The Manhattan Association of Cabarets' 36th Annual MAC Awards, celebrating the best in New York City nightlife, are held April 12 at 7 PM at Peter Norton Symphony Space.

Several Broadway favorites are competing in the Celebrity Artist category, including The Life Tony winner Lillias White for her evening at The Green Room 42, Tony winner André De Shields (Hadestown) for Black by Popular Demand at Feinstein's/54 Below, and Tony nominee Norm Lewis (The Gershwins' Porgy & Bess) for (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays, also at Feinstein's/54 Below. Also nominated in that category are Natalie Douglas and Billy Stritch. 

As previously announced, 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are three-time Tony recipient Chita Rivera (Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Rink, The Visit, West Side Story) and cabaret veteran Marta Sanders, the Bistro and MAC Award winner who has played Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall, Carnegie Hall, Feinstein’s/54 Below, and Birdland and also appeared on Broadway in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Board of Directors Awards will be presented to the Mabel Mercer Foundation and Lennie Watts. Jim Caruso’s Cast Party/Pajama Cast Party will receive the Show of the Year Award, while Cabaret on the Couch receives the Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Series Award, and Aaron Lee Battle will be honored with the Hanson Award.

The complete list of nominees for the 36th Annual MAC Awards follows:

Female Vocalist
Susan Mack, Music in the Air, Birdland Theater
Amy Beth Williams; Beautiful Mystery: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, A Thousand Beautiful Things,; Don’t Tell Mama
Deborah Zecher; Jewish Caroling: The Music of Carole King, Carole Bayer Sager, and Carolyn Leigh; Don’t Tell Mama

Male Vocalist
Sean Patrick Murtagh; Summer Sunday Soiree, Holiday Test Drive IX, West Bank Cafe, The Green at Lincoln Center, Martuni’s Piano Bar (SF)
Kim David Smith; Mostly Marlene, A Wery Weimar Christmas, Club Cumming (NYC), Club Cumming on the Coast (Kennebunkport, ME), Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Dorian Woodruff, Studio Musician: The Music of Manilow, Pangea

Major Artist-Female
Meg Flather, Rodgers and Hammerstein 2021, Don’t Tell Mama
Tanya Moberly, I Love New York Songwriters Part II, Don’t Tell Mama
Gabrielle Stravelli; Various different shows; Birdland, West Bank Cafe

Major Artist – Male
Peter Cincotti, Birdland
Jason Kravits, Off the Top, Birdland
Craig Pomranz; Welcome Back, We’re Back Again With a Holiday Show, Pangea
David Sabella; 25chicago25, Pandemic Relief; Feinstein’s/54 Below, Pangea

New York Debut
Roderick Ferguson, Man Overboard!!!, Don’t Tell Mama
Carolyn German; Unsolicited Advice; Don’t Tell Mama, The Duplex
Bruce Sabath, Searching for Tevye, Don’t Tell Mama

Celebrity Artist
Natalie Douglas; Best of Tributes: The Women (Nina, Dolly, Roberta), Best of Tributes: The Men (Nat, Sammy, Elvis), Tributes: James Taylor, To Nina: Tribute to Nina Simone, Four Women Four Decades; Birdland Theater, Birdland Jazz Club, Feinstein’s at the Nikko (S.f.), Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael (Indiana), Gulfshore Playhouse (Naples, Fl)
André De Shields, Black By Popular Demand, Feinstein’s/54 Below
Norm Lewis, (There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays, Feinstein’s/54 Below
Billy Stritch, Billy’s Place, Birdland
Lillias White, The Green Room 42

Impersonation/Characterization/Drag Artist
Flotilla Debarge; Corona and Flo, Shots & Shrieks With Nurse Fatass, Do They Flo It’s Christmas?, Pangea
Jinkx Monsoon and Bendelacreme; The Return of the Jinkx And Dela Holiday Show; Town Hall, Lincoln Theatre (Washington, D.C.)
Cissy Walken; Hammered Drag Brunch, The Invasion, The Simsinz, Completely; The Rusty Nail, Stonewall Inn, Caveat, Rockbar NYC

Musical Comedy Performer
Leanne Borghesi, Borghesi’s Back, Don’t Tell Mama
Andrea Bell Wolff, Adventures In Vegas, Don’t Tell Mama

Duo/Group
Elena Bennett and Fred Barton, Bennett and Barton: Back In the Swing of Things!, West Bank Cafe
Michael Garin and Mardie Millit, The Michael And Mardie Show, West Bank Cafe
Darnell White and David LaMarr, Fully Vaccinated, Don’t Tell Mama

Major Duo/Group
Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch, Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel
Clearly Now (Sean Harkness, Lina Koutrakos, Marcus Simeone); Clearly Now, Season 3; Don’t Tell Mama, Pangea
Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano, Birdland

