vocal group DOO-WA-ZOO appeared with Jeff Waxman at piano and Marco Brhem on bass to do a special little "Bistro" song written for the occasion by lyricist Marcy Heisler.

Amidst the cheers for this wild number, Sherry Eaker stepped forward to officially open the gala, present Jeff Waxman with the first award for the evening (Outstanding Musical Director) and introduce us to guest emcee, comic Jeffrey Ross (himself a BISTRO winner last year).

Mary Cleere Haran was introduced (Outstanding Musical Engagement) and was accompanied by Richard Rodney Bennett at the piano; two super talents, and the show had just begun!

Next up was singer/songwriter Steven Lutvak (Outstanding Special Material). This award includes a cash endowment donated by Eric Michael Gillett. Steven's pseudo-autobiographical song about his Russian roots (Bagel-makers to the Czars) is a clever item of special material, and Mr. Lutvak's timing is perfection.

Joyce Breach (Outstanding Recording), with Tex Arnold at the piano, followed. I was much more impressed this time than at the Cabaret Convention, last October. Ms. Breach really made contact with the audience in this large room, and her velvet vocals are indeed extraordinary.

The cast of "Heartbeat, It's A Lovebeat!" (Outstanding Musical Review) took the stage and did a lengthy set from this show dedicated to the songs of the 70s, with writer/performer Bob Penola and director Jim Dowd receiving awards.

Ever cheerful Anne Roberts (Outstanding Vocalist) followed, with David Lewis at the piano.

Bright and perky Kate Jetmore and super-talented Brady Schwind (with Brian Hurley at piano) next gave us a sampling of their critically acclaimed and very entertaining "The Season" series (Outstanding Theme Show). These two talented youngsters presented a new show each week about Broadway - I saw several and each was a gem.

"Fairy Tales" was a gay-themed show that started at THE DUPLEX and then moved to an off-off-Broadway space. An obviously nervous Rob Maitland (Outstanding Performance in a Revue), did a number from the show and then accepted his award along with writer Eric Lane Barnes (Outstanding Musical Revue) and director Mark Cannistraro (Outstanding Direction). His song selection was indeed topical.

Chicago's Audrey Morris (Outstanding Singer/Instrumentalist) was next on the program, and once more reminded me how deeply I appreciate her talent and her music. It was a great treat to see this lady recognized by the New York critics and audience. There are not enough awards around to give to this cabaret treasure!

Audrey was followed on stage by Eric Hanson (Outstanding Songwriter).

Georga Osborne (Outstanding Musical Comedy) took center stage (with Gerry Dieffenbach at the piano) and gave of a small and delicious taste of her very funny "Attack of the Killer Showtunes" show that has been packing the house each time it is performed. This was an outstanding highlight of the evening.

She was followed by Christian Nova (Outstanding Recording) with Rick Jensen at piano. If you have not added this CD to your collection yet, you are missing a classic cabaret recording.

The zany acappella/comedy troupe Minimum Wage (Brian Chenowath, Sean Harris, Charlie LaGreca and Jeff LaGreca) was next and had the room roiling with laughter. Their creative antics go far beneath the surface of comedy, and their timing and wit are incredible. They never broke "character" even when taking the mike to make the obligatory "thank-yous." Those who have read my reviews, comments and thoughts about Jeanne MacDonald (Outstanding Vocalist) would have quickly understood my admiration for this "girl with the golden voice" if they were in the room Monday night. Everything wonderful I have ever said about her natural talent, her clean delivery and her heavenly vocals was displayed to the maximum by her performance at the Gala. There soon will be no awards big enough to recognize this lady's awesome abilities. This was a shining hour for Jeanne, and for cabaret.

Jeff Macauley (Outstanding Theme Show), with Paul Trueblood at the piano, followed. His show was based on his total adoration of Dinah Shore, and this audience only was able to get a brief glimpse of Jeff's extraordinary writing/singing skills.

Tommy Femia (Outstanding Impersonation) is currently doing 8 shows a week off-Broadway in a Judy Garland tribute (I WILL RETURN) so a short tape of one of his cabaret performances was shown, with Tommy accepting the award personally.

The show was thankfully shortened when the TV projector quit operating and we were therefore not able to see tapes of Judi Connelli (Outstanding Vocalist) and David Campbell (Outstanding Vocalist), both currently performing in Australia. Portia Nelson and Barbara Cook accepted their awards in their absence.

Richard Skipper (Outstanding Impersonation) woke the room up by entering from the back of the audience as Carol Channing, making his way to the stage, "working the room" as only Carol could. He never broke character throughout, even accepting the award "on behalf of Richard Skipper."

Elena Bennett (Outstanding Vocalist) with Fred Barton at the piano was next. Again it was a thrill to see one of the more hidden talents in cabaret recognized.

Jane A. Johnston (Outstanding Vocalist) with Rick Jensen at the piano. Her presentation was delightfully sophisticated.

KT Sullivan (Special Award for Honoring the Songs of Bart Howard) with and unusually subdued Mark Nadler at piano followed. Bart Howard, who was to be at the show to accept an award (Special Award for a Lifetime of Marvelous Songs) could not appear. From the description of his illness, it sounded like perhaps he and I had shared a meal somewhere along the way.

Comic Jim David (Outstanding Comedy Performer) was next, cleverly introduced by fellow comic and emcee Jeffrey Ross.

His set was followed by songwriter Carol Hall (Special Award for Embracing The World of Cabaret With Her Songs). You may have noted that as the evening got longer, the titles of the awards got longer as well.

Finally, Donald Smith was introduced to present the annual Bob Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award to Marcia Lewis. And after the grand finale, everyone (except your's truly) rushed to the buffet tables.

Some personal notes:

The BACK STAGE BISTRO AWARDS GALA remains one of the finest events in the cabaret year. I do wish, however, that the planners would cut back on the number of awards presented, not just to make it a better show, but also to give the awards themselves a little more impact. 6 performers were named "Outstanding Vocalist," for example. And a few of the longer award titles were a bit creative beyond reason. Please understand that in my opinion, every award was deserved. But with the rule that the award is given "once-in-a-lifetime", perhaps thought should be given to leave a few names for next year. Granted, I was not feeling well all evening, so may have been a little less patient than most.

The Supper Club is a fantastic place for a cabaret awards show! Glittering and glamorous, the table seating and the availability of refreshments are what cabaret is all about. Ms. Eaker and Messrs. Hoglund and Sanders know how to put on a good show, and the Supper Club is the very place to have it.

A minor quibble was the announcer, Howard Pinhosik, who at times seemed to be introducing contestants for the "Price Is Right". Fortunately, as the evening progressed, his vocal antics subsided as well.

Bistro Awards 1998

used with the permission of BACK STAGE -

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