Eric Michael Gillett, Karen Mason, Marilyn Maye, Karen Oberlin, KT Sullivan, et al. Nominated for 2011 MAC Awards

Nominees for the 2011 MAC Awards, honoring the best of cabaret, comedy, and jazz, have been announced. The 25th annual ceremony will be held at 7:30pm on Tuesday, May 10 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill. Lennie Watts will direct the program, with musical direction by Steven Ray Watkins.

As previously reported, Christine Pedi will host, Annie Ross will receive the group’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and George Sanders will receive the Board of Directors Award.

Among the artists scheduled to make appearances at the ceremony will be Helen Baldassare, Julie Gold, Ritt Henn, Rick Jensen, Sharon McNight, Jane Monheit, Johnny Rodgers, and Uptown Express.

Nominees in the Major Artist category are Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano, Eric Michael Gillett, Karen Oberlin, and Julie Reyburn. Celebrity Artist nominees are Karen Mason, Marilyn Maye, Sharon McNight, and KT Sullivan & Mark Nadler.

Female Vocalist nominees are Deb Berman, Carole J. Bufford, Jackie Forntale, Gretchen Reinhagen, and Sarah Rice, while Male Vocalist nominees are Kevin Dozier, Stearns Matthews, Tony Middleton, and Todd Murray.

In comedy categories, nominations went to female performers Mary Dimino, Colleen McHugh, and Amy Wolk, and male performers Adelmo Guidarelli, Justin Sayre, and Oron Stenesh. Duo/Group nominees are Scott Coulter, Steven Ray Watkins and Lennie Watts; Marquee Five; and Uptown Express.

Variety Production/Recurring Series nominees are Cabaret Cares, produced by Joseph Macchia;Sondheim Unplugged, written, produced, directed, and hosted by Phil Geoffrey Bond; and Wednesday Night at the Iguana, produced and hosted by Dana Lorge. Open Mic nominees are Mostly Sondheim, programmed by Brian Nash, Emily McNamara, Ben Cameron; Our Way, Your Way, Broadway, produced and hosted by Michael Kirk Lane; and Salon, created and hosted by Mark Janas, produced by Tanya Moberly.

Nominated in the Special Production category are Faye Lane’s Beauty Shop Stories, created and performed by Faye Lane, directed by Jay Rogers, produced by Adam Magazine; My Queer Youth, written and performed by Phil Geoffrey Bond, directed by Michele Pawk; and Scared Skinny, written and performed by Mary Dimino.

Nominated songs are “After Hours” with music by Derek Gregor, lyrics by Sam Carner; “And I’m Leaving Today” with music by Alex Rybeck, lyrics by Todd Murray; “Don’t Break My Heart on New Year’s Eve,” with music by Brian Cimmet, lyrics by Amanda Yesnowitz; “Haunted” with music by Tracy Stark, lyrics by Marcus Simeone; and “More Than I Am,” with music by Hyeyoung Kim, lyrics by Michael L. Cooper. Special Musical Material nominees are “All of My Friends,” with music and lyrics by Drew Fornarola; “Christmas in Michigan,” with music and lyrics by Mary Liz McNamara; “Just Adjust Your Dreams,” with music and lyrics by Michael Hadge; “Sing, But Don’t Tell,” with music by Derek Gregor, lyrics by Sam Carner; and “We Are the Meek,” with music and lyrics by Garry Novikoff.

Nominated recordings are Here With You by Annie Kozuch; Karen Oberlin’s Live at the Algonquin – The Songs of Frank Loesser; Anne Steele’s Strings Attached; Take You There from Uptown Express; and Julian Yeo’s Homage.

Additional nominees include Denise Andersen, Cornelius Bates, Raissa Katona Bennett, Liz Lark Brown, Nate Buccieri, David Colbert, Gerry Dieffenbach, Kim Grogg, Sean Harkness, Mark Janas, Randy Lester, Dana Lorge, Nikki MacCallum, Peter Napolitano, Eddie Peterson, Jerry Scott, Tracy Stark, and Kristine Zbornik.

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