The 23rd annual MAC Awards (Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs) will be presented May 18 at BB King Blues Club. Additional details on the ceremony will be announced shortly.
Show business veteran Polly Bergen will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Joey Reynolds and Myra Chanin, as well as Eva Swann and Vocal Ease will receive the Board of Directors Awards. The Time Out New York Award will be presented to Poor Baby Bree.
The MAC Awards, according to the official MAC website, are presented annually to "honor achievements in Cabaret, Comedy, and Jazz. The Awards encompass more that two dozen categories such as: vocalists and vocal groups, piano bar and jazz performers, comedy and musical performers, writers of songs and special material, directors, musical directors, recordings, and more. In addition, through special awards, MAC salutes outstanding contributions to the field of live entertainment."
The 2009 MAC Award nominees follow:
Celebrity Artist
Karen Mason
Marilyn Maye
Chita Rivera
KT Sullivan Major Artist
Klea Blackhurst & Billy Stritch
Baby Jane Dexter
Eric Michael Gillett
Christine Pedi
Female Vocalist
Jenna Esposito
Terese Genecco
Raissa Katona Bennett
Julie Reyburn
Male Vocalist
Marcus Simeone
Kim Smith
Jonathan Whitton
Michael Winther
Debut Female
Deb Berman
Christina Bianco
Cait Doyle
Debut Male
Ben Cherry
Kevin Dozier
Stearns Matthews
Musical Comedy Performer/Duo/Group
Booth & Pat
Hedda Lettuce
Shawn Ryan
Vocal Duo/Group
David Gurland & Brian Farley
Karen Oberlin & Miles Phillips
Uptown Express
Revue/Special Production
Metro Star
Nashville
What's the Point?
Variety/Recurring
Cabaret Cares
Grace Notes: Singer's Soiree
Jamie deRoy & Friends
Open Mic
After Party
Algonquin Salon
Jim Caruso's Cast Party
Female Piano Bar/Restaurant Entertainer
Maria Gentile
Tracy Reynolds
Anne Steele
Male Piano Bar/Restaurant Entertainer
Bobby Belfry
Eric Pickering
George Sanders
Piano Bar/Restaurant Instrumentalist
Michael Isaacs
Joe Regan
Tracy Stark
Musical Director
Daryl Kojak
Don Rebic
Tracy Stark
Director
Phil Geoffrey Bond
Eric Michael Gillett
Miles Phillips
Lennie Watts
Technical Director
Michael Barbieri
David Colbert
JP Perraux
Jazz Male Vocal
Scot Albertson
Jack Donahue
Peter Eldridge
Tony Middleton
Julian Yeo-Tony
Jazz Female Vocal
Laura Hull
Laurie Krauz
Shaynee Rainbolt
Jane Scheckter
Alysha Umphress
Jazz Duo/Singer/Instrumentalist
Champion Fulton
Russ Kassoff
Kathleen Landis
Alex Leonard Duo
Daryl Sherman
Major Male Stand-Up
Mario Cantone
Jim Gaffigan
Greg Giraldo
Tom Papa
Louis Ramey
Major Female Stand-Up
Susie Essman
Jackie Hoffman
Jessica Kirson
Lynne Koplitz
Female Stand-Up
Dena Blizzard
Michelle Buteau
Mary Dimino
Ophira Eisenberg
Maureen Langan
Male Stand-Up
Wali Collins
Joe Devito
Joe DeRosa
Kyle Grooms
Rick Younger
Improv/Comedy Club
Chicago City Limits
Calgary Whalers
Comedy Sportz
Recording
"Hallways: The Songs of Carol Hall"
"Barry Lloyd Live"
"Karen Mason: Right Here, Right Now"
"Stardust & Swing" (Todd Murray)
"It's a Small Town" (Stacy Sullivan)
"Walk Like a Man" (Uptown Express)
Jazz Recording
"Something Still Cool" (Elli Fordyce)
"A Song About Forever" (The Kurt Weill Project)
"Charmed Life: Shaynee Rainbolt Sings Russell Garcia"
"Cole Porter Live at Maxim's" (Spider Saloff)
"Unusual Passage" (Julian Yeo)
Song
"Running" (Adam Gwon)
"Change In Me" (Carol Hall)
"Come Home" (Mark Janas & Peter Napolitano)
"Right Here, Right Now" (Paul Rolnick & Jim Papoulis)
"Living Without Love" (Jason Wynn)
Special Material
"This Is My Birthday" (Carol Hall)
"Leaky Ceiling" (Sharon Kenny)
"The Olives of Regret" (Nicholas Levin)
"The Mess" (Ryan Scott Oliver)
"You May Have A Problem" (Dan Page, John Domurad & Michael Page)
For further information, visit MACNYC.