Chita Rivera, Susan Stroman, Josh Bergasse and More to Present Astaire Awards

By Adam Hetrick
May 30, 2012

Broadway veterans Chita Rivera and Susan Stroman, as well as "Grey Gardens" filmmaker Albert Maysles and "Smash" choreographer Josh Bergasse will be among the presenters of the 2012 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, which will take place June 4 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.

The 7:30 PM ceremony will also include presenters Tony Danza, John Turturro, Tamara Tunie, Karen Ziemba, Melissa Errico, Lee Roy Reams, Joe Morton and Countess LuAnn de Lesseps.

The Astaire Awards, which recognize excellence in dance on Broadway and in film, will also honor Liza Minnelli with the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award.

The 30th annual Astaire Awards will be dedicated to Tony-winning producer Marty Richards. Tony-nominated producer Kathleen Raitt will also be recognized with a special award for her efforts in helping to establish the Astaire Awards.

The nominees follow:

Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Musical:
Elena Roger (Evita), Ashley Amber (Evita), Bahiyah Hibah (Evita), Jan Maxwell (Follies), Krystal Joy Brown (Leap of Faith), Patti Murin (Lysistrata Jones), Kara Lindsay (Newsies), Kelli O’Hara (Nice Work if You Can Get It) and Lisa Nicole Wilkerson (Porgy & Bess).

Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Musical:
Hugh Jackman (Back on Broadway), Ricky Martin (Evita), Danny Burstein (Follies), Leslie Odom, Jr. (Leap of Faith), Jason Tam (Lysistrata Jones), Jeremy Jordan, (Newsies), Ryan Breslin (Newsies), Thayne Jasperson (Newsies), Ryan Steele (Newsies) Ephraim Sykes (Newsies), Matthew Broderick (Nice Work if You Can Get It) and Robert Hartwell (Nice Work if You Can Get It).

Outstanding Choreographer for a Broadway Musical:
Rob Ashford (Evita), Sergio Trujillo (Leap of Faith), Christopher Gattelli (Newsies), Kathleen Marshall (Nice Work If You Can Get It), Steve Hoggett (Once) and Ron Brown (Porgy & Bess).

Outstanding Feature Film (Fictional):
"The Artist," "Damsels in Distress," "Footloose," "Musical Chairs," "Passione" and "W.E."

Outstanding Dance Documentary:
"Check Your Body at the Door," "First Position," "Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance," "Never Stand Still" and "Pina."

Visit AstaireAwards.org.