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CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE #010201
Thursday, February 1, 2001
Since 1990 Your First, Best, and Only Source of Cabaret News

It it's anything to do with cabaret, you'll probably read it here first!

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This is a quickie issue - another larger issue will be on its way to you on Saturday or Sunday. I just wanted to pass along to you the 2001 BACK STAGE BISTRO AWARDS winners, plus a few other items of interest.

Each year BACK STAGE, the weekly magazine covering NYC theater, cabaret and other entertainment events presents the BISTRO AWARD to outstanding cabaret performers and performances of the previous year. The awards were begun by the late Bob Harrington, who was the cabaret reviewer for BACK STAGE for many years, and wrote the Bistro Bits column in the paper. Currently the recipients are chosen by the 4 cabaret reviewers of the BACK STAGE namely John Hoglund, David Finkle, and Barbara & Scott Siegel. The awards will be presented at a special ceremony and show at THE SUPPER CLUB (240 West 47th Street, NYC) on Monday, March 5th.

2001 BACK STAGE BISTRO AWARD RECIPIENTS

NEW YORK - February 1, 2000 - Back Stage: The Performing Arts Weekly has announced the winners of the 16th Annual Bistro Awards for outstanding achievement in cabaret. An extensive list of artists will be recognized for their distinguished work in 2000. The recipients of the coveted Bob Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award will be Dame Cleo Laine and John Dankworth.

2001 BACK STAGE Bistro Award Winners for Outstanding Excellence in Cabaret:

VOCALIST: Scott Coulter, Jack Donahue, Audrey Lavine

CABARET DEBUT: Kane Alexander, Julie Reyburn

MAJOR ENGAGEMENT: Polly Bergen MUSICAL

COMEDY: Jim Caruso, Jason Graae

SINGER/SONGWRITER: Christine Lavin

MUSICAL REVUE: "This Life - The Songs of Portia Nelson" - John Znidarsic, Director - Paul Katz, Musical Director/Arranger.

SPECIAL CABARET EVENT: "Purpose of Love - A Tim Di Pasqua Songbook" - Producer/Director Michael Levesque

PERFORMER IN A REVUE: Bobby Peaco ("Indigo Rat")

SONGWRITER: Francesca Blumenthal

SPECIAL MATERIAL: "Bistro Baby" by David Gurland

MUSICAL DIRECTION: Mark Hartman

TECHNICAL DIRECTION: Michael Barbieri (Judy's Chelsea)

COMEDY PERFORMER: Cory Kahaney

VARIETY SHOW: Ron Poole ("Poole Party!")

UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT: Marc Salem

RECORDING: Michael Feinstein's "Romance on Film, Romance on Broadway."

SPECIAL AWARD: Ervin Drake, songwriter & JOE'S PUB Songbook Series"

The evening will feature performances from all Bistro-Winning Artists and shows. The gala event kicks off Cabaret Month in New York City, as officially designated in previous years by the Mayor's Office. It is a month-long celebration of this unique art form, featuring special performances, panel discussions, and other events.

The Back Stage Bistro Awards will be held on Monday, March 5th at THE SUPPER CLUB (240 West 47th Street, NYC - 212-921-1940), beginning with a reception at 5:00 pm with Jerry Scott at the piano, followed by the awards presentation and show at 6:30. Back Stage Editor-in-Chief Sherry Eaker is producing and hosting the event along with Back Stage cabaret critics John Hoglund, David Finkle, and Barbara & Scott Siegel. Comedian Jim David is guest emcee, and the show is under the direction of Thomas Mills.

A limited number of tickets will be sold to the public at $60, available at Back Stage, 770 Broadway, 6th Floor, NYC; by credit card by calling 646-654-5740; or by visiting the Back Stage website at http://www.backstage.com/.

There is still time to advertise in the BACK STAGE Bistro Awards program booklet. The rates for are as follows: 1/4 page $75, 1/2 page $150, full page $275. They are also offering a package deal, whereby the advertiser gets that exact same ad in Back Stage as well: 1/4 page $239, 1/2 page $390, full page $695! Just contact Greg Kennell at 212-243-0549 or check out http://www.GregoryKennell.com/bistro/.

