Cabaret
MAC Award Nominees Announced Celebrating The Best In Cabaret

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets announced their 2022 MAC Award nominees. The nominees were determined by votes cast by the active MAC membership, except for the song and recording categories, which were determined by special committees.
The 2022 MAC Award Nominees are:
Female Vocalist
Susan Mack
Music in the Air
Birdland Theater
Amy Beth Williams
Beautiful Mystery: The Songs of Leonard Cohen; A Thousand Beautiful Things
Don’t Tell Mama
Deborah Zecher
Jewish Caroling: The Music of Carole King, Carole Bayer Sager, and Carolyn Leigh
Don’t Tell Mama
Male Vocalist
Sean Patrick Murtagh
Summer Sunday Soiree, Holiday Test Drive IX
West Bank Cafe, The Green at Lincoln Center, Martuni’s Piano Bar (SF)
Kim David Smith
Mostly Marlene, A Wery Weimar Christmas
Club Cumming (NYC), Club Cumming on the Coast (Kennebunkport, ME), Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Dorian Woodruff
Studio Musician: The Music of Manilow
Pangea
Major Artist – Female
Meg Flather
Rodgers and Hammerstein 2021
Don’t Tell Mama
Tanya Moberly
I Love New York Songwriters Part II
Don’t Tell Mama
Gabrielle Stravelli
Various different shows
Birdland, West Bank Cafe
Major Artist – Male
Peter Cincotti
Birdland
Jason Kravits
Off the Top
Birdland
Craig Pomranz
Welcome Back; We’re Back Again with a Holiday Show
Pangea
David Sabella
25Chicago25; Pandemic Relief
Feinstein’s/54 Below; Pangea
New York Debut
Roderick Ferguson
Man Overboard!!!
Don’t Tell Mama
Carolyn German
Unsolicited Advice
Don’t Tell Mama, The Duplex
Bruce Sabath
Searching for Tevye
Don’t Tell Mama
Celebrity Artist
Natalie Douglas
Best of Tributes: The Women (Nina, Dolly, Roberta); Best of Tributes: The Men (Nat, Sammy, Elvis); Tributes: James Taylor; To Nina: Tribute to Nina Simone; Four Women, Four Decades
Birdland Theater, Birdland Jazz Club, Feinstein’s at the Nikko (S.F.), Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael (Indiana), Gulfshore Playhouse (Naples, FL)
Andre De Shields
Black by Popular Demand
Feinstein’s/54 Below
Norm Lewis
(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays
Feinstein’s/54 Below
Billy Stritch
Billy’s Place
Birdland
Lillias White
The Green Room 42
Impersonation/Characterization/Drag Artist
Flotilla DeBarge
Corona and FLO; Shots & Shrieks with Nurse Fatass; Do They Flo It’s Christmas?
Pangea
Jinkx Monsoon AND BenDeLaCreme
The Return of the Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Show
Town Hall, Lincoln Theatre (Washington, D.C.)
Cisst Walken
Hammered Drag Brunch; The Invasion; The Simsinz; Completely
The Rusty Nail, Stonewall Inn, Caveat, Rockbar NYC
Musical Comedy Performer
Leanne Borghesi
Borghesi’s Back
Don’t Tell Mama
Andrea Bell WOLFF
Adventures in Vegas
Don’t Tell Mama
Duo/Group
Elena Bennett AND Fred Barton
Bennett and Barton: Back in the Swing of Things!
