After NY's Princess Grace Awards, The Icon Is Honored Locally
Posted by Tommy Garrett on Oct 17, 2009 - 4:01:58 PM
BEVERLY HILLS/MANHATTAN—On Wednesday, October 21, the Princess Grace Foundation–USA will host the Princess Grace Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City and present awards to emerging artists in theater, dance and film, as well as two Princess Grace Statue awards to Brian Kulick and Gillian Murphy, artists who have previously won awards and have shown achievement and growth in their respective fields. Each year, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA proudly awards these grants at its annual awards gala to support its mission of providing crucial support to emerging artists in America. Tony® and Emmy award nominated actress Martha Plimpton will present the Theater Awards. Entertainment for the evening will include a performance of diverse dance styles by past Princess Grace award winners created especially for the gala with dancing after dinner to DJ Clockwork. Chairs for the gala are Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Hilfiger. The awards gala presenting sponsor is Hermès and the Crown sponsors are American Airlines, Mrs. Lily Safra and Noelle and Dick Wolf. The gala will take place in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Courtesy: Archives of Princely Palace of Monaco
In 2007, Mr. Hilfiger celebrated Grace Kelly’s life in a book called “Grace Kelly: A Life in Pictures.” It was released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Princess Grace's death and featured a series of 200 never-before-seen public and private images of the princess. “We are very excited to chair the gala this year,” said Tommy and Dee Hilfiger. “It's an honor to celebrate the Princess Grace Foundation and Prince Albert's dedication to emerging artists.”
One of our locals, John Thompson, Film Graduate Scholarship; University of Southern California will be receiving an award this year. There is a list of other winners at the official site: pgfusa.com.
Toby Boshak, the Executive Director of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA spoke this week with Canyon News about the foundation and awards.
Q-Will HSH Prince Albert be attending this year's awards ceremony?
A-“Yes, the Gala will take place in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.”
Q-Princess Grace was a lover of arts and entertainment being an Oscar winning actress herself. What does the Princess Grace Foundation do for today's artists?
A-“The Princess Grace Foundation-USA is a leader in supporting the next generation of performing artists. Through the Princess Grace Awards program, we provide scholarships, apprenticeships, and fellowships for emerging artists at the start of their careers. Scholarships are offered to theater, dance, and film students studying at university or non-profit school in these disciplines. Apprenticeships and fellowships for aspiring theater professionals give them an opportunity to work with a non-profit company as directors, designers, and actors. Fellowships for dancers and choreographers provide new members to non-profit companies the opportunity to work with and learn the technique of that company.”
Q-Who are some of the most famous past recipients of your foundation's awards?
A-“Notable Princess Grace Award recipients of the past include: Anna D. Shapiro, winner of 2008 Tony® Award for Director of current Broadway hit August: Osage County; Stephen Hillenburg, creator of Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants,” Tony Kushner, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright; Ethan Stiefel, principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre; Eric Darnell, director of Madagascar 1 & 2; Greg Mottola, director of “Adventureland” and “Superbad” and Eric Simonson, Academy Award winning filmmaker. While past Princess Grace honorees and winners of the coveted Prince Rainier III award, an award to honor the memory of Prince Rainier and pay tribute to his vision in establishing the Princess Grace Foundation-USA include: Mikhail Baryshnikov (2005, inaugural award), Twyla Tharp (2006), George Lucas (2007) and Glenn Close (2008). The award is presented for the recipient's outstanding contribution to the arts.”
Q-How can people contribute to this very worthy foundation?
A-“As a public charity, all contributions to the Princess Grace Foundation-USA are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Information on contributions can be found on our official website.”
In addition to the awards back east, Beverly Hills is also joining in on the action with the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style® to honor the late Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco and Cartier on October 22. The Rodeo Drive Walk of Style® is honored to offer this award to their first celebrity icon and jeweler, and they will be inducted for their contribution to the worlds of entertainment and fashion.
His Serene Highness Prince Albert, II will accept the award on behalf of the Princely family. The honorees will both be recognized with a permanent plaque that features a quote and signature placed in the sidewalk on the world-renowned street.
“Princess Grace and the House of Cartier have been key style influences here on Rodeo Drive and across the globe. We are thrilled to honor both recipients with the Rodeo Walk of Style® award,” said Wanda McDaniel, Chairman of the organization in a statement. “The longstanding relationship between the Monaco Princely family and the esteemed French jeweler made it a natural decision to honor them jointly.”
Grace Kelly’s film career spanned the early to mid 1950s. She won an Academy Award® in 1954 for her film “Country Boy.”
Beverly Hills is a regular stop for members of the Monaco royals. To purchase tickets for the event, please contact Levi Pazanti at 310-201-5033
Thanks to my friend, His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco for the photo of his late mother, Princess Grace.
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