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LAST MINUTE CHANGES & BOOKINGS:

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The fabulous Josh Dodes Band will be playing at THE HARD ROCK CAFE (221 West 57th Street, NYC - 212-489-6565) on Friday night, February 2nd starting around 9:00 pm - admission is only $5. Plus, Josh and Band have just purchased a 15-passenger van, in which it plans to take over the world or break down on I-95, whichever comes first. In addition to the usual shows they have been doing in DC, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, the band will be debuting in new Northeast cities including Baltimore and Amherst, MA. Then, come April, they will be touring the Southeast, followed by a Midwest tour in May. I'll try to keep you informed.

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Just when you thought is was safe to go back to FEINSTEIN'S at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue, NYC - 212-339-4095 - http://www.feinsteinsattheregency.com/) we receive word that Sally Kellerman will be doing two shows this Saturday, February 3rd at 8:30 and 11:00 pm. Don't ask - I have no answer.

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Ellie Ellsworth and Erv Raible are off to St. Paul and Chicago on Tuesday, February 6th to audition folks who want to attend the EUGENE O'NEILL CABARET SYMPOSIUM this summer. They will see people at the NAUTILUS THEATER SPACE (308 Prince Street, Suite #250, St. Paul, Minnesota) on February 7th and 8th and at DAVENPORT'S (1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL) on February 9th and 10th. There will be another Cabaret Symposium "Blue Gene's" show at DAVENPORT'S on Saturday, February 10th at 10:30 pm, featuring a number of Graduate Cabaret Fellows. Performers can call Ellie for an appointment on the SYMPOSIUM number 1-800-8-BISTRO or e-mail her at cabsymp@att.net.

SYMPOSIUM Fellow Colleen McHugh presents "Tales of Revenge & Regret" will perform on Saturday at DAVENPORT'S (1383 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL - 773-278-1830 - http://www.davenportspianobar.com/) at 8:00 pm - and every Saturday in February.

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The Newton Country Players invites folks in the Boston area to share their impossible dreams at its gala fundraiser on Saturday, February 3rd at THE WINDSOR CLUB (1601 Beacon Street, Newton, MA), including an open mic time. The evening will begin at 7:00 pm with a buffet of hors d'oeuvres and complimentary champagne, followed throughout the evening with delicious desserts and gourmet coffee, all in a setting of cabaret seating. The cost of the evening is a $25.00 donation per person, of which $15.00 is tax-deductible. For more information, or to reserve your tickets, e-mail Jane Eyler at JEyler@rcn.com, call Jane at 508-872-6107.

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TONY Award winner Karen Ziemba, who continues to play the 50s housewife with the vivid imagination in the hit show CONTACT, will also make several other appearances in the coming weeks. On Monday, February 5th she will appear at, not one, but THREE different events on her night off. Karen will begin her evening by participating in a panel discussion sponsored by ART/NY called "Behind the Scenes look at the state of the Musical." Karen joins Arthur Laurents, Daphne Reuben-Vega and others at the event at the VINEYARD THEATRE (108 East 15th Street, NYC) beginning at 6:30 pm.

Karen and her husband, actor Bill Tatum, will then appear at the benefit for the GENESIUS GUILD called "Valentine Cabaret/New Songwriter Evening" at the PLAYERS CLUB (16 Gramercy Park South, NYC) which begins at 7:30 pm. Karen will conclude her busy February 5th by joining Elaine Stritch, Carol Lawrence, Alan Cumming, Bebe Neuwirth, Anne Reinking, Sandy Duncan and other CHICAGO alumni, in saluting Chita Rivera at the annual Drama League benefit at THE PIERRE HOTEL!

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Well, I told you it would be a short one. That's all for now. Be sure to check out the website and tell others to subscribe to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE - it's free and it's the best way to be kept informed about cabaret.

And that is just about the way it was.

Hugs & Stuff,

STU

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