Emmy winner Bruce Vilanch, who made his Broadway debut in Hairspray, hosts the annual event — honoring the best in New York cabaret, comedy and jazz — and Tony winners Jason Robert Brown and Bill Irwin as well as recording and concert star Nellie McKay will perform. Carole J. Bufford, Stephanie J. Block, Barbara Feldon and Mazine Linehan will also be on hand.
The awards were created by Scott Siegel, and the evening is set to begin at 7 PM.
Bridgewater has been named the 2014 Nightlife Legend, and Benanti has been honored as Outstanding Major Cabaret Vocalist.
Jazz winners include (in a tie) Ben Allison and Darcy James Argue for Outstanding Jazz Band, Gretchen Parlato for Outstanding Female Jazz Vocalist and William Blake for Outstanding Male Jazz Vocalist.
In cabaret, the Outstanding Female Cabaret Vocalist is Stacy Sullivan, and Outstanding Male Cabaret Vocalist is Liam Forde. In comedy, Gina Brillon has been named Outstanding Female Standup Comedian, and Jimmy Failla is the Outstanding Male Standup Comedian.
In a recent statement producer Siegel said, "The Nightlife Awards is the only award show devoted exclusively to promoting nightclub entertainers to a wider audience. That's why there are no acceptance speeches in this show; we want the winners to show everyone WHY they were chosen. Ever since this show began, the best and the brightest of stars have demonstrated their art to an audience totally beguiled by the rich and wildly varied array of talent that struts this stage at every Nightlife Awards show."
Tickets to the 2014 Nightlife Awards, priced at $77, $52 and $27, will be available beginning Jan. 6 by visiting the Town Hall box office (123 West 43rd Street); tickets are now on sale by calling (212) 307-4100 or by logging on to ticketmaster.com.