The 2001 MAC AWARDS Show

This year's MAC AWARDS show was held at TOWN HALL in New York City on April 1st. The following is a report of that show, written by CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE Editor-in-Chief, Stu Hamstra.

REPORT ON THE 15th ANNUAL
MAC AWARDS - APRIL 1, 2001

A brisk Spring breeze pushed us down West 43rd Street on Sunday night, April 1st, as my friend Kit Kineef from Philadelphia travelled the short distance from DALLAS BAR-B-Q to TOWN HALL for the 15th Annual MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs) Awards show. It was just a few minutes after 7:00 pm - the show was scheduled to start at 7:30 pm, but I still had to pick up our tickets from the press desk just off the TOWN HALL Box Office area.

It is sort of a tradition to linger in front of TOWN HALL before a cabaret event, and tonight, in spite of the chill in the air, was no exception. As we wended out way through the crowd waiting for the doors to open, we were greeted by, and in turn greeted, hundreds of friends. Some of them we probably would not see again in this space until the MABEL MERCER CABARET CONVENTION in the fall! Others we would see later that night, or later in the week, at a cabaret show or two.

Dan Fortune of the KEITH SHERMAN & ASSOCIATES Public Relations firm had our envelope in his hand even before we got to the table, and we lingered in the area for a few minutes to chat with Chip Deffaa of the N.Y. POST, Peter Haas of CABARET SCENES MAGAZINE, and Michael Portantiere of Theatermania.com. But the lights were already blinking, signaling that the festivities would soon begin, so Kit and I scurried through the entrance, through the center doorway to the hall, and to our seats. When we all got settled, we realized that we were seated in the same row with Messrs. Deffaa and Portantiere - who we had left in the box office moments before!

The Bobby Peaco Trio (Peaco on piano, Dan Martin on bass, Dan Gross on percussion) was on stage, and the music began. The opening number for this year's show was a salute to piano bar performers called "Stars in the Bars" and featured an all-girl chorus line of Johanna Pinzler from BRANDY'S PIANO BAR, Maria Gentile from THE DUPLEX, Leslie Anderson (with slide trombone) from JUDY'S CHELSEA, Jenifer Kruskamp from DON'T TELL MAMA and Terri White from ROSE'S TURN. Each belting beauty took a solo turn, and all joined Terri in a rousing chorus of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" at the end of the set. It was a rip-roaring opening to what eventually proved to be a rather dull first act of the show.

A stunningly glamorous Julie Halston was introduced by Mr. Peaco as M.C. for the evening's proceedings, and when Julie strayed from the sloppily prepared script, she was a sparkling host indeed. She quite quickly introduced three of the most famous names in NYC to present the first awards for the evening: Margaret Whiting, Julie Wilson and Erv Raible (who started the whole MAC association 15 years ago). They announced the first four MAC Award recipients: Kane Alexander, Male NY Debut; Julie Reyburn, Female NY Debut; Tommy Femia, Impersonation / Characterization; Jerry Scott, Piano Bar / Lounge Entertainer. Mr. Alexander was charming and humble in his acceptance, and a ravishing Ms. Reyburn was quite overcome. Mr. Femia, meanwhile, bounded on stage and was most effusive in his appreciation, stepping in and out of his "Judy Garland" character, and even thanking Margaret for introducing Judy to her first two husbands! The unflappable Mr. Scott was most appreciative of his award - he has been nominated almost annually, winning just once before in the early years of MAC.

The classiest lady in cabaret, Lorna Dallas, and perennial MAC award-winning director Barry Kleinbort were introduced to announce the next three winners. First was the award to The Accidentals for Duo / Vocal Group. Under normal circumstances, there are several nominees on the preliminary ballot for this category - this year there were only three, and normally this category would have been combined with another listing. But for some reason, MAC chose to keep this as a separate award. Several members of the Accidentals' were on hand to accept the award.

In the Musical Theatre & Comedy Duo / Group category, three nominees were announced - Scott Barbarino & the Bev Naps, the John-Richard Thompson piece "Indigo Rat," and the musical comedy improv group known as "The Next Big Broadway Musical!" An unfortunate remark by Mr. Kleinbort that seemed to ridicule improv angered several of the members of "TNBBM" group seated near me, and it was just as well that the show "Indigo Rat" took the prize, since I am certain that the very clever improv experts would have had a grand time discussing their art form with Mr. Kleinbort at the microphone.

