BWW 2014 NY Cabaret Awards: Ann Hampton Callaway Voted Performer of the Year; Tune, Budd, McKay, Harnar, McKnight, Nadler, Monheit & Conklin Win Best Vocalist Awards

BroadwayWorld has called Ann Hampton Callaway (photo) the current "Queen of Cabaret" and apparently much of the cabaret audience agrees. The votes for the 2014 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards are official and Callaway is the "Performer of the Year," having garnered 2,194 votes (the most of any nominee) out of the 66,179 votes cast by approximately 7,500 voters for 148 nominees in 17 categories. Patti LuPone finished second and Marilyn Maye placed third in the "Performer of the Year" category.

Among this year's BWW New York Cabaret Award winners are accomplished veteran cabaret performers and musicians who are taking their first BWW Award in the three years since the program was established in 2012. In the "Celebrity Show" category, first-time winners were the legendary Tommy Tune and long-time cabaret performer Julie Budd. In the "Best Vocalist, Non-Celebrity" categories, Nellie McKay and Jeff Harnar won their first BWW Award, and the Awards for "Best Show, Non-Celebrity" go to long-time favorites Mark Nadler and Sharon McKnight. After winning the BWW Award for "Best Jazz Vocalist" two years in a row, Jane Monheit finished in a tie this year with first-time winner Mary Foster Conklin, who for years has been acknowledged as one of the best singers on the New York Jazz scene.

Besides Callaway and Monheit, there are three other repeat Award winners. For the second straight year the voters considered Broadway veteran Terri White to have performed the "Best One-Show, One-Night Special Event" for her show Two Score at 54 Below. After missing out last year, Billy Stritch and Jim Caruso (Host of the popular variety show, Cast Party) won the Awards for the same categories they did in 2012, "Best Musical Director" and "Best Host, Variety Show, Recurring Series/Open Mic," respectively.

BroadwayWorld's Editors decided to name two winners in the "Best Debut" category. Although the category originally included both female and male nominees, the top two vote getters--Chrysten Peddie and Joshua Dixon--received such an overwhelming percentage of the votes, BWW is acknowledging both as winners this year.

Cabaret fans will be able to catch many of this year's Award winners perform at the 3rd Annual BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards Show, which will be hosted again this year by BWW Cabaret Editor and Columnist Stephen Hanks. The Awards Show is set for Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003) on February 23 at 6:30-8:45 pm. Tickets are now available here or call the Taub Box Office: 212-967-7555

Here are your 2014 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Award Winners:

Best Debut: Female: Chrysten Peddie - Too Damn Tall - Metropolitan Room

Best Debut, Male: Joshua Dixon - Fly Up - The Duplex

Best Director: Lina Koutrakos

Best Duo Show: Lorinda Lisitza/Ted Stafford - This May Hurt a Bit - Don't Tell Mama

Best Host Variety Show/Recurring Series/Open Mic: Jim Caruso - Cast Party - Birdland

Best Jazz Vocalist-Female: (Tie) Mary Foster Conklin, Jane Monheit

Best Musical Director: Billy Stritch

Best Non-Piano Instrumentalist: Ray Marchica, Drums

Best One-Show, One-Night Special Event: Terri White - Two Score - 54 Below

Best Revue or Group Show: Joe Iconis and the Family - Rock and Roll Cabaret - Laurie Beechman

Best Show, Celebrity Female: Julie Budd - They Wrote The Songs - Metropolitan Room

Best Show, Celebrity Male: Tommy Tune - More Taps, Tunes & Tall Tales - Cafe Carlyle

Best Show, Female: Sharon McKnight - Sophie Tucker Farewell Tour - Metropolitan Room

Best Show, Male: Mark Nadler - Running Wild: Songs & Scandals of Roaring '20s - 54 Below

Best Variety Show or Recurring Series: Cabaret Cares - Joseph Macchia, Producer - Laurie Beechman

Best Vocalist, Female (Non-Celebrity): Nellie McKay

Best Vocalist, Male (Non-Celebrity): Jeff Harnar

Cabaret Performer of the Year: Ann Hampton Callaway

Special BWW 2014 Editor's Award Winners

Best CD Release: Karen Oberlin & Sean Harkness for A Wish

Best CD Release: Barb Jungr for Hard Rain

Excellence in Songwriting: Steve Schalchlin

Dedication & Devotion to the Art of Cabaret: Jamie deRoy