The third annual awards ceremony, which will be held Jan. 31, 2005 at New York's Town Hall, boasts "no acceptance speeches — just pure entertainment" and will feature performances from all of the evening's winners. Others scheduled to entertain include Ute Lemper, Euan Morton, Allan Harris, Julie Halston, Jim Caruso, Billy Stritch and Kate Clinton. Show time is 7 PM.
The yearly event will be judged by over 20 members of the New York press and entertainment industry. This year's judges include Kirsten Ames (Producer, Festival Talent, U.S. Comedy Arts Festival), Michael Anthony (WHPC - 90.3 FM, Jazz Journalist), Jane Borden (Time Out NY), Angela Bowers (HBO), Adam Feldman (Time Out NY), David Finkle (Village Voice), Will Friedwald (Village Voice), Steve Futterman (The New Yorker), Amelie Gillette (The Onion), Ira Gittler (Jazz Times and Downbeat), Celia Iplotis (Eye on the Arts), Peter Leavy (Cabaret Scenes), Brian Scott Lipton (Cititour.com), Ward Morehouse III (AM NY), David Perozzi (ABC-TV), Rex Reed (The New York Observer), Roy Sander (formerly Back Stage and Citysearch), Barbara Siegel (Theatermania.com and Siegel Entertainment Syndicate), Scott Siegel (Theatermania.com and Siegel Entertainment Syndicate), Naomi Steinberg (Comedy Central), Jonathan Warman (HX Magazine) and K. Leander Williams (Time Out NY).
In a previous statement, critic/author Scott Siegel, who created the awards, said, "It is our particular intention to give New York City's nightlife — its clubs and performers — the same importance in the public mindset as Broadway. This is an award that will have immediate credibility and importance because it will be given by the broadest possible spectrum of this city's most influential authorities on cabaret, jazz, and comedy from those who see acts in the big rooms to those who cover the nightlife waterfront."
Awards are presented to winners in each of the following categories:
Outstanding Cabaret Female Vocalist in a Major Engagement
Outstanding Cabaret Male Vocalist in a Major Engagement
Outstanding Duo/Group Cabaret Performance in a Major Engagement
Outstanding Cabaret Female Vocalist
Outstanding Cabaret Male Vocalist
Outstanding Cabaret Musical Comedy Performance
Outstanding Cabaret Musical Revue/Group/Variety Performance
Outstanding Cabaret Piano Bar Performer
Unique Cabaret Performance
Outstanding Female Standup Comedian
Outstanding Male Standup Comedian
Outstanding Group Comedy Performance
Unique Comedy Performance
Outstanding Jazz Soloist
Outstanding Jazz Combo Performance
Outstanding Female Jazz Vocalist
Outstanding Male Jazz Vocalist
Unique Jazz Performance
Tickets for the Nightlife Awards are priced at $25, $50 and $75 and are available by calling Ticket Master at (212) 307-4100. (Tickets to the after party are an additional $50.) Town Hall is located in Manhattan at 123 West 43rd Street.