The last category was Variety Production, and the winner here was Ron Poole's "Poole Party," which had also won a Bistro Award this year. The always effervescent Mr. Poole bounded to the stage to accept the award, accompanied by several regular members of the "Poole Party" cast, including Nancy Witter, Christine Turner, Sidney Myer and David Maiocco.

Each year MAC presents a special award to a cabaret performer who has never won a MAC award and was not nominated in any category in that year. It is called the Hanson Award, and is named for Mildred & Peter Hanson, who at one time gave a cash endowment along with the award. The actual purpose of the award has gotten a bit confused of late, and whereas in previous years the award signified a performer who had shown particular promise and potential, this year's award actually was given to a long-time professional performer both in the United States and Europe, Michel Hermon. The head of the committee that made the choice, Roy Sander, announced the recipient. He also noted that while in previous years the choice was made by a committee made up of members of the "cabaret press," this year's committee included others from the cabaret community. He did not mention that several members of the cabaret press actually refused, for various reasons, to serve on this committee this year.

Ageless beauty Eileen Fulton was joined by youthfully handsome Jack Donahue to present the next awards - for people who serve as part of the support team for performers. Shawn Moninger accepted the award for Technical Direction, and noted his appreciation that folks behind the scenes were also recognized by the cabaret community. Christopher Denny was given the MAC award for musical direction, and Barry Kleinbort took home yet another MAC award for director of the year.

The next set of awards were for the funny folks of cabaret, and were presented by the "bickering" duo of Angela LaGreca and Baby Jane Dexter. Nancy Witter excitedly accepted the Female Comedy award, and it was a special event for her since so many of her family were in the audience (she is one of 16 children). Ron Poole accepted his second MAC award of the evening, this time for Male Comedy Performer. Jim Caruso delighted the audience with his acceptance of the MAC Award for Musical Comedy performer, and another perennial winner, Mario Cantone accepted his award for Major Stand-Up Comedy in a rather subdued (at least for Mario) fashion.

The next presenter was the very glamorous (and very youthful-looking) Susan Lucci, who had to honor of giving a MAC Board of Directors Award to John McDaniel, who is the musical director of the Rosie O'Donnell TV show. Mr. McDaniel is a frequent audience member at cabaret shows in NYC, and is often given a chance to describe the shows and performers with Ms. O'Donnell on the TV show. He showed his thanks to the MAC audience by taking a seat at the piano and performing Sondheim's "Anyone Can Whistle."

Two of NYC Cabaret's favorite songwriters, David Friedman and Julie Gold, stepped to the microphone to present a flurry of CD (Recording) Awards. John Bucchino's "Grateful" CD won in the Recording: Various Artists category. KT Sullivan and Larry Woodard accepted the award for Recording: Duo / Musical Group for their CD, "The Sweetest Sounds of Richard Rodgers."

Craig Rubano was given the Recording: Solo Male MAC award for his CD "Finishing The Act," and Julie Wilson was just a bit perturbed in winning the Recording: Solo Female award for her CD "The Cy Coleman Songbook," maintaining that the other two nominees in the category, Sally Mayes and Jeanne MacDonald possessed much better vocal abilities.

The second MAC Board of Directors Award for the evening was given to Rosie O'Donnell for her well-known support of cabaret and cabaret performers. Rosie's longtime personal assistant, some-time cabaret performer, and former MAC nominee (7 times!) Bobby Pearce (aka Beverly Hills) accepted the award on behalf of Ms. O'Donnell.

Michael Estwanik, the president of MAC took the microphone and gave a brief speech about MAC, its goals and its programs.

Finally, to close the first part of the evening, Carol Woods stepped to center stage and sang an inspiring rendition of David Friedman's "As Long As I Can Sing."

Kit and I made our way to the street to catch a breath of fresh air - only to meet a wall of cigarette smoke as we stepped through the door! We had to walk to the other side of the street to accomplish our goal.

The lights were already beginning to dim as we made our way back to our seats. The Bobby Peaco Trio was already in place and they played a rousing set of Arlen's "Get Happy." Most in the audience hardly needed coaxing. During intermission we had a chance to chat with folks seated in the balcony, and discovered that while the orchestra section of the room was nearly filled to capacity, as well as the loge, there were hundreds of balcony seats unfilled, in spite of an apparent "papering" of the room with students from NYU.

