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I'm normally not given to writing an article in the first person. My first professor of journalism once told me, "The very essence of reportage, is making sure that you never actually appear in the article yourself if at all possible. There's a vast difference between saying, 'I felt...,' or I feel...,' or 'It's my opinion that...,' as opposed to saying, 'One might feel...,' or 'One might be of the opinion that...,'" and I've always stuck to that. However, since the MAC Award nominations for this season were just announced, and seeing as I'm once again, the new kid on the cabaret press block for the eighth time in two decades,I was graciously granted the chance to write an article of my predictions as to whom this year's winners will be, and I hope you'll all oblige me as I tear into the task with customary relish.
Leslie Uggams is receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award (which couldn't make my family happier, since she and my mom starred frequently on TV together as children,
most notably on Arthur Godfrey and Friends in '52) and Peter Leavy will receive a Board of Directors Award for his founding Cabaret Scenes magazine, besides being so devoted to the art form lo these many decades, which I'm sure makes us all happy to consider him a colleague and contemporary. It is the individual categories that leave much more to speculation, however.FEMALE VOCALIST:
Cynthia Crane
Jenna Esposito
Sue Matsuki
Karen Oberlin
Anne Steele
I have to begrudgingly confess almost no knowledge of Anne Steele's work, although she's certainly garnered some impressive reviews in the last season, and could therefore be a strong contender at most or a dark horse at least. Jenna Esposito, though unquestionably marvelous, seems to have a stronger shot at winning Best Recording for her Connie Francis album than in this category for this particular season. Cynthia Crane is an old cabaret hand who has most certainly been through the mill as of late ,and still manages to come up swinging like a prizefighter, and Sue Matsuki has emerged for several seasons as a brand-new godmother of cabaret. However, it is Karen Oberlin who seems to have shown the most personal growth as an artist and entertainer in the last year, and I'd simply have to predict that she'll win. And deservedly so.MALE VOCALIST:
Hector Coris
Ron Langeder
Kim Smith
Nobody, but nobody, could ever fault either Hector Coris or Rob Langeder as entertainers. They're both absolutely fantastic and at the very top of their game at every turn. But this has without question been the season of Kim Smith. He seemed to appear as if from nowhere, and it was a mere matter of seconds before the entire cabaret scene was singing his praises. If he doesn't win, I'm sure more than a few of us will be extremely surprised.JAZZ VOCALIST:
Mary Foster Conklin
Tony Middleton
Shaynee Rainbolt
Jane Scheckter
This one's tough, partly because I know nothing of Tony Middleton. It would be lovely to see Jane Scheckter win because she's been around for such a long while, and both her performances and recordings have become the stuff of legend. Likewise, Mary Foster Conklin, who, as far as I'm concerned, could sing the telephone directory and it would seethe with emotion. But my gut says it's going to Shaynee Rainbolt this year. She gets more polished with every passing season, and its been marvelous to behold.
MAJOR ARTIST:
Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano
Baby Jane Dexter
Terese Genecco
Eric Michael Gillett
Hmmm. My thought is that it could well be Baby Jane Dexter who wins, although Terese Genecco unquestionably deserves it. Not that Eric Michael Gillett doesn't; by all accounts he did a wonderful show, and Comstock & Fasano are completely faultless. But this will be a very tough race.
NEW YORK DEBUT - FEMALE:
Michelle Collier
Kathleen France
Danielle Grabianowski
Nesha Ward
Two words and two words only. Danielle Grabianowski. OK, more than two words; Kathleen France has performed marvelously this season, as have Michelle Collier and Nesha Ward, and were it possible for all four to win in this category for their efforts, they should. But they can't, and Ms. Grabianowski has the qualified edge; rarely has a contender in the Female Debut category proved so memorable in the last two decades.
NEW YORK DEBUT - MALE:
Tom Rocco
Jaron Vesely
Joshua Warr
In the humble opinion of this writer (there I go, putting myself back into third person. Thanks, Professor Giuliano!), Vesely seems to have it sewn up. His run at the Metropolitan Room was an absolute blessing, and while both Tom Rocco and Joshua Warr are blissfully brilliant on every level and can only grow as time progresses, Vesely remains impossible to vanquish and absolutely has the "IT" factor for this season.
CELEBRITY ARTIST:
Ann Hampton Callaway
Liz Callaway
Marilyn Maye
Lillias White
Forgive me while I grab a bottle of Maalox, because having to predict what is obviously the tightest race of the whole shootin' match is giving me heartburn. This is almost impossible to forecast, and all four ladies deserve every accolade possible. That said, methinks the Misses Callaway will cancel each other out in this particular contest, and while Marilyn Maye is an absolute goddess, the winner should be Lillias White based solely on the strength of her Valentine's show at Iridium.STAND-UP COMIC - MALE:
Danny CohenJoe DeVito
Joe Matarese
Does this really need pondering? Danny Cohen. Without question. And it's deserved.
