The Manhattan Association of Cabaret and Clubs (MAC) will present American singing legend Rosemary Clooney with its Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual MAC Awards on April 1. Also scheduled to receive top honors at Town Hall are John McDaniel, musical director of television's "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," as well as numerous other talents from the cabaret world. P> In all, "100 vocalists, comedians, jazz performers, songwriters, original revues and musical directors" have been nominated for their work(s) this year, a MAC statement read.
At Town Hall, producer Nancy McGraw and director and Tony Award-winning choreographer Thommie Walsh (A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, My One and Only ) return together to stage the award show for the third time. Julie Halston is the event emcee.
Live performances will be made by Clooney and McDaniel as well as Julie Wilson, Margaret Whiting, Susannah McCorkle, Jackie and Roy, Gary Giddins, Lorna Dallas, Baby Jane Dexter, Jack Donahue, Eileen Fulton, Barry Kleinbort, Angela LaGreca Sam Harris, Carol Woods and Erv Raible.
The MAC awards recognize "achievements in cabaret, comedy and jazz," in more than two dozen categories. MAC was created in 1983 and the awards program has been running for 15 years. In all, the group says, there are 54 clubs in New York City and around the country keeping the cabaret tradition alive. March has been designated as "Cabaret Month" by the City of New York and the MAC awards cap a "four-week celebration of Manhattan's cabarets, nightclubs, and its abundance of live talent."
A full list of nominees will be posted shortly. Tickets are $25-$125. Town Hall is located at 123 W. 43 St. Tickets care available through TicketMaster at (212) 307-4100 or the Town Hall box office. For info on MAC visit www.macnyc.com.
—By Murdoch McBride
