Ann Hould-Ward, the Tony Award-winning costume designer for Disney's Beauty and the Beast has been selected to receive the inaugural Patricia Zipprodt Award for Innovative Costume Design by the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

The award will be presented May 3 at a Players Club luncheon attended by FIT'S president, Dr. Joyce Brown, honorary chair Joel Grey, co-chairs Marion Seldes and Connie Zipprodt-Zonka.

The award program was announced last year by Brown and American Theatre Wing chairman Isabelle Stevenson at a May 25 luncheon at Sardi's. As reported, the fashion institute is establishing its own broad theatre profile by building on its connection to the late three-time Tony winning costume designer, Patricia Zipprodt. Long range, FIT also seeks to expand its curriculum, establish a theatre collection and explore joint programs with sister colleges in the State system, such as SUNY Purchase, which could share its set design facilities and programs with FIT.

FIT's two costume design awards will honor lifetime achievement and best of Broadway season winners. The award winners are chosen by a committee comprising Tony winner David Sadler, fashion designer Donald Brooks, ATW's Isabelle Stevenson, and two FIT faculty members.

Patricia Zipprodt's career as a costume designer was frequently punctuated with Tony Awards and nominations. She took home three Tony awards for costume design, for Fiddler on the Roof ('65), Cabaret ('67) and for Sweet Charity ('86). Her costume design Tony nominations include Zorba ('69), Pippin ('73), Mack and Mabel ('75), Chicago ('76), Alice in Wonderland ('83), Sunday in the Park with George ('84) and Shogun: The Musical ('91). The inaugural award is particularly meaningful because this year's recipient, Ann Hould-Ward, was close to Patricia Zipprodt and was considered her protégé.

—By Murdoch McBride