West Bank Cafe
Michael Garin AND MARDIE MILLIT
The Michael and Mardie Show
West Bank Cafe
Darnell White AND David LaMarr
Fully Vaccinated
Don’t Tell Mama
Major Duo/Group
Jim Caruso AND Billy Stritch
Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel
Clearly Now (Sean Harkness, Lina Koutrakos, Marcus Simeone)
Clearly Now, Season 3
Don’t Tell Mama, Pangea
Eric Comstock AND Barbara Fasano
Birdland
Piano Bar Instrumentalist
Nate Buccieri
Don’t Tell Mama, Brandy’s; The Duplex
GERRY DIEFFENBACH
Don’t Tell Mama; The Duplex; Stonewall Inn
William TN Hall
Don’t Tell Mama; Brandy’s
Michael McAssey
Pangea
Darnell White
Brandy’s; Stonewall Inn
Piano Bar/Restaurant singing Entertainer Female
Elaine Brier
Don’t Tell Mama
MARIA GENTILE
Brandy’s; Stonewall Inn; The Duplex
Tara Martinez
Don’t Tell Mama
Alison Nusbaum
Don’t Tell Mama; Brandy’s
Piano Bar/Restaurant singing Entertainer Male
Jonathan Hoover
Don’t Tell Mama
Brian Kalinowski
Don’t Tell Mama
Paul Pilcz
Don’t Tell Mama
Jon Satrom
Don’t Tell Mama, Brandy’s
Restaurant/Hotel Lounge/ Happy Hour Entertainer
Yaz Fukuoka
Don’t Tell Mama
Eric Yves Garcia
West Bank Cafe
Ricky Ritzel
Don’t Tell Mama
Sheree Sano
Chez Josephine
Ensamble Instrumentalist
Steve Doyle, Bass
Cast Party (Birdland); A Swinging Birdland Christmas (Birdland); Karen Oberlin and Bewitched: The Life and Lyrics of Lorenz Hart (Birdland)
Matt Scharfglass, Bass
Tanya Moberly/I Love New York Songwriters Part II (Don’t Tell Mama), Marnie Klar/A Woman’s Prerogative (Don’t Tell Mama), Debbie Zecher/Jewish Caroling (Don’t Tell Mama), Scott Coulter & Friends/From Dolly Parton to David Bowie(Feinstein’s/54 Below)
Skip Ward, Bass
Sue Matsuki & Gregory Toroian: Sunday Open Mic & Jazz Brunch (Pangea), Brenda Braxton/After Hours! (Feinstein’s/54 Below); Maria Corsaro/You Taught My Heart to Sing (Pangea); Kati Neiheisel/Yesterday… Once More (Pangea); Sidney Myer (Pangea)
Recurring Series
The Line-Up With Susie Mosher
Produced by Susie Mosher and Hope Royaltey; music direction by Brad Simmons
Birdland Theater
Ricky Ritzel’S Broadway
Created and produced by Ricky Ritzel; staged and choreographed by Jay Rogersand Aaron Morishita
Don’t Tell Mama
Salon
Founder, Artistic Director, Host: Mark Janas; Executive Director: Tanya Moberly
Don’t Tell Mama
Reveu Or Special Production
Rita Hayworth – The Heat Is On!
Starring Quinn Lemley, written and directed by Carter Inskeep, produced by Paul Horton, musical director Tom Wilson, costume designer Wendall Going
Don’t Tell Mama
A Swinging Birdland Christmas
Created by and starring Billy Stritch, Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso
Birdland
Rian Keating: Time Stamps – Life Fragments In Story And Song
Written and performed by Rian Keating; directed by Tanya Moberly; musical direction by Woody Regan
Don’t Tell Mama
Virtual Presentation
Cabaret Conversations
Conceived, curated, and hosted by Michael Kirk Lane; produced by 92Y School of Music
92Y web site
Mardie Millet: Live From Locckdown!
Mardie Millit: producer, writer, director, videographer, and star; Michael Garin: pianist, arranger, occasional singer
Facebook
Open Mac Live!
Hosted by and principal performer: Michael McAssey, produced by Peter Nictakis
Facebook, YouTube
Weekly Virtual Spotlight On You Open Mic
Produced and emceed by Natasha Castillo
Facebook, YouTube
Emcee
Jim Caruso
Jim Caruso’s Cast Party
Birdland
Susie Mosher
The Lineup with Susie Mosher
Birdland Theater
Director
Barry Kleinbort
Claudine Cassan-Jellison/Hey Frenchy: Stories and Songs from the Pantry (Don’t Tell Mama) Anita Gillette and Penny Fuller/Sin Twisters (Feinstein’s/54 Below); Karen Mason/Christmas! Christmas! Christmas! (Laurie Beechman); Haley Swindal/Back in Business (Feinstein’s/54 Below)
Lina Koutrakos
Dorian Woodruff/Studio Musician: The Music of Manilow (Pangea); Kati Neiheisel/Yesterday…Once More (Pangea); Susan Mack/Music in the Air (Birdland)
Tanya Moberly
