Anita Gillette, Mary Lahti, Billie Roe & More Take Home 2014 Mac Awards

Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), dedicated to advancing the art and business of live entertainment, held their 28th Annual MAC Awards celebration last evening at BB King's Blues club in Times Square. Winners in twenty-five categories were announced. The show was hosted by the vivacious singer, band leader, multiple MAC Award winner and 2014 Nominee, Terese Genecco. The gala was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, the current MAC President. Don Rebic served as Musical Director. Presenters included Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal and designer Bob Mackie.

Two Lifetime Achievement Awards were previously announced for Linda Lavin and Marilyn Maye, as well as the 2014 Board of Directors Award for the Eugene O'Neill Cabaret and Performance Conference. Lavin and Maye accepted their awards in person, and they also performed, Lavin accompanying herself on piano. Accepting for the O'Neill was director John McDaniel.

The Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Award went to the Park Concert Series (formerly The Concerts for City Greens), and was accepted by its founder, Raissa Katona Bennett.

The Hanson Award went to vocalist Amy Beth Williams, and two scholarships for Performing Arts education were awarded to youth from WingspanArts, young Jenna Barricklo and Sofia Bryant.

And the rest of the winners are:

FEMALE VOCALIST
BILLIE ROE, 1978 NYC Underground
Metropolitan Room, Duplex

MALE VOCALIST
JONATHAN WHITTON, The Free Residency; Black Sheep Carnival
Don't Tell Mama

MAJOR ARTIST
MARISSA MULDER, Tom...In His Words: The Songs of Tom Waits
Metropolitan Room, Stage 72, Joe's Pub

CELEBRITY ARTIST
ANITA GILLETTE, After All
Metropolitan Room, St. James Studio (London), Cape May Stage (NJ)

NEW YORK DEBUT - FEMALE
MARY LAHTI, A Kid Again
Duplex

NEW YORK DEBUT - MALE
GARY CRAWFORD, In Love With Love
Metropolitan Room, Don't Tell Mama

MUSICAL COMEDY PERFORMER
COLLEEN MCHUGH, Calendar Girl
Duplex

IMPERSONATION/CHARACTERIZATION/DRAG ARTIST
ROGER ANTHONY MAPES, Rev. Yolanda's Old Time Gospel Hour
Duplex

DUO/GROUP
TANYA HOLT & MARCUS SIMEONE, Quiet Storm
Metropolitan Room

REVUE
TWENTIETH CENTURY GIRL: THE LOIS MORTON SONGBOOK, Music and lyrics by Lois Morton, directed by Lennie Watts, musical direction and arrangements by Paul Greenwood
Don't Tell Mama, Duplex

RECURRING SERIES
SALON (founder, artistic director and host, Mark Janas)

SPECIAL PRODUCTION
THE AMANDA MCBROOM PROJECT. Conceived and Directed by Eric Michael Gillett, songs by Amanda McBroom. Laurie Beechman Theater

EMCEE-RECURRING SERIES
DANA LORGE

ENSEMBLE INSTRUMENTALIST
SEAN HARKNESS, Guitar Lauren Fox (Metropolitan Room); Terese Genecco's Little Big Band (Iridium, 54 Below, Cutting Room); Karen Akers (Allen Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center), Joanne Tatham (Café Carlyle)

PIANO BAR INSTRUMENTALIST
NATE BUCCIERI
Don't Tell Mama, Duplex

RESTAURANT/HOTEL LOUNGE INSTRUMENTALIST
BILL ZEFFIRO
La Mediterranée

PIANO BAR/RESTAURANT SINGING ENTERTAINER - FEMALE
ALISON NUSBAUM
Don't Tell Mama

PIANO BAR/RESTAURANT SINGING ENTERTAINER - MALE
BOBBY BELFRY
Brandy's

MUSICAL DIRECTOR
TRACY STARK
Barb Jungr (Joe's Pub, O'Neill Conference, 59E59), Billie Roe (Metropolitan Room, Duplex), Tanya Holt & MarcusSimeone (Metropolitan Room)

DIRECTOR
LENNIE WATTS
Billie Roe (Metropolitan Room, Duplex), Marquee Five (54 Below), Picture Perfect - The Music and Lyrics of Scott EvanDavis (Duplex, Catalina Jazz Club), 20th Century Girl: The Lois Morton Songbook (Don't Tell Mama, Duplex)

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
JEAN-PIERRE PERREAUX
Marilyn Maye, Anita Gillette, Annie Ross (Metropolitan Room)

BEST RECORDING (LaMott Friedman Award)
MARISSA MULDER
Tom... In His Words

BEST SONG
THE RIGHT TIME by Andrew Sotomayor

SHOW OF THE YEAR
ECHOES OF ETTA: A TRIBUTE TO ETTA JAMES, Created and conceived by William Blake and Michael Thomas Murray, starring William Blake, musical direction by Michael Thomas Murray (Birdland, Joe's Pub, Café Carlyle)