STAND-UP COMIC - FEMALE:
Jane Condon
Mary Dimino
Jodie Wasserman
Knowing all three of these wonderful women as well as I do, and having worked with them back when I was still a standup comedian myself, this is a very difficult prediction. But I'm gonna bite the bullet and say that Mary Dimino has the edge this year. Jane Condon and Jodie Wasserman are absolutely spectacular both on stage and off, but the shine that Dimino has acquired upon her stage persona is absolutely unmistakeable, and she should win.MUSICAL COMEDY:
Cait Doyle
Joan Jaffe
Gretchen Reinhagen
OK, I may just be getting my feet wet in cabaret again, but does anyone honestly think it won't be Gretchen Reinhagen? I adore Joan Jaffe and she does an absolutely scrumptious performance, as does Cait Doyle, but Reinhagen can't possibly not win for the work she's done this season.
VOCAL DUO/GROUP:
The Accidentals
Marquee Five
Uptown Express
Let me break character here for a minute. The Accidentals will most likely win. They're a wonderful group, their harmonies are flawless, and they've won quite a few of these. That said, however, Uptown Express SHOULD win. There are no words to express (excuse the pun) that they deserve it this season, because their work was exceptional at every turn.SPECIAL PRODUCTION:
"Closing Notice" SeriesThe Disney Diaries
Metrostar Talent Challenge
Ricky Ritzel Has Hysterical Blondness
Do we honestly need to think on this? Ritzel. The name means "MAC Award" in a foreign tongue.
VARIETY PRODUCTION/RECURRING SERIES:
Cabaret Cares
Concert At Tudor City Greens
Wednesday Night At The Iguana
This could well be the bonafide tie of the evening. Cabaret Cares has done impeccable work, but it's very hard for them to compete with either the brilliant work Raissa Katonah Bennett has done for Tudor City Greens, or what Richard Skipper and Dana Lorge have accomplished at the Iguana. I for one would be very happy to see both win, but if one wins over the other, I'll be equally happy.
OPEN MIC:
The After Party
Algonquin Salon, Oak Room, Salon
MetroJam
Another really tough race. I have the feeling that Salon will win, although, because both Peter Napolitano and Mark Janas are nominated in other categories (which they both definitely have the chance of winning) as well as Jenna Esposito, it might very well go to The After Party. If that does in fact happen, I'll be very happy for Brandon Cutrell.
HOST - VARIETY SHOW OR OPEN MIC:
Jenna Esposito, MetroJamMark Janas, Algonquin Salon, Oak Room Salon, Salon
Dana Lorge and Richard Skipper, Wednesday Night At The Iguana
Dana and Richard are the easy win. No need to speculate.
PIANO BAR/RESTAURANT SINGING ENTERTAINER:
Maria Gentile
Eric Pickering
George Sanders
Anne Steele
It's probably going to either be Anne Steele to make up for the loss of Female Vocalist, or it'll be Eric Pickering, who truly does deserve it. Both Maria Gentile and George Sanders are perfectly superb entertainers, and it would be lovely to see either of them win it, but it really does belong to Eric this year.
PIANO BAR/RESTAURANT/HOTEL LOUNGE INSTRUMENTALIST:
Nate Buccieri
Joe Regan
Jerry Scott
Oy, oy, oy. It will probably go to Jerry Scott, but it would be nice to see Joseph Regan win. He's probably one of the most unappreciated singer-instrumentalists in this city and has been for decades. And Nate Buccieri is absolutely marvelous. But the prize belongs to Joe this season on sheer merit.
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR:
Michael Barbieri
David Colbert
Randy Lester
Jean-Pierre Perreaux
Now, I have a few things to say about this category. I never get credited for this, and it's not like I toot my own horn (well, not much, or not as often as twenty years ago), but I was the very first reviewer to ever single out technical directors for their work and print it in my reviews, with as much fervor as I would review the singer and the director and the musicians and everyone else involved. They are the unsung heroes of cabaret, and it made me very happy that after I began the practice of mentioning their work, all of a sudden my contemporaries in the press were mentioning it as well. That's not to say that I had anything whatsoever to do with the creation of the MAC Award for Technical Direction, because I didn't, but this is a category about which I feel very strongly. All that said, I'd like very much to see Randy Lester win, but I don't think it's happening this season; she's marvelous at it, and I'm personally delighted to see her excel at it, but I think she has yet to showcase her brilliance for the medium and really design as opposed to merely light a singer. Jean-Pierre is perfectly stupendous with the work he does at the Metropolitan Room, and you'll never hear me say anything but the very best about my wonderful Michael Barbieri, who has not only lit me but some of my favorite people on earth. But I think that this season it belongs to David Colbert.
