BWW 2015 NY Cabaret Awards Update: Marilyn Maye, Todd Murray, Carol Lipnik Leading in Two Categories; Alan Cumming, Betty Buckley Top Celebs; Voting Ends 12/31

With just two weeks remaining in the voting for the 2015 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards, three performers are leading in two different categories, while two Broadway stars--Alan Cumming and Betty Buckley-- are winning the vote in their respective "celebrity categories." Voting for the awards ends on New Year's Eve, December 31.

Please cast your vote by visiting this link: /cabaret/vote2015region.cfm

As of 5 pm on Friday, December 17, Cabaret icon Marilyn Maye is atop the percentage leader boards for "Best Tribute Show" (for her two shows, Her Way: A Salute to Frank Sinatra at Feinstein's/54 Below and Marilyn by Request at the Metropolitan Room). Through the strength of his solo show Croon, Todd Murray leads for "Best Show, Male" and "Best Vocalist, Male"). Alt Cabaret performer Carol Lipnik not only leads in that category, but is also in a percentage tie for "Best Vocalist, Female" with Lucia Spina, who has become a semi-regular in the popular 54 Below Sings series at Feinstein's/54 Below. In the celebrity categories, Alan Cumming is the leading the men for "Best Celebrity Show, Male" for Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs at Café Carlyle, while Betty Buckley is out front among the women for her Joe's Pub show, Dark Blue-Eyed Blues.

Other well-known veteran cabaret stars leading their respective categories are KT Sullivan and Jeff Harnar for "Best Duo Show" for Part Two of their Stephen Sondheim songbook tribute Another Hundred People at the Laurie Beechman, Jane Monheit for "Best Jazz Singer," and Alex Rybeck for "Best Musical Director."

Whether Rybeck comes out on top in that category or not, he's already a winner, having been named as a recipient of one of six special "Editor's Choice Awards." The long-respected musical director is being acknowledged this year for "Excellence In Songwriting." Other Editor's Choice Award winners include "Performer of the Year" Awards to Karen Mason and Mark Nadler. Veteran cabaret star Steve Ross is being cited for "Dedication & Devotion to the Art of Cabaret," while Jim Caruso is receiving an award for "Excellence In Hosting Variety Show, Series, or Open Mic" for his work as host of Cast Party at Birdland. And for their standout 2015 show and CD Release, Duet, the award for "Excellence in Musicianship" is going to pianist Ian Herman and guitarist Sean Harkness.

While percentage totals for all the candidates are visible in real time through the BroadwayWorld voting pages (please cast your vote by visiting this link: /cabaret/vote2015region.cfm), percentage ties will be broken by the actual vote totals once BroadwayWorld's editors analyze the ballots for any irregularities or ballot stuffing. The actual winners will be announced the week of January 4, 2016.

Here are the current percentage standings of the top three vote getters in the 14 categories (as of 12/17 at 5 pm).

Best Debut (Female or Male)

Celia Berk 32%
William TN Hall 23%
Christy Frye 18%

Best Director

Marilyn Maye 24%
Jeff Harnar 16%
Lennie Watts 10%
Helen Baldassare 10%

Best Duo Show

KT Sullivan & Jeff Harnar 29%
Barb Jungr & John McDaniel 25%
Mary Testa & Michael Starobin 17%

Best Jazz Vocalist

Jane Monheit 27%
Gabrielle Stravelli 16%
Sheila Jordan 11%
Catherine Russell 11%

Best Musical Comedy or Alt Cabaret Performer

Carol Lipnik 20%
Tammy Faye Starlite 14%
Molly Pope 11%

Best Musical Director

Alex Rybeck 25%
Tedd Firth 21%
Tracy Stark 13%

Best Celebrity Show (Female)

Betty Buckley 25%
Marilyn Maye 20%
Ann Hampton Callaway 14%
Karen Mason 14%

Best Celebrity Show (Male)

Alan Cumming 35%
Michael Feinstein 17%
John Pizzarelli 13%
Brian Stokes Mitchell 13%

Best Show (Female)

Donna Hayes 18%
Kim Sutton 14%
Nancy Harms 12%

Best Show (Male)

Todd Murray 26%
Mark Nadler 16%
Eric Comstock 14%
Danny Bacher 14%

Best Tribute Show

Marilyn Maye 28%
KT Sullivan & Jeff Harnar 18%
Seth Sikes 12%

Best Variety Show or Recurring Series

54 Below Sings 35%
2015 Cabaret Convention 15%
Cabaret Cares 11%

Best Vocalist (Female)

Carol Lipnik 28%
Lucia Spina 28%
Marissa Mulder 12%

Best Vocalist (Male)

Todd Murray 18%
Brian Charles Rooney 17%
Jeff Harnar 10%
William Blake 10%