Tony winner Alan Cumming hosts the 7:30 PM awards ceremony — which features performances from the nominated artists — in the Haft Auditorium.
Academy Award winner Liza Minnelli will present "Singin' in the Rain" and "On the Town" film director/choreographer Stanley Donen with the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award, while Geoffrey Rush will present the award for Best Film Choreographer, and Bebe Neuwirth will present the award for Best Male Dancer.
The evening also boasts a performance by Tony nominee Martha Plimpton, reprising "That Terrific Rainbow" from the recent Roundabout revival of Pal Joey. Host Cumming is also scheduled to premiere a new song and dance presented with Lance Horne and Tiger.
Additional performers and presenters include K.T. Sullivan, Savion Glover and Marisa Berenson. The young, Tony-nominated stars of Billy Elliot will perform "Electricity" from that hit musical.
The 2009 Fred & Adele Astaire Award nominees follow: BEST BROADWAY CHOREOGRAPHER:
Andy Blankenbuehler, 9 to 5
Karole Armitage, Hair
Peter Darling, Billy Elliot
Sergio Trujillo, Guys and Dolls
Graciela Daniele, Pal Joey
BEST FILM CHOREOGRAPHER:
Anthony Van Laast, "Mamma Mia"
Longines Fernandes, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Aakomon “AJ” Jones, "Center Stage Turn It Up"
Tracy Phillips, "Make It Happen"
Patrick De Bana and Pedro Gomes, "Fados"
Kenny Ortega, "High School Musical 3"
Todd Underwood, "Were the World Mine"
BEST FEMALE DANCER:
Karen Olivo, West Side Story
Angel Reed, Katherine Tokarz and Savannah Wise, Rock Of Ages
Kearran Giovanni, Guys and Dolls
Pia Glenn, You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W Bush
BEST MALE DANCER:
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish, Billy Elliot
David Bologna and Frank Dolce, Billy Elliot
Jeffry Denman, White Christmas
Matthew Risch, Pal Joey
Established in 1982, the Fred & Adele Astaire Awards (formerly known as The Astaire Awards) recognize outstanding achievement in dance on Broadway each season. The award was established with the cooperation of Fred Astaire to honor him and his sister, Adele, who starred with her brother in ten Broadway musicals between 1917 and 1931.
All proceeds benefit the Auditory Oral School of New York. Tickets and further information are available by visiting AstaireAwards.