Amy Beth Williams/Beautiful Mystery – The Songs of Leonard Cohen (Don’t Tell Mama); Rian Keating/Time Stamps – Life Fragments in Story and Song (Don’t Tell Mama); Bruce Sabath/Searching for Tevye (Don’t Tell Mama); Marnie Klar/A Woman’s Prerogative (Don’t Tell Mama); Frank McDonough/Legends of Las Vegas (Don’t Tell Mama);
Musical Director
Daryl Kojak
Celia Berk/Porch Performances (Music at the Mansion); Collection of Solos and Duets from the Great American Songbook/ Beloved Songs from Stage and Screen (Old Dutch Church, Kingston, NY); Tulis McCall/Tulis Talks and Sings (Don’t Tell Mama); ASA/Cabaret Scenes Magazine’s 25th Anniversary (The Green Room 42)
Tracy Stark
Sidney Myer/Sidney Myer at Pangea (Pangea); Meg Flather/Rodgers and Hammerstein 2021 (Don’t Tell Mama); Kim David Smith/Mostly Marlene (Club Cumming); Brenda Braxton/After Hours (Feinstein’s/54 Below); Alice Ripley/Alice Ripley in Concert (The Green Room 42)
Billy Stritch
Cast Party (Birdland), Marilyn Maye (Birdland); Linda Eder/Feinstein’s/54 Below; LuAnn DeLessups (Feinstein’s/54 Below)
Gregory Toroian
Sue Matsuki/This Broad’s Way (Pangea), Maria Corsaro/You Taught My Heart to Sing (Pangea); Kati Neiheisel/Yesterday… Once More (Pangea), Dorian Woodruff/Studio Musician-The Music of Manilow (Pangea); Jackie Draper/Spreadin’ Rhythm Around (Laurie Beechman Theatre)
Technical Director
Adam DeCarlo
Meg Flather/Rodgers and Hammerstein 2021; Angela Bacari/One Night Only; Claudine Cassan-Jellison/ Hey Frenchy: Stories and Songs from the Pantry; Deborah Zecher/Jewish Caroling; Ricky Ritzel’s Broadway (all at Don’t Tell Mama)
KJ Hardy (lights) And Amanda Raymond (Sound)
Marilyn Maye’s 93rd Birthday Celebration; André De Shields/Black by Popular Demand; Jason Danieley/Reflections; Kelli O’Hara/Diamond Series; Paulo Szot/An Enchanted Evening (all at Feinstein’s/54 Below)
Rocky Noel
Leanne Borghesi/Borghesi’s Back (Don’t Tell Mama); Our Sinatra (Birdland Theater); Quinn Lemley/The Heat Is On (Don’t Tell Mama); Marnie Klar/A Woman’s Prerogative (Don’t Tell Mama); Claudine Cassan-Jellison/ Hey Frenchy: Stories and Songs from the Pantry (Don’t Tell Mama)
Alison Nusbaum
Rian Keating/Time Stamps; Bruce Sabath/Searching for Tevye; David LaMarr and Darnell White/Fully Vaccinated; Timothy Quinlan/All My Stupid Jobs; Andrea BellWolff/Showgirl (all at Don’t Tell Mama)
Kelly Wohlford
Tanya Moberly/I Love NY Songwriters Part II; Amy Beth Williams/A Thousand Beautiful Things; American Popular Song Society; Cathy Taylor/Life Hack Unabridged; Jill Senter/La Soirée (all at Don’t Tell Mama)
Song
Inside
Music and Lyrics by Meg Flather
Just Say Good-Bye
Music by John Forster, Lyrics by John Forster and Harriet Goldberg
Let The Music Play
Music and Lyrics by Paul Rolnick and David Friedman
Warp And Weave
Music and Lyrics by John Forster
While I’m Still Here
Music and Lyrics by Bob Levy
Comedy/Novelty Song
Boo Hoo
Music by John Forster, Lyrics by John Forster, Hillary Rolls, Tom Toce
Helium
Music and Lyrics by John Forster
I Survived You
Music and Lyrics by Bob Levy
Those Year-End Hot Kisses
Music and Lyrics by John A. Todras
You Can Keep The Wings
Music and Lyrics by Carolyn German
Recording (LaMott Friedman Award)
Tina Burner
Maybe This Time
Chip Deffaa / Various Artists
Chip Deffaa’s Irving Berlin: Love Songs and Such
Dawn Derow
My Ship, Songs from 1941
Bob Levy
While I’m Still Here
Marya Zimmet
On the Road to Love
Major Recording
Phil Geoffrey Bond / VARIOUS ARTISTS
Sondheim Unplugged: The NYC Sessions Vol 1
CLEARLY NOW (Sean Harkness, Lina Koutrakos, Marcus Simeone)
Clearly Now
Gay Marshall
Back on Boogie Street – The Songs of Leonard Cohen
Karen Mason
Let the Music Play
David Sabella
Time Heals
As previously announced, Chita Rivera and Marta Sanders each receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. The Mabel Mercer Foundation and Lennie Watts each receive a MAC Board of Directors Award. Aaron Lee Battle is the Hanson Award winner, and CABARET ON THE COUCH receives the Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Series Award. Jim Caruso’S CAST PARTY/PAJAMA CAST PARTY receives the Show of the Year Award.
