Founded in 1993, the awards pay tribute to the art of costume design and honor legendary designer Irene Sharaff, who designed numerous Broadway productions, including the original stagings of Lady in the Dark, West Side Story, The King and I, Juno, Sweet Charity, Funny Girl, Candide and Jerome Robbins' Broadway.

In addition to the honored designers, the 2009 awards also offer a special tribute to Irene Sharaff in a 15-minute film based on the life of the late designer, created by Suzy Benzinger.

Tony-winning director Jerry Zaks will present Long, the five-time Tony Award-winning costume designer of Grey Gardens, Nine, Crazy for You, The Producers and Hairspray, with the TDF/Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award for theatrical costume design.

Scenic and costume designer Bob Crowley, also a five Tony Award winner for his work on Mary Poppins, The Coast of Utopia, The History Boys, Aida and Carousel, will be presented with the Robert L. B. Tobin Award for Lifetime Achievement in theatrical design by Tony-winning director Jack O'Brien.

Actress Roberta Maxwell will present scenic and costume designer Clint Ramos (The Good Negro, Women Beware Women, Boy's Life, Donnie Darko) with the TDF/Irene Sharaff Young Master Award; and costume shop operator Sally Ann Parsons, who has overseen costume construction for Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Sunset Boulevard, Starlight Express, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Wicked, will be presented with the TDF/Irene Sharaff Artisan Award by Tony-winning costume designer Willa Kim. The advisory committee responsible for selecting the annual honorees comprises Gregg Barnes, Suzy Benzinger, Dean Brown, Linda Fisher, Lana Fritz, Rodney Gordon, Desmond Heeley, Allen Lee Hughes, Holly Hynes, Carolyn Kostopoulous, Kitty Leech, Anna Louizos, Mimi Maxmen, David Murin, Sally Ann Parsons, Robert Perdziola, Carrie Robbins, Tony Walton, Patrick Wiley and David Zinn. The chairman is Gregory A. Poplyk.

For more information visit www.tdf.org.