February 22, 2023

MANHATTAN ASSOCIATION OF CABARETS
announces date of 37^th Annual MAC Awards
KEN PAGE and RICKY RITZEL
to receive LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) is pleased to make its initial announcement of the upcoming 37th Annual MAC Awards. The awards presentation and show will take place on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at 7:30 pm, at Peter Norton Symphony Space at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street in New York City.

KEN PAGE is widely known as the voice of Mr. Oogie Boogie in the classic Disney/ Tim Burton animated film, The Nightmare Before Christmas. He has performed the score sung live at the Hollywood Bowl, Barclay Center NY, UK, Glasgow, London (SSE Arena Wembley), Dublin, Los Angeles’ Banc of California Stadium, and Tokyo. Film: Dreamgirls, Torch Song Trilogy, All Dogs Go to Heaven, etc. Mr. Page’s television appearances are numerous. Listed here are a few of his many credits. Ken made his Broadway debut in Guys and Dolls as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the all-black revival, (Theatre World Award). He recreated that role at the Hollywood Bowl were he also performed the role of Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, live to film. Other credits include the Broadway musicals Cats (original cast & video/film casts—Old Deuteronomy, Grammy Award), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (OBC, L.A, Paris, Emmy Award-winning NBC TV Special, Drama Desk Award—Best Actor, Grammy Award), The Wiz, (Lion), It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues. In London’s West End, Ken starred in the original cast of Children of Eden as Father and was also in the concert of My One and Only at London’s Palladium. Mr. Page’s solo concert, Page by Page, was recorded live and released on CD (LML Music). Ken has performed in cabaret/concert since 1976, more recently at the Eugene O’Neil Cabaret Conference and in the Jazz at Lincoln Center/Mabel Mercer Foundation’s tribute to Nat King Cole. In 2022, Mr. Page appeared in a sold-out, critically acclaimed, one-night-only engagement at New York City’s popular 54 Below. (Photo by Greg Gorman)

Cabaret Warhorse RICKY RITZEL has been a fixture on the nightclub and cabaret scene in NYC for over 40 years and his latest venture, Ricky Ritzel’s Broadway, received the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 MAC Award for Outstanding Recurring Series. Ricky has received most Cabaret awards including 22 Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs Awards in 11 different categories. An accomplished solo performer, Ricky has also accompanied such greats as Vivian Blaine, Varla Jean Merman, Julie Wilson, Lenora Nemetz, Nanette Fabray, and Miss Coco. With famed Chicago jazz vocalist Spider Saloff, Ricky created several award-winning revues such as 1938, which was recorded on the Kopathetics label, Porgy & Bess: A Cabaret Concert, and Ira and Others. Ricky is half of the kooky “Lounge does Top 40” duo, The Loungeoleers with five CDs on the Emenar label. He can also be seen as Scary Man who comes on to Christian Campbell in the film Trick. Ricky has been seen in Las Vegas as Jimmy Durante in Stop the Music! with Sharon McNight as Sophie Tucker and has toured with Leslie Anderson for five years in four different revues performing every known work they could find by Johnny Mercer. He is also proud to have served as the first Artistic Director for cabaret at the premiere season of the Gettysburg Festival and is on the Advisory Board of Directors for the Manhattan Association of Cabarets, of which he was President from 2006-2009.

Competitive awards in numerous categories, which are voted on by MAC members, will also be presented.

The MAC Awards show will feature live performances. The winners will be announced live at the show on April 4, which is open to the public.

The 37th Annual MAC Awards will be held on Tuesday, April 4 at 7:30 pm at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street in New York City. The show is produced and directed by MICHAEL KIRK LANE and AMY WOLK. NATE BUCCIERI serves as music director.

Tickets are available at www.symphonyspace.org/events/vp-the-37th-annual-mac-awards

For more information, visitwww.macnyc.com

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