Imagine a 3 hour awards show with no boring speeches by the winners. Instead, the winning artists would perform their music and comedy and actually show you why they won.  That is what made up the 8th Annual Nightlife Awards, held this year at The Town Hall in NYC.  

The 2010 Nightlife Awards began the evening with the multi-talented, Tony winner, Christine Ebersole singing a beautiful rendition of Rodgers & Hart's "I've Got Five Dollars." Following Ms. Ebersole was the evening's host, Bruce Vilanch, in side-splitting, amazing form. From his introduction, "Hello, I'm Chastity Bono," on through the entire laugh-filled night, he exemplified what every awards show host should be - but then again, he has been writing these types of shows for over 30 years! In what was definitely the highlight of the evening,  Mr. Vilanch triumphed in keeping the audience laughing between acts.

More of the performance highlights included comedian Todd Barry, who kept the audience in stitches with details of his daily life, and jazz vocalist Kurt Elling with the amazing Lawrence Hobgood at the piano. Following Mr. Elling's rendition of "All the Way," we were treated to a very funny song "I Wish I Was Married to Your Wife," written and performed by funny man David Rasche, recently seen in the film Burn Before Reading, and on TV's "Ugly Betty." Mr. Rasche certainly knows how to tickle the funny bone.

The attendees were then introduced to Gretchen Reinhagen, who performed "I'm Here" from her wildly popular show at the Metropolitan Room, Special Kaye - A Tribute to Kaye Ballard. If you haven't seen Ms. Reinhagen's show yet, you must. She is terrific! The first act was closed out by the ground-shaking, but velvety-smooth baritone voice of James Barbour singing Frank WIldhorn's "Measure of a Man."

Act II brought out a new star that I had not had the pleasure of seeing perform, the fabulous Johnny Rodgers. Mr. Rodgers and his band brought down the house with an on-fire rendition of "The Birth of the Blues." His rapid-fire piano skills, coupled with his great vocals, reminded me of a young Jerry Lee Lewis at work. Another outstanding moment was  bassist Jay Leonhart's "Me and Lenny," detailing the very funny plane ride he took from NY to LA sitting next to Leonard Bernstein. Then came the "Aw..." moment. You know, the part of the show  when they usually announce all the dead people? But tonight, when Martin Vidnovic came onstage to sing a stirring, woeful rendition of Ervin Drake's "It Was a Very Good Year," he dedicated it to the very alive, 90-year-old Mr. Drake, who was sitting in the front row!

Slovin & Allen then read passages from their favorite books. What made it so funny, was that they seemed to be making it up as they went along! Very funny. Shortly after, the audience was graced by mulit-award-winning actress Tovah Feldshuh, doing an over-the-top Golda Meir spoof that was reminiscent of an old vaudeville act. The audience ate it up.

The New York Tap Ensemble, featuring Noah Racey and Jason Yudoff, tore up the floorboards with "On the Sunny Side of the Street." The six-member troupe has some pretty fancy footwork, something you don't normally see at a cabaret night, and was a pleasure to watch.  Next, Cheyenne Jackson, the talented and handsome darling of Broadway, fresh from his short-lived revival of Finian's Rainbow, who wooed the audeience with his golden voice singing a very lovely arrangement of "I Get Along Without You Very Well" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore." And finally, to close out the already full evening, Christine Ebersole returned to the stage to say goodbye with her angelic voice singing about "The Music That Makes Me Dance."

A totally enjoyable night of entertainment, equal to the best of the Broadway shows, I highly recommend that you attend this event next year, and every year thereafter.

The show was directed by Scott Thompson, with musical direction by Tedd Firth. 
The Nightlife Awards was conceived and produced by Scott Siegel.

For more information on upcoming Nightlife events go to the Siegel Presents Website.

*****PHOTO CREDIT: Maryann Lopinto

The 2010 Nightlife Award winners are:

Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist In A Major Engagement: Christine Ebersole
Outstanding Cabaret Duo/Group In A Major Engagement: Michael Feinstein & Cheyenne Jackson
Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist (Tie): Baby Jane Dexter, Johnny Rodgers
Outstanding Cabaret Comedy Or Characterization: Gretchen Reinhagen
Outstanding Cabaret Duo Or Group: Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano
Outstanding Piano Bar Entertainer: Anne Steele
Outstanding Jazz Vocalist In A Major Engagement: Kurt Elling
Outstanding Jazz Vocalist: Sheila Jordan
Outstanding Jazz Soloist: Hank Jones
Outstanding Jazz Combo: Bad Plus
Outstanding Comedian In A Major Engagement: Louis CK
Outstanding Comedian: John Mulaney
Outstanding Comic Duo Or Group: Slovin and Allen