Piano Bar Instrumentalist
Nate Buccieri; Don’t Tell Mama, Brandy’s, The Duplex
Gerry Dieffenbach; Don’t Tell Mama, The Duplex, Stonewall Inn
William Tn Hall; Don’t Tell Mama, Brandy’s
Michael Mcassey, Pangea
Darnell White; Brandy’s, Stonewall Inn

Piano Bar/Restaurant Singing Entertainer – Female
Elaine Brier, Don’t Tell Mama
Maria Gentile; Brandy’s, Stonewall Inn, The Duplex
Tara Martinez, Don’t Tell Mama
Alison Nusbaum, Don’t Tell Mama, Brandy’s

Piano Bar/Restaurant Singing Entertainer – Male
Jonathan Hoover, Don’t Tell Mama
Brian Kalinowski, Don’t Tell Mama
Paul Pilcz, Don’t Tell Mama
Jon Satrom; Don’t Tell Mama, Brandy’s

Restaurant/Hotel Lounge/Happy Hour Entertainer
Yaz Fukuoka, Don’t Tell Mama
Eric Yves Garcia, West Bank Cafe
Ricky Ritzel, Don’t Tell Mama
Sheree Sano, Chez Josephine

Ensemble Instrumentalist
Steve Doyle, Bass; Cast Party (Birdland), A Swinging Birdland Christmas (Birdland), Karen Oberlin and Bewitched: The Life and Lyrics of Lorenz Hart (Birdland)
Matt Scharfglass, Bass; Tanya Moberly/I Love New York Songwriters Part II (Don’t Tell Mama), Marnie Klar/A Woman’s Prerogative (Don’t Tell Mama), Debbie Zecher/Jewish Caroling (Don’t Tell Mama), Scott Coulter & Friends/From Dolly Parton to David Bowie (Feinstein’s/54 Below)
Skip Ward, Bass; Sue Matsuki & Gregory Toroian: Sunday Open Mic & Jazz Brunch (Pangea), Brenda Braxton/After Hours! (Feinstein’s/54 Below); Maria Corsaro/You Taught My Heart To Sing (Pangea); Kati Neiheisel/Yesterday… Once More (Pangea); Sidney Myer (Pangea)

Recurring Series
The Lineup With Susie Mosher, Produced by Susie Mosher and Hope Royaltey; Music Direction by Brad Simmons, Birdland Theater
Ricky Ritzel’s Broadway, Created And Produced By Ricky Ritzel; Staged And Choreographed By Jay Rogers And Aaron Morishita, Don’t Tell Mama
Salon, Founder, Artistic Director, Host: Mark Janas; Executive Director: Tanya Moberly, Don’t Tell Mama

Revue Or Special Production
Rita Hayworth – The Heat Is On!; Starring Quinn Lemley, Written and Directed by Carter Inskeep, Produced by Paul Horton, Musical Director Tom Wilson, Costume Designer Wendall Going, Don’t Tell Mama
A Swinging Birdland Christmas, Created by and Starring Billy Stritch, Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso, Birdland
Rian Keating: Time Stamps – Life Fragments In Story and Song; Written and Performed by Rian Keating, Directed by Tanya Moberly, Musical Direction by Woody Regan; Don’t Tell Mama

Virtual Presentation
Cabaret Conversations; Conceived, Curated, and Hosted by Michael Kirk Lane; Produced by 92Y School Of Music; 92Y Web Site
Mardie Millit: Live From Lockdown!, Mardie Millit: Producer, Writer, Director, Videographer, and Star; Michael Garin: Pianist, Arranger, Occasional Singer; Facebook
Open Mac Live!; Hosted by and Principal Performer: Michael Mcassey, Produced by Peter Nictakis; Facebook, Youtube
Weekly Virtual Spotlight On You Open Mic, Produced and Emceed by Natasha Castillo; Facebook, Youtube

Emcee
Jim Caruso, Jim Caruso’s Cast Party, Birdland
Susie Mosher, The Lineup with Susie Mosher, Birdland Theater

Director
Barry Kleinbort; Claudine Cassan-Jellison/Hey Frenchy: Stories and Songs From the Pantry (Don’t Tell Mama), Anita Gillette and Penny Fuller/Sin Twisters (Feinstein’s/54 Below), Karen Mason/Christmas! Christmas! Christmas! (Laurie Beechman), Haley Swindal/Back In Business (Feinstein’s/54 Below)
Lina Koutrakos; Dorian Woodruff/Studio Musician: The Music of Manilow (Pangea), Kati Neiheisel/Yesterday…Once More (Pangea), Susan Mack/Music In the Air (Birdland)
Tanya Moberly, Amy Beth Williams/Beautiful Mystery – The Songs of Leonard Cohen (Don’t Tell Mama), Rian Keating/Time Stamps – Life Fragments In Story and Song (Don’t Tell Mama), Bruce Sabath/Searching For Tevye (Don’t Tell Mama), Marnie Klar/A Woman’s Prerogative (Don’t Tell Mama), Frank McDonough/Legends of Las Vegas (Don’t Tell Mama)

