Award shows are innately lengthy. Most drag on and on, making you regret saying 'yes' to your invite.  The 29th Annual Bistro Awards, however, were delightful and engaging.  Hosted at Gotham Comedy Club and produced by former Editor in Chief of Backstage Sherry Eaker, the awards featured stellar performances worthy of the accolades received.

The evening felt like a family affair, with everyone in attendance excited and eager to catch up over wine and champagne at the reception before the top of the show.  Unlike other awards shows, there was no unnecessary tension, nerves, or fake smiles: we already knew who the recipients of the awards would be, as the winners were all phoned earlier by Ms. Eaker herself.

With an overflow of spectacular performances, some performances stood out, like cabaret star Jim David, a sure crowd favorite for the Bistro community: a guest artist for the night's festivities, his comedic timing is unparalleled. Associate Producer Tanya Moberly worked the evening making sure the event ran with ease; she certainly showed the audience why she deserved her award for Best Theme Show in her electrifying performance as she sang the line "I'm going to drink my way through the year."  Innovative and Nurturing Creative Team Winners Thomas Honeck and Lisa Moss have been a dynamic duo since their senior year in college; they run the Duplex Cabaret Theater and spoke of the joy they have in their hearts from being able to help make young performers' dreams come true.  And Vocalist Award Winner Elaine St. George left us all with the message to never stop doing cabaret shows; if I had a modicum of musical talent like hers, I'd want to sing my heart out as well.

The Bistro Awards serve both as a beautiful introduction to new artists and as an opportunity to see some heavy hitters like Tony Award Winner and Bistro's own Bob Harrington Award Recipient Ben Vereen and Grammy Award Winner Stephen Schwartz, writer of the hit musicals "Godspell", "Pippin" and "Wicked".  It was truly extraordinary evening honoring the best of best in the fantastical world of cabaret.

For more on the Bistro Awards, check out our videos of Best Musical Comedy Performer Amy Wolk and Best Vocalist Sharon Clark.