The MAC Awards Show: A Few "Moments" and a Few First Thoughts

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Whether literally in the spotlight singing, or being honored with a nomination or win for their work in 2009, or a time to sit with friends and colleagues drinking in a summary of the year, the MAC Awards night was “the moment” for many.  Some grabbed the moment, as parodied in the hilarious song called “My Moment” (subtitled “The American Idol Song”) performed by Angela Shultz, winner of the Hanson Award.  Written to be an opportunity for a performer to pull out all the stops, poke fun at that TV show’s performers’ excesses and showcase a vocal arsenal,

Angela did it all sensationally.  The very funny song was written by Hector Coris, who directed Angela’s cabaret shows (and she directed his MAC Award-winning show) and the number was an audience favorite: they all laughed.  “They All Laughed” was the name of one of the Gershwin songs zipped through with gusto by KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler before KT presented the Board of Directors Award to Peter Leavy of Cabaret Scenes magazine, and he made a gracious speech underlining his own appreciation of cabaret and the need to nurture it and raise its profile.  He spoke for many in the room with the same concerns.  The other Gershwin song in the Nadler/Sullivan medley was “Who Cares?” 

Obviously, many of us do care.  2009 was a good year in cabaret: to quote host Sharon McNight’s song at the show’s end,  “I’ve Loved These Days.”  I’ve loved many of these days and nights and McNights experienced in the clubs in ’09.  The songs I’ve mentioned were just a small part of the performance-rich program.  I’ll leave it to my colleague, Andrew Martin, to cover the other musical moments in his enthusiastic piece, now on our website.  And I’ll be following up with some comments on other aspects of the show, such as the speeches and other “moments” and appearances by those who didn’t sing …..after the dust settles and I’ve had a chance for reflection and to gather more comments from some observers of different stripes and types.  What was your favorite moment?