Lillias White, Carol Fredette & More to be Honored at 30th Annual Bistro Awards

Jazz headliner Carol Fredette and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Lillias White will be among the eleven performers honored at the 30th Annual Bistro Awards gala, which recognizes outstanding achievement in New York cabaret, jazz, and comedy. The celebration will take place on Wednesday, March 4, at 6:30pm at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23rd Street.

Carol Fredette started working in the New York jazz scene while still a teenager, and has since headlined every major jazz club in the city in addition to performing at prestigious venues around the country and internationally; she is receiving a Bistro for Ongoing Jazz Artistry. Lillias White, who has won Tony, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Obie, and AUDELCO awards for her theatre performances, and an Emmy for her work in television, is being recognized with an Outstanding Major Engagement Bistro Award for her exciting shows at 54 Below.

Hosting this year's 30th anniversary show is Jason Graae, whose varied career spans Broadway, Off Broadway, opera, television, and film. He is a four-time Bistro Award recipient for his various one-man shows, which have toured all over the country, and for his original special musical material.

As is the Bistro Awards' tradition, the evening will feature performances from the Bistro winners.

A number of outstanding vocalists are in the spotlight this year: Celia Berk, former MetroStar winner Marissa Mulder, jazz singer Gabrielle Stravelli, singer-pianist Eric Comstock, and newcomer Joshua Dixon. This year's 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 the multi-talented Kristoffer Lowe.

Other honorees include Jon Weber, cited as Outstanding Musical Historian and Entertainer for his show "From Joplin to Jarrett: 115 years of Piano Jazz," and Shana Farr for her Outstanding Concept Show "In the Still of the Night," an artful presentation of the works of Noël Coward and Cole Porter. Stearns Matthews is being recognized for his Outstanding Recording "Spark."

A special tribute to celebrate the Bistro Awards' 30th anniversary will include a lineup of previous Bistro Award recipients as both presenters and performers. Actress-singer Sally Mayes is writing special musical material for the event. For the third year in a row, Shellen Lubin will serve as the show's director.

The gala event will be held on Wednesday, March 4 at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 West 23rd Street. A Champagne reception for Bistro recipients and Premium Ticket holders begins at 5pm, followed by the awards presentation and show starting at 6:30pm. Producer Sherry Eaker will host the annual event, along with the other members of the Bistro Awards Committee: Kevin Scott Hall (Edge Media Network, BistroAwards.com), Roy Sander (BistroAwards.com, chairman of the Advisory Board of MAC), Robert Windeler (BistroAwards.com), and Mark Dundas Wood (BistroAwards.com, StageBuddy.com). Ms. Eaker, who heads the Bistro Committee, is the former longtime Editor-in-Chief of Back Stage and the producer of the event since its inception. Roy Sander and Wendy Lane Bailey are associate producers.

The Bistro Awards are sponsored by ASCAP, with in-kind support from Branson B. Champagne. Premium Tickets are $135, which includes the pre-show Champagne reception, priority seating, and the ticket-buyers' names listed in the program; General Admission tickets are $80. Ticket-buyers in both categories are invited to the "After Bistros" supper party as guests of the Bistros. Show-only tickets are available at $70. A two-drink minimum applies to all ticket categories. For details about the various categories and early purchase prices, visit www.BistroAwards.com. For additional information, call 917-239-5467.

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