The next pair of presenters was Eric Comstock and Susannah McCorkle, chosen to award the winners of the Revue, Special Material and Song of the Year categories. "American Rhapsody," starring KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler, was chosen as the Revue of the Year, and Ms. Sullivan and Mr. Nadler appeared on stage elegantly attired in tails and top hat. "Wicked Woman" by Francesca Blumenthal was chosen in the Special Material category, with Ms. Blumenthal's acceptance speech winning an award for longest and most boring of the evening. In sharp contrast, Karen Mack, accepting her MAC Award for her song "I Am Home" was not only gracious, but quite profound.

Next up was a performance number by Mary Cleere Haran with Sir Richard Rodney Bennett at the piano. "Delicious, Delightful, Delovely." With the evening already running quite long, there certainly was no need for the rather lengthy introduction that Ms. Haran made to the song.

Then Ms. Haran stepped to the podium to present the awards in the Pop R&B and jazz categories. The delightful (and appropriately delighted) Karen Mack received the award in the Pop/R&B category, while Natalie Douglas took honors as jazz vocalist. Billy Stritch, unable to attend the show since he is working on the Broadway show "42nd Street," won in the Major Jazz category. Because of a lack of entries, the male & female awards in each were combined. Several other categories were combined as well this year, but the main impression this year was the lack of interest in the jazz and pop communities in the MAC Awards generally.

Julie Budd was introduced as the next performance act of the evening. As usual, Ms. Budd never seemed to make contact with either her song ("If You Loved Me, Really Loved Me") or her audience, and she attempted to sing louder and hold notes longer than anyone else in the business. It certainly was not cabaret-style entertainment.

Another performer know for more belt than feeling, Sam Harris, was the next performer. As if to calm us all down after the ear-shattering performance of Ms. Budd, Mr. Harris stepped on stage, glass in hand, acting just a little tipsy, and from a stool behind the piano, began singing "By Myself" as a plaintive, torch song. Then, sans microphone, he moved to the front center stage and finished the song. For many, it was the surprise high point of the evening.

Michele Lee and Cy Coleman were chosen to present the final four MAC Awards of the evening. Female and Male vocalist awards went the Audrey Lavine and Scott Coulter - both most charming and appreciative in their acceptance speeches, with Scott just a bit overwhelmed by Ms. Lee's beauty.

Sadly, the winners of the Major Male & Female Vocalist awards were not present to receive their trophies. Karen Mason was en route from Florida, while Michael Feinstein also failed to appear.

As Julie Halston attempted to keep us all distracted, The 12-piece Big Kahuna and the Copa Cat Pack took their places on stage. Led by Matt Catingub, the band played a swinging "Come Ona-My House." Village Voice columnist and biographer Gary Giddins stepped to the microphone to present the MAC Lifetime Achievement Award to Rosemary Clooney, who proceeded to close the show with a rousing "They Can't Take That Away From Me," followed by a tender ode to the memory of Frank Sinatra called "The Singer."

Producing and directing a MAC Awards show is not an easy task, and in most cases, a "no win" situation. Our special appreciation goes to Nancy McGraw (producer) and Thommie Walsh (director) who collaborated to make this an exciting and entertaining evening in spite of all odds. I am certain that with so many performers involved, some with huge egos and special demands, there were moments where they must have stopped and wondered if it was really worth all the effort.

MAC is at the crossroads this year - with a continued stirring of discontent among the performer membership that began two years ago. MAC's membership numbers are down. A small but significant number of performers have declined to place their names in nomination, or even attend the MAC awards this year. The Board of Directors seems to be as out of touch as ever with the membership at large and the Board has lately begun to stress the fact that MAC was begun as and continues to be a TRADE organization, not a performer organization. If this is the direction that MAC is taking, I can see a new performer-based networking group forming in the Manhattan area in the near future.

 

2001 MAC AWARD WINNERS

2001 MAC AWARD NOMINEES

Back to CABARET AWARDS Index Page

Back to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE Home Page

If you would like to receive a free e-mail subscription to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE, please click here:



Note: Your subscription will be sent to the e-mail address you subscribe from - and please include your real name along with the city where you live.