The winners will be revealed as the envelopes are opened live at the 36th Annual MAC Awards on Tuesday, April 12 at 7:00 pm at Peter Norton Symphony Space in New York City.
The MAC Awards ceremony is produced by Michael Kirk Lane and directed by Lennie Watts, with musical direction by Yazuhiko Fukuoka The event is open to the public.
Tickets are available at www.symphonyspace.org/events/vp-36th-mac-awards. For additional information, visit www.MACnyc.com.
Cabaret
Cabaret, Talks and Concerts For June

The summer nights bring excitement to the clubs and cabarets. Here are picks for June.
92 Street Y: 1395 Lexington Ave. 6/1: Music Icons: Graham Nash in Conversation with Anthony DeCurtis; 6/2 and 4: California Dreamin’: Jessica Vosk Sings the Songwriters of Laurel Canyon; 6/12: A New York Evening Celebrating Peggy Lee and 6/16: Focus Features’ Asteroid City: Bryan Cranston in Conversation with MTV’s Josh Horowitz.
Birdland Jazz: 315 West 44 St. Every Monday at 9:30pm Jim Caruso’s Cast Party; Every Tuesday at 8:30pm The Lineup with Susie Mosher; Every Saturday at 7pm Eric Comstock with Sean Smith (Bass) & special guest Barbara Fasano (Voice); 6/5, 12 and 26: Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks in the Theater;Billy Stritch & Gabrielle Stravelli “Mel and Ella Swing!”; 6/6 – 10: Stacey Kent; 6/8: Phillip Officer: “Second Time Around” in the Theater; 6/12: The Brat Pack and 6/19: Natalie Douglas: “Freedom Songs: Juneteenth Jubilee”
Cafe Carlyle: 35 E 76th St. until 6-10: Sutton Foster; 6/13 – 17: Mira Sorvino and 6/20 – 24 Megan Hilty.
Carnegie Hall: 881 7th Ave at 57th St.
Chelsea Table + Stage: Hilton Fashion District Hotel, 152 W 26th St. 6/4: Reeve Carney; 6/7: Nicolas King; 6/26: Samantha Pauly and 6/27: Marieann Meringolo.
Don’t Tell Mama: 343 W. 46 St. 6/3: Tim Di Pasqua and 6/16: Tanya Moberly
Dizzys Club Coca Cola: Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th Street. 6/11: Songbook Sundays Fats Waller
The DJango: 2 Avenue of the Americas. 6/9: Jason Tiemann Quartet
54 Below: 254 West 54 St. 6/1 -4: Clint Holmes: Between the Moon and New York City- The Songs of Peter Allen, feat. Nikki Renée Daniels!; 6/5: Charles Strouse’s 95th Birthday Show! Feat. Stephen Schwartz & more; 6/6: Hands on a Hardbody 10th Anniversary Reunion Concert; 6/8 and 10: Jenn Colella: Out and Proud; 6/12, 14 – 17: Joe Iconis & Family, feat. Lauren Marcus & more!; 6/13:Jeff Harnar & Alex Rybeck: Our 40th Anniversary Songbook; 6/21 – 25: Shaun Cassidy: The Magic of a Midnight Skyand 6/29 – 7/1: Amber Gray
The Green Room 42: 570 10th Ave. 6/10 and 26: Janinie LaManna
Sony Hall: 235 W. 46th St. 6/9: The Manhattan Transfer 50th Anniversary & Final World Tour w/ Special Guest The Diva Jazz Orchestra; 6/23 and 24: Sergio Mendes and 6/26: Broadway Sings Lady Gaga
The Triad: 158 W. 72 St.
Broadway
Broadway’s Samantha Pauly and Reeve Carney Come To Chelsea Table and Stage

On May 29th catch Samantha Pauly for Memorial Day. Best known for originating the role of Katherine Howard in Broadway’s smash hit SIX the Musical, and her captivating performance as Eva Peron in Jamie Lloyd’s critically acclaimed revival of Evita on London’s West End, Samantha Pauly has carefully crafted an evening that reflects the last few years of her life. Join this Grammy nominee and Drama Desk Award winner as she revisits some career highlights, Broadway classics, pop/rock favorites, and all the fun stuff in between.