Musical Director
Daryl Kojak; Celia Berk/Porch Performances (Music at the Mansion), Collection of Solos and Duets From the Great American Songbook/Beloved Songs From Stage and Screen (Old Dutch Church, Kingston, Ny), Tulis Mccall/Tulis Talks and Sings (Don’t Tell Mama), Asa/Cabaret Scenes Magazine’s 25th Anniversary (The Green Room 42)
Tracy Stark; Sidney Myer/Sidney Myer at Pangea (Pangea); Meg Flather/Rodgers and Hammerstein 2021 (Don’t Tell Mama), Kim David Smith/Mostly Marlene (Club Cumming), Brenda Braxton/After Hours (Feinstein’s/54 Below), Alice Ripley/Alice Ripley in Concert (The Green Room 42)
Billy Stritch; Cast Party (Birdland), Marilyn Maye (Birdland), Linda Eder/Feinstein’s/54 Below, Luann de Lessups (Feinstein’s/54 Below)
Gregory Toroian; Sue Matsuki/This Broad’s Way (Pangea), Maria Corsaro/You Taught My Heart to Sing (Pangea), Kati Neiheisel/Yesterday… Once More (Pangea), Dorian Woodruff/Studio Musician—The Music of Manilow (Pangea), Jackie Draper/Spreadin’ Rhythm Around (Laurie Beechman Theatre)

Technical Director
Adam Decarlo; Meg Flather/Rodgers and Hammerstein 2021, Angela Bacari/One Night Only, Claudine Cassan-Jellison/Hey Frenchy: Stories and Songs From The Pantry, Deborah Zecher/Jewish Caroling, Ricky Ritzel’s Broadway (All at Don’t Tell Mama)
KJ Hardy (Lights) and Amanda Raymond (Sound); Marilyn Maye’s 93rd Birthday Celebration, André De Shields/Black By Popular Demand; Jason Danieley/Reflections, Kelli O’Hara/Diamond Series; Paulo Szot/An Enchanted Evening (All at Feinstein’s/54 Below)
Rocky Noel; Leanne Borghesi/Borghesi’s Back (Don’t Tell Mama), Our Sinatra (Birdland Theater), Quinn Lemley/The Heat is On (Don’t Tell Mama), Marnie Klar/A Woman’s Prerogative (Don’t Tell Mama), Claudine Cassan-Jellison/Hey Frenchy: Stories and Songs From the Pantry (Don’t Tell Mama)
Alison Nusbaum; Rian Keating/Time Stamps, Bruce Sabath/Searching for Tevye, David LaMarr and Darnell White/Fully Vaccinated, Timothy Quinlan/All My Stupid Jobs, Andrea Bell Wolff/Showgirl (All at Don’t Tell Mama)
Kelly Wohlford; Tanya Moberly/I Love NY Songwriters Part II, Amy Beth Williams/A Thousand Beautiful Things, American Popular Song Society, Cathy Taylor/Life Hack Unabridged, Jill Senter/La Soirée (All at Don’t Tell Mama)

Song
"Inside," Music and Lyrics by Meg Flather
"Just Say Goodbye," Music by John Forster, Lyrics by John Forster and Harriet Goldberg
"Let the Music Play," Music and Lyrics by Paul Rolnick and David Friedman
"Warp and Weave," Music and Lyrics by John Forster
"While I’m Still Here," Music and Lyrics by Bob Levy

Comedy/Novelty Song
"Boo Hoo,", Music by John Forster, Lyrics by John Forster, Hillary Rolls, Tom Toce
"Helium," Music and Lyrics by John Forster
"I Survived You," Music and Lyrics by Bob Levy
"Those Year-End Hot Kisses," Music and Lyrics by John A. Todras
"You Can Keep the Wings," Music and Lyrics by Carolyn German

Recording (Lamott Friedman Award)
Tina Burner, Maybe This Time
Chip Deffaa / Various Artists, Chip Deffaa’s Irving Berlin: Love Songs and Such
Dawn Derow, My Ship, Songs From 1941
Bob Levy, While I’m Still Here
Marya Zimmet, On the Road to Love

Major Recording
Phil Geoffrey Bond / Various Artists, Sondheim Unplugged: The NYC Sessions Vol 1
Clearly Now (Sean Harkness, Lina Koutrakos, Marcus Simeone), Clearly Now
Gay Marshall, Back On Boogie Street – The Songs of Leonard Cohen
Karen Mason, Let The Music Play
David Sabella, Time Heals

The awards show is produced by Michael Kirk Lane and directed by Lennie Watts with musical direction by Yasuhiko Fukuoka.

Tickets are available at SymphonySpace.org. Visit MACnyc.com.