Bistro Awards

Sherry Eaker has been the producer of the annual Bistro Awards since the awards’ inception in 1985. She is the former editor of "Back Stage" and, during her 30-year run, produced panel discussions and workshop events on an ongoing basis, including the programming for Back Stage’s annual Actorfest. She compiled and edited four editions of the "Back Stage Handbook for Performing Artists," and compiled and edited "The Cabaret Artists Handbook." Sherry is on the Board of the League of Professional Theatre Women, a member of the National Theatre Conference and the American Theatre Critics Association (and produced eight of ATCA’s New York weekend conferences). She is an advisor to the boards of both the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and the Women in the Arts & Media Coalition.

Jomama Jones at the 2019 Bistro Awards

Bistro Awards
Daniel Alexander Jones, an acclaimed interdisciplinary artist, and the 2019 Bistro Awards’ recipient for Outstanding Performing Artistry.  Watch as his alter-ego, Jomama Jones, along with back-up accompaniment from Trevor Bachman and Vuyo Sotashe,  perform “Supernova,” written by Jones with Bobby Halverson.  

Salty Brine at the 2018 Bistro Awards

Bistro Awards
Salty Brine is the creative force behind "The Living Record Collection," a series of cabaret performances built around popular music albums. Recipient of the 2018 Bistro Award for Creative Artistry, here he is at the awards show performing from his show “Welcome to the Jungle” where he uses songs from Harry Nilsson’s “Nilsson Schmilsson,” woven...

The 2020 Honoree Roll Call: Lorna Dallas

Bistro Awards
West End stage, television, and concert artist, Lorna Dallas, received the 2020 Bistro Award for Consummate Cabaret Artistry. Here, singing Irving Berlin’s ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business,” she demonstrates exactly why she has earned this honor.

The 2020 Honoree Roll Call: Michele Brourman

Bistro Awards
Recipient of the 2020 Bistro Award for Outstanding Singer-Songwriter-Musical Director, Michele Brourman has had a wide-ranging career in music including songs for more than 18 animated features for Universal Studios. Her song”My Favorite Year” (co-written with Karen Gottlieb) has become a cabaret standard, recorded by many cabaret luminaries, but here she is presenting it herself.

The 2020 Honoree Roll Call: Sean Harkness, Lina Koutrakos, and Marcus Simeone

Bistro Awards
Sean Harkness, Lina Koutrakos, and Marcus Simeone, who tougher form the group Clearly Now, are the Bistro Award’s recipient in the category of Musical Group. Hear them do their own twist on a John Lennon-Paul McCartney classic, “With A Little Help From My Friends.”

The 2020 Honoree Roll Call: Aisha de Haas

Bistro Awards
Here’s Aisha de Haas, the Bistro Award’s 2020 Outstanding Jazz Artist, singing “Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don’t Tease Me”) (Duke Ellington / Lee Gaines).

The 2020 Honoree Roll Call: Gabrielle Stravelli

Bistro Awards
Gabrielle Stravelli, who won the 2008 Ira Eaker Special Achievement Award for a performer-on-the-rise, the 2015 Bistro for Outstanding Jazz Artist, and the 2020 Bistro Award for Outstanding Recording for Pick Up My Pieces: Gabrielle Stravelli Sings Willie Nelson. Watch her here singing “Karma Medley” ("Blame It on the Times/Little Old Fashioned Karma/Nobody Slides, My...

The 2020 Honoree Roll Call: Jack Bartholet

Bistro Awards
Presenting Jack Bartholet, winner of the 2020 Ira Eaker Special Achievement Award, singing “Lady With A Song” (written by Ethel Merman and Rodger Edens. performed by Merman); “Lavender Song” (Mischa Spoliansky, Kurt Schwabach. English translation by Jeremy Lawrence).

Some Notable Bistro Award Honorees

Bistro Awards
We've honored many notable artists over the past 35 years.  Relive some of those moments by leafing through the slide show below. (Many but not all photos by Maryann Lopinto.)   [smartslider2 slider="17"]  

The New Cabaret Artist’s Handbook (From the First Note to the Encore)

Bistro Awards
  EDITOR’S NOTE: Twenty years ago, I compiled and edited The Cabaret Artist’s Handbook - Creating Your Own Act in Today’s Liveliest Theater Setting (Back Stage Books). The text was based on the hundreds of “Bistro Bits” columns that Bob Harrington wrote in Back Stage where I was his editor. The chapters covered all the...