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and actor Reeve Carneyreturns to Chelsea Table + Stage June 4th to perform a night of music honoring the artistry of the legendary rock n’ roll supergroup Led Zeppelin. Carney is best known for his portrayal of Dorian Grayin on Showtime’s Penny Dreadful, Riff Raff in Fox’s Rocky Horror Picture Show Reimagining, as well as originating the role of Peter Parker in Julie Taymor/U2’s Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark. He is currently starring in the Broadway blockbuster, Hadestown. Reeve Carney delivers a one-man-show cabaret that feels more like an invitation-only after-party than a traditional concert performance. Don’t miss this special performance from one of Broadway’s leading actors!
Cabaret
My View: It’s Richard Jay-Alexander’s Birthday!
If there’s anyone who deserves to be featured in TIMES SQUARE CHRONICLES, on this particular day, May 24, it would be this guy, Richard Jay-Alexander. Born in 1953, today he turns 70 years old, here in New York City. He has walked these city streets more than most, as he pursued and has enjoyed a 49 year career, working on Broadway, in most theaters, clubs and majestic musical institutions, such as Carnegie Hall and The MET. He’s touched many, many lives and has a passion for this business that continues to burn and just this past Sunday, he helmed a thrilling evening, celebrating BroadwayWorld.com‘s 20th Anniversary, at midtown’s historic Sony Hall. On the eve of his birthday, he attended his favorite Tuesday night happening, Susie Mosher’s The LINEUP at Birdland Theatre, and treated the audience to a couple stories, observations on this important birthday and then, with Billy Stritch at the piano, John Miller on Bass and Clint De Canon on drums, performed a moving and heartfelt (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Richard clearly has a gift and a passion for the stage and for music and we are all the better for it, on the receiving end.
Happy Birthday, Young Man! Here’s to many more.
Cabaret
My View: A Glamorous Celebrity Filled Night With Lorna Dallas at The Laurie Beechman Theatre
It was a celebrity filled audience last night and the glamor of Manhattan Cabaret nightlife was in abundance for Lorna Dallas and her show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre titled “Glamorous Nights and Rainy Days
Ms. Dallas returned to New York City with a wonderful new show. This was Ms. Dallas’ first appearance in this town since she performed at the Bistro awards prior to the lockdown of 2020. The three years respite has done nothing to dim the luster of Ms Dallas’ exceptional instrument. She stayed in fine voice all evening long. But she is more than just an excellent vocalist. She is also a compelling actress. Her show, skillfully crafted by director Barry Kleinbort, and sensitively accompanied by one of this city’s best musical directors, Christopher Denny, was a joy from start to finish. The star studded audience at the Laurie Beechman theater responded heartily to every one of Lorna’s numbers. Evening high points ran the gamut, from standards like “I Have Dreamed,” to “When the Sun Comes Out;” from an hilarious “By Strauss” by the Gershwin’s to a dramatic “Silent Spring” by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. She also premiered a new song written especially for her by Ann Hampton Callaway and Amanda McBroom, “In My Dreams,” which wowed the savvy New York crowd. Hopefully, Lorna Dallas will return to these shores on a more regular basis. Three years is too long a wait for this powerful soprano’s next appearance..
Cabaret
My View: David Yazbek and Norbert Leo Butz at 54 Below
Tony, Grammy, and Emmy award winning composer/writer/musician David Yazbek and his band were on the stage of 54 Below last night playing some of his new songs from an upcoming album. They also played some great music from the Yazbek songbook and from his Broadway musicals.
In addition to being an award winning composer and lyricist David Yazbek is a formidable pianist possessing a fearless technique generating an extraordinary combination of intoxicating melodious dissonance. . A highlight of the evening for me was when he displayed his unique harmonic and rhythmic pianistic concepts on the Great American Songbook Standard “Over The Rainbow”. Norbert Leo Butz also starred in the the 54 evening titled “David Yazbek and The Bludgeoneers” and he brought the house to it’s feet with the “Dirty Rotten Medley”
The Band: Javier Diaz (Percussion), Tony Orbach (Sax), Sam Sadigursky (Clarinet), Dean Sharenow (Drums), Chris Tordini (Bass), Paul Vercesi (Sax)
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Events3 days ago
Happy Memorial Day From T2C
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Events4 days ago
Tovah Feldshuh Joins The American Popular Song Society In Celebration of Marilyn Maye
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Cabaret, Talks and Concerts For June
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Art4 days ago
Events in June
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Food and Drink1 day ago
Start You Up This Morning with The Rolling Stones and Keurig
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Events1 day ago
Sean Hayes, Eric McCormack, Kim Cattrall Scheduled for Tribeca Festival 2023 Audio Storytelling
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Broadway4 days ago
Ken Fallin’s Broadway: Chicago
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Tribeca Festival Set to Thrill with Roxstar Entertainment with Cinema Center