C: Is for the best in Cabaret

The nominees for the 23rd Annual MAC Awards have been announced, honoring excellence in New York City cabaret, comedy and jazz. The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs will celebrate the 23rd Annual MAC Awards on Monday, May 18th at 7:30pm at B.B. King Blues Club (237 West 42nd St, Between Broadway 8th Avenue). Doors open at 6:00PM. Polly Bergen will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony. Also receiving the honors will be Eva Swann and Vocal Ease for bringing Broadway and Cabaret talent to hospitals, nursing homes and senior center for over a decade. The TimeOut New York Special Achievement Award will go to Poor Baby Bree.

Here is a full list of nominees.

FEMALE VOCALIST
Jenna Esposito
Terese Genecco
Raissa Katona Bennett
Julie Reyburn

MALE VOCALIST
Marcus Simeone
Kim Smith
Jonathan Whitton
Michael Winther

MAJOR ARTIST
Klea Blackhurst & Billy Stritch
Baby Jane Dexter
Eric Michael Gillett
Christine Pedi

DEBUT FEMALE
Deb Berman
Christina Bianco
Cait Doyle

DEBUT MALE
Ben Cherry
Kevin Dozier
Stearns Matthews

MUSICAL COMEDY PERFORMER/ DUO/GROUP
Booth & Pat
Hedda Lettuce
Shawn Ryan

VOCAL DUO/GROUP
David Gurland & Brian Farley
Karen Oberlin & Miles Phillips
Uptown Express

REVUE/SPECIAL PRODUCTION
Metro Star Talent Challenge
Nashville
What's The Point?!

VARIETY/RECURRING
Cabaret Cares
Grace Notes: Singers' Soiree
Jamie deRoy & Friends

OPEN MIC
The After Party
The Algonquin Salon
Jim Caruso's Cast Party

FEMALE PIANO BAR/RESTURANT ENTERTAINER
Maria Gentile
Tracy Reynolds
Anne Steele

MALE PIANO BAR/RESTURANT ENTERTAINER
Bobby Belfry
Eric Pickering
George Sanders

PIANO BAR/RESTURANT INSTRUMENTALIST
Michael Isaacs
Joe Regan
Tracy Stark

MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Daryl Kojak
Don Rebic
Tracy Stark

DIRECTOR
Phil Geoffrey Bond
Eric Michael Gillett
Miles Phillips
Lennie Watts

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Michael Barbieri
David Colbert
Jean-Pierre Perreaux

JAZZ MALE VOCAL
Scot Albertson
Jack Donahue
Peter Eldridge
Tony Middleton
Julian Yeo

JAZZ FEMALE VOCAL
Laura Hull
Laurie Krauz
Shaynee Rainbolt
Jane Scheckter
Alysha Umphress

JAZZ DUO/SINGER/INSTRUMENTALIST
Champion Fulton
Russ Kassoff
Kathleen Landis
Alex Leonard Duo
Daryl Sherman

FEMALE STAND-UP
DENADena Blizzard
Michelle Buteau
Mary Dimino
Ophira Eisenberg
Maureen Langan

MALE STAND-UP
Wali Collins
Joe Devito
Joe DeRosa
Kyle Grooms
Rick Younger

MAJOR MALE STAND-UP
Mario Cantone
Jim Gaffigan
Greg Giraldo
Tom Papa
Louis Ramey

MAJOR FEMALE STAND-UP
Susie Essman
Jackie Hoffman
Jessica Kirson
Lynn Koplitz

IMPROV/ COMEDY GROUP
Chicago City Limits
Calgary Whalers
Comedy Sportz

RECORDING
Carol Hall - Hallways: The Songs of Carol Hall
Barry Lloyd - Barry Lloyd Live
Karen Mason - : Right Here, Right Now
Todd Murray - Stardust & Swing
Stacy Sullivan - It's a Small Town
Uptown Express - Walk Like a Man Karen Mason

JAZZ RECORDING
Elli Fordyce - Something Still Cool
The Kurt Weill Project - A Song About Forever
Shaynee Rainbolt - Charmed Life: Shaynee Rainbolt Sings Russell Garcia
Spider Saloff - Live at Maxim's
Julian Yeo - Unusual Passage Cole Porter

SONG
"Running" - Adam Gwon
"Change In Me" - Carol Hall
"Come Home" - Mark Janas & Peter Napolitano
"Right Here, Right Now" - Paul Rolnick & Jim Papoulis
"Living Without Love" - Jason Wynn

SPECIAL MATERIAL
"This Is My Birthday" - Carol Hall
"Leaky Ceiling" - Sharon Kenny
"The Olives of Regret" - Nicholas Levin
"The Mess" - Ryan Scott Oliver
"You May Have a Problem" - Dan Page, John Domurad & Michele Page

A shout of congratulations to Tracy Stark, George Sanders, Eric Pickering and Carol Hall. This is who the cabaret world thinks is the best of the best and that is a F.A.C.T.