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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2009
MEDIA CONTACT
Michelle Brandon Tabnick, 646-765-4773,
michelle@michelletabnickcommunications.com
24th ANNUAL BACK STAGE
BISTRO AWARDS GALA
At Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23rd
St., NYC – Tuesday, April 28 at 6:30 pm
Evening Honors Charles Aznavour
and Liza Minnelli
BMI Award to Songwriter Julie Gold
ASCAP Award for Outstanding
CD to Hallways: The Songs of Carol Hall
NEW YORK March 2, 2009 –More than
30 of cabaret’s brightest stars will be honored at the 24th
annual Bistro Awards, which will take place on Tuesday, April 28 at Gotham
Comedy Club. International singer-songwriter-actor Charles Aznavour will
be honored with the Bob Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award. Liza Minnelli,
Tony-, Oscar-, and Emmy-winning performer, will be recognized in the category
of Enduring Artistry. Each of these stars will present the Award to the
other—a Bistro first.
There are shows that pay tribute
to songwriters and singers. Alison Fraser and Mary Testa salute songwriter
Rusty McGee (Outstanding Duo). Laurie Krauz and Daryl Kojak reimagine the
songs of Carol King (Outstanding Theme Show), while Liz McCartney pays
homage to Rosemary Clooney (Outstanding Tribute Show).
Songwriters Julie Gold and Carol
Hall are being recognized, respectively, with the BMI Outstanding Songwriter/Entertainer
Award, and the ASCAP Award for Outstanding CD. Singer/songwriter Amanda
McBroom is the recipient of a Bistro for Outstanding Major Engagement.
Special awards are being given
to Robert Kimball for preserving, documenting, and celebrating the Great
American Songbook, and Joseph Macchia for his Cabaret Cares benefit series
that raises money for children living with AIDS.
The Ira Eaker Special Achievement
Award, given to an outstanding performer on the rise and named after Back
Stage’s co-founder, co-publisher and first cabaret critic, goes to
Kim Smith.
The Awards reflect the wide diversity
to be found on our cabaret stages, from art songs about sex and death,
to the worlds of country music and burlesque.
The evening will feature performances
from most of the Bistro-winning artists and shows.
The gala event will be held on
Tuesday, April 28 at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23rd St. A champagne
and wine reception for the Bistro recipients and Premium ticket holders
begins at 5 pm; followed by the awards presentation and show starting promptly
at 6:30 pm. Producer Sherry Eaker will be hosting the annual event, along
with members of the Bistro Award Committee and guest emcees.
The Bistro Award Committee comprises
Elizabeth Ahlfors (Cabaret Scenes), David Finkle (Back Stage),
Rob Lester (Cabaret Scenes, talkinbroadway.com), Erv Raible (executive/artistic
director of the Cabaret Conference at Yale University), Roy Sander (former
Back Stage columnist), and Back Stage Editor at Large, Sherry
Eaker.
The Bistro Awards are sponsored
by BMI, ASCAP, and Back Stage, with additional sponsorship
from Branson B. Champagne and Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars.
Online ticket purchasing will
be available shortly as will the brand new Bistro Awards website,
bistroawards.com. To purchase tickets by phone, call 646-654-5725;
for more information, email bistros@backstage.com
.
A complete list of the 2009
recipients follows:
Euan Morton / Outstanding
Vocalist / Metropolitan Room
Susan Winter / Outstanding
Vocalist / Metropolitan Room
Laurel Massé / Outstanding
Jazz Vocalist / Birdland and Metropolitan Room
Deb Berman / Outstanding
Debut / Metropolitan Room
Kim Smith / Ira Eaker Special
Achievement Award / Don’t Tell Mama, Joe’s Pub, Duo Theatre
Amanda McBroom / Outstanding
Major Engagement / Metropolitan Room
Julie Gold / BMI Award for
Outstanding Songwriter/Entertainer / The Duplex
Carol Hall / ASCAP Award
for Outstanding CD/ Hallways: The Songs of Carol Hall
Uptown Express / Outstanding
Vocal Group / Metropolitan Room
Alison Fraser & Mary Testa
/ Together Again: The Songs of Rusty McGee / Outstanding Duo / Laurie Beechman
Theatre at the West Bank Cafe
Tapestry Rewoven – A Jazz Re-imagining
of the Carole King Classic / Outstanding Theme Show, performed by Laurie
Krauz, musical direction and arrangements by Daryl Kojak / Metropolitan
Room and the Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe
Little Death: Songs of Coming
and Going / Outstanding Theme Show, conceived and performed by Karen
Kohler, directed by John- Richard Thompson, musical direction
by Doug Oberhamer / arrangements by Tom Nazziola, Oberhamer,
and Kohler / Zipper Factory Theatre
Liz McCartney / Rosemary
& Time: A Musical Tribute to the Life of Rosemary Clooney / Outstanding
Tribute Show / Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe
Nashville / Outstanding
Revue, co-starring Daryl Glenn and musical director/arranger Jo
Lynn Burks, directed and choreographed by Vince DeGeorge / Metropolitan
Room
Brian Nash / Outstanding
Lounge Entertainer / The Duplex
Narcissister / Outstanding
Burlesque/Vaudeville Act / Joe’s Pub
Opening Doors Theatre Company:
Closing Notice Series / Outstanding Series / The Duplex
Lennie Watts / Outstanding
Director
Don Rebic / Outstanding
Musical Director
Lisa Moss / Outstanding
Technical Director / The Duplex
Robert Kimball / Special
Award for preserving, documenting and celebrating the
Great American Songbook
Joseph Macchia/ Special
Award for his Cabaret Cares benefit series
and
Liza Minnelli / Enduring
Artistry
Charles Aznavour / Bob Harrington
Lifetime Achievement Award
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