The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs has announced the winners of the 22nd Annual MAC Awards, honoring excellence in New York City cabaret, comedy and jazz.

Jonathan Whitton won the 2008 MAC Award for Outstanding Male NYC Debut for his show PERFECT FINITE at The Triad, The Duplex, and The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe. His debut album LIVE AT THE LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATRE was nominated in the Best Recording category.

The nominees for the 22nd Annual MAC Awards have been announced, honoring excellence in New York City cabaret, comedy and jazz.

Jonathan has received nominations in the categories of "New York Debut - Male" and "Best Recording" for his debut album PERFECT FINITE: LIVE AT THE LAURIE BEECHMAN.

Back Stage Magazine has announced the winners of the annual Bistro Awards, which recognize outstanding achievement in the cabaret field. A gala evening celebrating this year's winners will be held April 7 at the Gotham Comedy Club in Manhattan.

Winners were chosen by Elizabeth Ahlfors (Cabaret Scenes), David Finkle (Back Stage's Bistro Bits columnist), John Hoglund (former Bistro Bits columnist), Erv Raible (executive/artistic director of the Cabaret Conference at Yale University), Roy Sander (former Bistro Bits columnist) and Chuck Taylor (Billboard). The awards — created by the late cabaret critic Bob Harrington in 1995 — are a one-time honor; that is, recipients cannot be named for the same award more than once.

Jonathan Whitton won the 2008 Bistro Award for Outstanding Debut for his show PERFECT FINITE at The Triad, The Duplex, and The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe.

Among the other winners of the 2008 awards are such Broadway names as Bryan Batt, Christine Pedi, Jason Graae and Jeffry Denman.

Jonathan Whitton returns to the Laurie Beechman Theatre on Thursday, March 27th with the debut of his new cabaret evening: SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.

What comes to pass after you stop running away from your fears and desires, and finally stop to take a good look at yourself? Something Beautiful. Celebrated cabaret newcomer Jonathan Whitton follows up his sparkling 2007 cabaret debut, with a fresh, ironic, and uplifting song cycle about the personal journey to find equilibrium between career, sex, and self.

Musical selections for SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL come from Elton John, Mandy Moore, Rufus Wainwright, & Robbie Williams, as well as current musical theatre writers John Bucchino, Mark Campbell (SONGS FROM AN UNMADE BED), Sam Carner & Derek Gregor (UNLOCK´D), and Brett Kristofferson, amongst others.

The evening is directed by MAC Hanson Award Winner Miles Phillips. Bistro & MAC Award Winner Steven Ray Watkins serves as Musical Director.

Backstage Magazine proclaimed, "Whitton exudes talent and taste," and Cabaret Scenes dubbed him, "a performer to watch and appreciate. He has an agenda and he delivers." Barbara & Scott Siegel heralded Whitton, "a musical theater performer with considerable craft and skill at his disposal... Jonathan Whitton will, indeed go a long, long way in cabaret."

Jonathan Whitton´s 2007 NYC cabaret debut PERFECT FINITE played sold-out and acclaimed engagements at The Triad, The Duplex, & The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

His debut CD, JONATHAN WHITTON: LIVE AT THE LAURIE BEECHMAN, is available at CDBaby and iTunes.

This one-night only debut of SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL will be held Thursday, March 27th @ 8PM. The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located within the West Bank Café at 407 W. 42nd St. (at 9th Avenue). Tickets are $12 General/$5 MAC Members at http://www.westbankcafe.com ($15 Food and/or Drink Minimum).

"Though he can, at will, beautifully project a fragile soul, Jonathan Whitton himself is built to last. He´ll be around for the long run: performing, growing, daring." - Rob Lester, Cabaret Scenes.

"Disarming and sharp... Jonathan Whitton is a performer to watch and appreciate. He has an agenda and he delivers." - Elizabeth Ahlfors, Cabaret Scenes

"Poised, handsome and bursting with charisma. He possesses a key ingredient for success and stardom… Whitton is a winner." – John Hoglund, After Dark

"Jonathan Whitton exudes talent and taste... The songs he chooses to act are sterling." - David Finkle, Backstage

"A musical theater performer with considerable craft and skill at his disposal... Jonathan Whitton will, indeed go a long, long way in cabaret." -Barbara & Scott Siegel, Talkin' Broadway

"Jonathan Whitton makes a delightful debut with his topnotch tenor voice and bright and boyish charm. His love of musical theater shines, along with his stellar sense of storytelling. To quote the title of his opening number, it´s a joy ´Watching the Show´ whenever Whitton sings.´´ – Wayman Wong, New York Daily News

"Lola may have been blessed with 'a little brains, a little talent,' but Jonathan Whitton has both of these assets in spades plus a lovely voice, an engaging personality that is offbeat and fresh, and informing his entire show, a distinctive artistic viewpoint." - Roy Sander, Cabaret Columnist & Critic

"A young Tommy Tune reimagined by Picasso... Perfect Finite is a compact, well thought out and entertaining cabaret show that exhibits Jonathan Whitton's slightly offbeat personality and considerable skills to their best advantage. It´s worth spending an hour at the Laurie Beechman to get to know him. You won´t regret it." - Jay Jeffries, Cabaret Exchange