23rd ANNUAL BACK STAGE BISTRO AWARDS GALA DETAILS ANNOUNCED
Back
Stage, the Actor's Resource has announced the recipients of its annual
Bistro Award citing 30 artists for outstanding excellence in cabaret
and for their distinguished work in 2007. Veteran singer Marilyn Maye
will be honored with the coveted Bob Harrington Lifetime Achievement
Award. Past winners have included Betty Buckley, Dame Cleo Laine,
and Bobby Short.
The choice of winners have all demonstrated the uniqueness
of their art and will be recognized in a variety of categories,
from performances such as those offered by Pinky Winters and Sir
Richard Rodney Bennett (Outstanding Musical Duo), Tony DeSare (Outstanding
Major Engagement), and Jeffry Denman (Outstanding Song & Dance Man),
to more eclectic artists such as Arnaldo! (Outstanding Characterization),
and Poor Baby Bree (Unique Artist).
Two awards honoring shows that brought European songs
to New York audiences, "Kabarett Fte," produced by Karen and Rob
Kohler; and "Lavender Songs: Queer Berlin Cabaret From Weimar to
Hitler," conceived and performed by Jeremy Lawrence, and directed
by Jason Jacobs, are being cited as Outstanding Theme Shows.
Song awards this year have an emphasis on humor: "I'm
Not doing My Cabaret," with lyric by Jason Graae, receives top honors
for Outstanding Special Musical Material, and Melanie Adelman and
Ellie Dvorkin's "Fagnet," with music by Noah Diamond and Amanda
Sisk is the choice for Outstanding Musical Comedy Number.
There are tributes to songwriters, musicians, and
singers: Linda Kosut pays homage to Oscar Brown Jr. with her "Long
as You're Living" album (Outstanding Recording); Greg Purnhagen
salutes Desi Arnaz in "Babalu-Cy!," with director Leonard Peters
and musical director David Cook (Outstanding Theme Show); and Christine
Pedi indulges the funny-bone in her show "Great Dames" (Outstanding
Musical Comedy Performer).
This year's Outstanding Vocalists include Bryan Batt,
Marianne Challis, and Stacy Sullivan, and for making an outstanding
debut on the cabaret scene last year, an award is being given to
Jonathan Whitton. Named as Outstanding Revue is "When the Lights
Go On Again," conceived, written, and directed by Bill Daugherty,
produced by Max Weintraub.
Special awards are being given to Bart Greenberg for
his Any Wednesday series at Barnes & Noble, and to Ronny Whyte for
his contributions to the Midtown Jazz at Midday series at St. Peter's.
The Ira Eaker Special Achievement Award, given to
an outstanding performer on the rise, goes to Gabrielle Stravelli.
The evening will feature performances from all Bistro-winning
artists and shows.
The gala event will be held on Monday, April 7th at
GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB (208 West 23rd Street, NYC - 212-367-9000 - http://www.gothamcomedyclub.com/
). A champagne reception for the Bistro recipients and Premiere
ticket holders begins at 5:00 pm; the awards presentation and show
starts promptly at 6:30 pm. Back Stage Editor at Large Sherry Eaker
is producing and hosting the event with comic Jim David and actress-comedienne
Marilyn Sokol as the show's guest emcees. The show is under the
direction of Sara Louise Lazarus.
The Bistro Award Committee includes Elizabeth Ahlfors
(Cabaret Scenes), David Finkle (Back Stage "Bistro Bits" columnist),
John Hoglund (former "Bistro Bits" columnist), Erv Raible (executive
/artistic director/ at the Cabaret Conference at Yale University
and former cabaret owner/booker), Roy Sander (former "Bistro Bits"
columnist), and Chuck Taylor (Billboard).
The Bistro Awards are sponsored by BMI, with additional
sponsorship from ASCAP.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets: go
to http://www.backstage.com/bistros
or call 646-654-5725, or email bistros@backstage.com.
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for inside information on the performing arts.
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