The 2009 Nightlife Awards

Once a year, a sampling of New York’s best nightlife offerings takes to the stage at Town Hall in an exultant celebration of music and comedy to prove just how rich and varied evenings out in the city can be. Fans of one genre can learn about what else is out there On Monday, Scott and Barbara Siegel presented the only awards show to completely eschew acceptance speeches in favor of performances from the winners—letting the audience understand why each performer was chosen for his, her, or their category.

In no particular order, here are some of the more memorable moments from the evening.

*Host Judy Gold called the Nightlife Awards "The Gayest Show Ever." (Clearly, she was thinking of the Tony Awards.)

*Brandon Cutrell, Outstanding Piano Bar Entertainer, sang a lovely and poignant "100 Years," offering a more mellow counterpoint to the energy of the evening.

*Christine Andreas called “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” the best song ever written for a woman—not, she emphasized, for a girl. She then proceeded to prove why no mere girl could ever do the song justice, and why she should be starring in the Pal Joey revival. The song has never sounded hotter.

*Noah Racey, who also directed the entire evening, presented a reprise of his tap arrangement of “I Got You Under My Skin” that he premiered in 2007’s All Singin’, All Dancin’ concert. Racey and the male dancers of the New York Tap Ensemble created a percussive rhythm with their feet, and once they had the beat going, Melinda Sullivan joined in with the lyrics--a cappella for the first verse, and then with minimal accompanament from the band. There are really no words to describe the sound of the stomping feet and the sight of the dance, but it was one of the most joyously thrilling
moments on the Town Hall stage since...well, since the last time Racey choreographed the dance there. Just amazing.

*Tovah Feldshuh brought the Catskills to Town Hall in the form of Sylvia Chronic, host of Coffee and Kaddish ("Mourning in the Morning") on WYOY (say the call letters out loud) radio. She then launched into an impression of Sophie Tucker while singing "I Don't Want to Get Thin," quoting many of the original diva's famous sayings.

*Allan Harris, Outstanding Jazz Vocalist, sang a smooth-as-twelve-year-old-cognac "When Do The Bells Ring for Me."

*The Improvised Shakespeare Company lived up to their name and created a pseudo-Shakespearean scene in which the hero Obama battles the Scottish villain McCain. How can people come up with rhymed couplets off the cuff like that?

*Larry Gatlin, Keith Carradine, Daryl Glenn and Jo Lynn Burks brought some country to cabaret, performing "Done Enough Dyin' Today," "I'm Easy" and "It Don't Worry Me," respectively. The latter duo were named Outstanding Cabaret Duo or Group for their tribute to Robert Altman's movie Nashville, which featured the latter two songs by Mr. Carradine. These three songs offering a different sound than previous Nightlife Award ceremonies have enjoyed in the past. Especially considering the ceremony's themes of variety and inclusivity, Messers. Gatlin and Carradine's contributions were quite welcome.

*Mike Birbiglia, Outstanding Comedian in a Major Engagement, performed a painfully funny (literally) routine about doctors and catheters that...just...ouch. And he swears every word is true. Sometimes, reality is just weird and funny enough.

Christine Ebersole*Christine Ebersole and Billy Stritch, Outstanding Cabaret Duo or Group ina Major Engagement, sang a fun medley of "Devil May Care" and "Let's Face the Music and Dance" before seguing into a quiet and lovely "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" (Ms. Ebersole explained that it was a production of Finian's Rainbow that made her want to be an actress, so the homage was especially appropriate.)

*Previous host Bruce Vilanch sent a letter in which he claimed that he would be able to star in John Doyle's revival of Hair (you just know it's going to happen someday) because, as he put it, he "plays a mean skin flute." Break a leg, Bruce.

*Baby Jane Dexter, Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist, sang REM's "Everybody Hurts" in honor of the abused children she nurtures at VisionQuest. It was a devastating moment, and Dexter infused every word of the song with a combination of grief, determination and raw power.

*Freddy Cole, Outstanding Jazz Vocalist in a Major Engagement, sang a classy and smooth "You're My Thrill" and "How Do You Say Auf Wiedersehen?" that conjured the crooners of old while maintaining a modern feel.

*Marilyn Maye, Outstanding Cabaret Vocalist in a Major Engagement, sang with the strength of a woman half her age as she belted out "Guess Who I Saw Today" and swung through "Put on a Happy Face." 80 years old, folks, and still knocking walls down. Here's looking forward to the next 80.

*Tommy Tune enthusiastically, energetically and adorably shared stories about casting Karen Akers 
in the original Broadway production of Nine, acting out every role and striding around the stage as he narrated. You wouldn't think a man who stands six-foot-six could be so utterly adorable, but Mr. Tune is wonderfully endearing.

*Karen Akers, accepting her lifetime achievement award, sang a lovely "I Had a Dream About You" before launching into "I Was Here" from The Glorious Ones, reimagined by Lynn Ahrens for a woman's voice. The song, an ode to artists who struggle and suffer to create something lasting, was the perfect period for the end of the concert, and Ms. Akers' unique spin on it was wonderfully stirring and inspiring.

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