DIRECTOR:
Eric Michael Gillett
Barry Kleinbort
Peter Napolitano
Lennie Watts
Logic dictates that Lennie Watts will probably win again. However, if there could possibly be another tie that evening, it should be split between him and Peter Napolitano, who has worked his hind off in the last season and absolutely deserves a prize for same. Both Eric Michael Gillett and Barry Kleinbort are world-class directors with which any performer would be unequivocally privileged to work. Watts, however, has a slight edge.MUSICAL DIRECTOR:
Mark Janas
Barry Levitt
Alex Rybeck
Tracy Stark
Steven Ray Watkins
Oh, boy. Where to start? It would be nice for Tracy Stark to win, but it probably won't happen just based on the volume of shows for which she's played this season, or lack thereof. Alex Rybeck and Barry Levitt are up against a similar wall. Which leaves Mark Janas and Steven Ray Watkins. My mind tells me Watkins should get the award, but my gut tells me it will be Janas. Not just for the shows he's played, but for the Salon.
MAJOR RECORDING:
Ann Hampton Callaway, At Last
Liz Callaway, Passage Of Time
Daryl Sherman, Johnny Mercer: A Centennial Tribute
OK, let me first say, I love Daryl Sherman, but her album, brilliant though it may be, doesn't stack up against either of the Callaway sisters. And I couldn't sing the praises on Liz's album more highly. But Ann has this award locked in, hook-line-and-sinker.
RECORDING:
Grace Cosgrove and Guests Artists - Grace Cosgrove: Hope and Humor in Hard Times
Jenna Esposito, To Connie...Love Jenna: Jenna Esposito Sings Connie Francis
Elli Fordyce, Songs Spun of Gold
Susan Winter, Love Rolls On...Live!
Julian Yeo, Deep Purple Dreams
Let's just cut through this and get to brass tacks. Jenna Esposito is going to win. The others, especially Misses Fordyce and Winter, have produced marvelous albums, and Ms. Cosgrove and Mr. Yeo aren't exactly slouches in the studio either. But it's impossible to top Esposito's Connie Francis album; it's as beautifully crafted as a deeply-written fan letter.
SONG:
"All Together, All Alone," Music/Lyrics by Drew Fomarola
"Don't Say Another Word," Music by Joshua Saltzman, Lyrics by Ryan Cunningham
"Finding Beauty," Music/Lyrics by Ann Hampton Callaway
"Say Hello," Music By Matthew Ward, Lyrics by Peter Napolitano
"Things That Haunt Me," Music/Lyrics by Brett Kristofferson
"This Time, Music," Music by Tracy Stark, Lyrics by Michael David Quinn
"Union Square," Music/Lyrics by Gaby Alter
Once again going by instinct, it will probably be "Finding Beauty." However, "This Time, Music" is a wonderful song, and so is "Things That Haunt Me."
SPECIAL MUSICAL MATERIAL:
"An Artificial Tree," Music/Lyrics by Nicholas Levin
"Identity Theft," Music/Lyrics by Ray Jessel
"The Sacrifice Of Love," Music/Lyrics by Joshua H. Cohen
"Two Again," Music/Lyrics by Richard Eisenberg
"Understudy Blues," Music by Brian Cimmet, Lyrics by Amanda Yesnowitz
I would love so much to predict that "An Artificial Tree" will win. Nick Levin, aside from being one of the most creative composers and lyricists of our generation, has worked so hard and remains one of the nicest men on earth. But Ray Jessel has has a singularly spectacular season, and "Identity Theft" will most likely be the winner in this category.
So, those are my predictions. I may be wrong, I may be right, I may be nuts. But in closing, I'd like to impart one thought to all of the nominees. When I was nominated for Musical Comedy in 1994, it was a foregone conclusion that I would win. And I was nominated against extremely stiff competition, namely John O'Brien and Rick Skye, both of whom I absolutely adore. But so many people kept saying, "You'll win it, you'll win it." It was a mercy that Musical Comedy was the first award presented that evening, so I didn't have to sit there and sweat. Sally Mayes was the presenter, and she ripped open the envelope and announced, "And the 1994 MAC Award goes to...John O'Brien!!" I was stunned, but not as stunned as John, because he was positive I would win it. My point in saying this is simply the following: being nominated is the honor and not who won. To this day, people still come up to me and say, "I still remember the night you won the MAC Award," and I reply, "Really? Was I there?"
Congrats to all the nominees, and I'll see you there that night.
********** PUBLISHER'S NOTE ***********
Dear Eligible MAC Awards Voters,
The excitement of the Awards season is upon us and NiteLifeExchange.com congratulates all the nominees for this year’s MAC Awards. It is essential that all MAC members carefully go over the ballots you will be receiving and then VOTE. The ballots have to be returned by April 27th. That gives you a chance to see many of the shows nominated as many are playing over the next few weeks. Remember, you are only supposed to vote for work THAT YOU HAVE SEEN. Get out and see as many nominated shows and performers as you can, and then remember to VOTE…..Vote for the best work you have seen. Yes You Can!!
Sincerely,
Scott Barbarino
Publisher & Editor-In-Chief
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