2000 CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE AWARDS

Each year CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE, the irregularly published online newsletter covering cabaret presents the CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE CABARET AWARDS to outstanding cabaret performers, performances, organizations, songs and recordings of the previous year. The awards were begun by the publisher, editor and writer of the newsletter, Stu Hamstra.

The recipients are selfishly chosen by Mr. Hamstra alone, but the opinions expressed also reflect the opinions of the editor and publisher of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE.

The Awards will not be presented at any ceremony, gala, ball or press conference, and are meant for the entertainment and enjoyment of readers of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE only.

Publication of the full list, in any form or medium without expressed written permission of Stuart V. Hamstra is prohibited.

2000 CABARET HOTLINE AWARD RECIPIENTS

Here are Stu's choices for CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE "Picks of the Year!"

For FEMALE VOCALIST I must admit that no one this year has come close to the perfection of Jeanne MacDonald's vocals and overall performance style. Marilyn Volpe is listed on the ballot in this category, and comes in a close second, but I actually consider her to be in the MAJOR category.

I had a tough time making a choice in the MALE VOCALIST area, but in looking over my notes and past issues of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE, I came to the conclusion that, because of the total package (songs, style, delivery) Mark Coffin is my final choice. Both Jack Donahue and Scott Coulter come in right behind, and vocally it is a three way tie. But when you factor in the show, Mark Coffin stands alone.

I guess the one additional thing that gave Mark Coffin the edge in the above choice was the fact that his musical director is my pick for MUSICAL DIRECTOR of the year, namely Ross Patterson. Sheer brilliance and dedication to this special art, and his work with Baby Jane Dexter, Teri Lynn Paul and others made this pick a simple one.

For MAJOR FEMALE VOCALIST the choice was simple as well: Karen Mason, with Marilyn Volpe a close second. It is interesting to note that both Karen and Marilyn were the performers who opened ARCI'S PLACE - an indication of the level of talent we continue to see here (Wesla Whitfield), and can expect in the future.

MAJOR MALE VOCALIST without a doubt was Tom Andersen, who chose not to submit his name this year to MAC. Of those in the MAC list, I would have to choose Michael Feinstein.

The list of MAC nominees for FEMALE MUSICAL COMEDY is a bit long, but I made my choice long before the list was drawn up: Georga Osborne, carrying on the tradition of excellence in this category set by Helen Baldassare.

Choice for MALE MUSIC COMEDY pick is a bit harder. Michael Vaccaro and Matt Leahy both presented excellent shows in this area this year. I love them both - please don't ask me to choose.

I have made two choices for REVIEW OF THE YEAR, and I shall explain. "Bottoms Up," featuring Michael Dionne, Kimlee Hicks, Jonathan Tomaselli and Musical Director John McMahon is my top choice in the regular cabaret format. It is truly one of the cleverest revues I have seen all year, in the tradition of the revues found in cabaret in the so-called Golden Age of the 70s. "Foxy Ladies Love Boogie 70's Explosion," meantime, is over 90 minutes long, and is very nearly an Vegas style revue. But it is terrific entertainment.

Do I even have to point out the SONG OF THE YEAR for 1999? "Amanda Sang" by Rick Jensen takes the honors, not just because it is a wonderful song, but also because of the sheer number of performers who worked it into their shows, from Jeanne MacDonald to Lennie Watts!

The New York cabaret world was treated to the opening of several new venues this year: ARCI'S PLACE, FEINSTEIN'S, SAM'S THEATER CABARET and JUDY'S CHELSEA. Michael Barbieri's lighting designs, making full use of the new equipment at JUDY'S, makes him my choice for TECHNICAL DIRECTOR in 1999.

In the FEMALE DEBUT category, Amy Schmidt is my first choice. She is not on the MAC ballot. Heather Gilchriest is my second choice, but she appears on the MAC ballot under another category. On the MAC list, I will choose Lisa Viggiano.

In the MALE DEBUT category I can make only one choice, namely Greg Rodeheffer. More on this later.

James Beaman's "Black Market Marlene" was so singularly spectacular, I am forced to choose him as my pick in the IMPERSONATION category, from among a very talented list. MAC doesn't have a separate category for CHARACTERIZATION, but Ruby Rims would be my choice under this label.

For sheer entertainment, I have to pick as PIANO BAR ENTERTAINER in 1999 the truly certifiable George Sanders. He is perhaps the most talked about piano bar personality in NYC!

PIANO BAR PIANIST for 1999 has to be Jerry Scott, who has finally found a new home at DANNY'S.

I have my own category, not on the MAC list, namely SHOW OF THE YEAR.

In looking over my notes, past issues of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE, and my own personal recollections, I would have to choose Greg Rodeheffer's "Do What You Gotta' Do" as the best total package - writing, song choices, arrangements, performance, lighting, entertainment and vocals. The fact that this was a debut show makes it all the more amazing. The night I saw it the first time, you may recall, I immediately rushed to my computer and sent off a special issue of the CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE to call attention to this show. No other single performance in 1999 moved me like that. Why it was overlooked for a BISTRO AWARD, I will never understand.

Naturally, that brings me to my choice for DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR: Mr. Lennie Watts. I have spoken with most of the performers directed this past year by this amazing young man, and without exception they give Lennie much of the credit for their success and self confidence. He is both loved and respected.

RECORDING OF THE YEAR? I have a few more CDs to listen to before I make that choice, so stay tuned. So far, it is a CD not even on the MAC preliminary ballot! Stay Tuned.

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