David, Luker, Prince, Wopat, et al. Win 2007 BackStage Bistro Awards
The winners of the 2007 BackStage Bistro Awards for Excellence in Cabaret have been announced. The awards, which will be bestowed at a public ceremony on April 9 at the Gotham Comedy Club, were decided upon by the newspaper’s editor-at-large Sherry Eaker and cabaret critics John Hoglund and David Finkle (who is TheaterMania’s chief theater critic).
A complete list of winners follows:
Vocalist: Keith David and Douglas Ladnier
Debut: Valarie Pettiford
Major Engagement: Jeff Harnar and Rebecca Luker
Major Jazz Vocalist: Kurt Elling
Jazz Vocalist: Andrew Suvalsky
Musical Duo: Klea Blackhurst and Billy Stritch; Faith Prince and Tom Wopat
Musical Group: Tom Andersen, Scott Coulter and Tim Di Pasqua in Southern Comfort
Musical Comedy: Jay Rogers and Kristine Zbornik
Unique Artist: Jose Luis Rodriguez
Return to Cabaret: Charles Cochran
Tribute Show: Terese Genecco in Drunk With Love: A Tribute to Frances Faye
Piano Bar: Ray Fellman, David Shenton, Rick Unterberg
Comedy: Bob Smith at Gotham Comedy Club
Song of the Year: ‘One Thing’ by Tim Di Pasqua
Special Material: ‘Almost (99 I Love Yous)’ by Joe Iconis and Robert Maddock
Recording: Mary Foster Conklin, ‘Blues for Breakfast, and Barbara Fasano, Written in the Stars
Musical Director: Shelly Markham
Instrumentalist: Sean Smith
Instrumental Group: The Ross Patterson Little Big Band
Technical Director: Tim Flannery at the Algonquin
Special Awards: Chris Mazzilli, Steve Mazzilli and Lennie Watts (Metropolitan Room); Donald Schaffer (Danny’s Skylight Room); Erv Raible and Wendy Lane Bailey (Cabaret Conference at Yale University); Mike Greensill.
Ira Eaker Special Achievement Award (for up-and-comer): Sheera Ben-David
Bob Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award: To be announced shortly.