Terrific Performances From Both Veterans and Newcomers Highlight 2014 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards Show at Joe's Pub

In just three years since the inception of the BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards, the ceremony has evolved into one of the community's most-anticipated events. And this year's festivities, the second one at Joe's Pub, proved to be the most glittering and energetic assemblage to date. In fact, there couldn't have been a more promising start to the annual cabaret awards season, which continues with the Bistro Awards at Gotham Comedy Club on March 4, and culminates with the MAC Awards (Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs) at BB King's on March 26. The 3rd Annual BWW Awards Show was just the right spark to get this season's prizes off to a veritable fireworks display.

The show began with a raucous performance from Joe Iconis and Family (winner of the award for "Best Revue") of "The Whiskey Song," during which the group acts as if getting progressively sauced (photo top). Iconis then introduced host Stephen Hanks, BroadwayWorld's Cabaret Section Editor (photo right), who after welcoming the audience proceeded to delight them with a charming parody of "Van Lingle Mungo" by Dave Frishberg in which all the lyrics, originally the names of baseball players, were substituted with the names of legendary cabaret artists and current stars. (Bill Zeffiro served as a solid musical director, while Jon Burr contributed his polished playing on bass throughout.)

Unfortunately, some of those current stars who were 2014 BWW Award winners could not be present because of other show commitments or gigs outside of New York. But their presence was felt, as many submitted video acceptance speeches, with the results ranging from heartfelt and tender to outright hilarious. These included Tommy Tune (winner for "Best Male Celebrity Show"), Sharon McNight ("Best Show, Female Non-Celebrity"), Barb Jungr ("Best CD Release"), Terri White ("Best One-Show Special Event") and Billy Stritch ("Best Musical Director"). "Performer of the Year" winner Ann Hampton Callaway, who also couldn't attend, submitted a self-written parody of the Gershwin's "Our Love Is Here to Stay," which was sung by Bill Zeffiro on the lovely lady's behalf. [Editor's Note: Other winners who couldn't attend included Jane Monheit ("Best Jazz Vocalist"), Jim Caruso ("Best Host, Variety Show, Recurring Series or Open Mic"), and Nellie McKay ("Best Female Vocalist")].

As for the live performances, the evening was full of dazzling surprises. Julie Budd ("Best Female Celebrity Show"), with musical director Herb Bernstein at the ivories, delivered a version of "If I Ruled the World" that was equally as stellar as when she performed it on the Ed Sullivan show as a pre-teen. Jeff Harnar ("Best Male Vocalist") assumed complete command of the stage with "Sondheim's Oklahoma!" by Rick Crom, accompanied by Alex Rybeck (photo left). Mary Foster Conklin ("Best Jazz Vocalist"--she tied with Monheit) was her customary stunning self, as were Karen Oberlin and Sean Harkness ("Best CD Release" for their disk A Wish). The flamboyant Mark Nadler ("Best Show, Male") seduced the audience into a energetic sing-along on "Minnie the Moocher." Percussionist Ray Marchica (on a duet with guitarist Harkness) absolutely displayed why he won the award for "Best Non-Piano Instrumentalist." Lucia Spina showed off her powerhouse vocals on "William's Song," from the song cycle New World Waking by composer Steve Schalchlin, who was given a "Special Editor's Award for Excellence in Songwriting." And Lina Koutrakos ("Best Director") lightened things up by introducing four of the artists whose shows she was proud to helm over the last season, including Doris Dear (Ray DeForest), Dawn Derow, Sarah Kimball and Dorian Woodruff, who joined together for a fun group number.

But there were three Award winners that stood out as the unequivocal "Best In Show." The first was the twosome of Lorinda Lisitza and Ted Stafford ("Best Duo Show"), who proved exactly why the buzz surrounding their The Ted & Lo Show has been wholeheartedly justified for the last couple of seasons (photo right). The others came in the form of both Joshua Dixon and Chrysten Peddie ("Best Male Debut" and "Best Female Debut," respectively) with Peddie's hair-raising, goosebump-inducing rendition of William Finn's "Set Those Sails" (with Jeff Cubeta on piano), absolutely cementing the young lady's future as a cabaret talent with which to be reckoned.

Jamie deRoy, who was presented with a "Special Editor's Award," for "Dedication and Devotion to the Art of Cabaret," offered a most sincere acceptance speech, as did Joseph Macchia, who accepted the award for "Best Variety Show or Recurring Series" as the producer of Cabaret Cares, which raises funds for children battling HIV/AIDS. Broadway theater legend Len Cariou (photo left), who was nominated for two 2014 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards, was on hand as a special guest (accompanied by Mark Janas on piano) and sang "It Was A Very Good Year," in tribute to its songwriter Ervin Drake, who passed away last month. Joe Iconis and Family returned to close the show with the rousing "The Goodbye Song," which was featured in the second season of the TV show Smash. Speaking of "smash," that's probably the ideal word to describe this year's BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards Show. The Bistros and MACs have a tough act to follow.

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