THE 25th ANNIVERSARY PRINCESS GRACE AWARDS GALA The Princess Grace Foundation-USA had its 25th Anniversary Princess Grace Awards Gala on Thursday, October 25th, last week, the culmination of the exhibition Grace, Princess of Kelly.
News-Antique.com - Oct 30,2007 - Thursday, October 25, 2007
George Lucas Honored With Prince Rainier III Award
For His Outstanding Contribution To The Arts
Auction Including Two Outfits Worn By Princess Grace
Raises $500,000 for Princess Grace Foundation
New York, NY (October 26, 2007) – Last night, the Princess Grace Foundation–USA (PGF-USA) hosted the 25th Anniversary Princess Grace Awards Gala at Sotheby’s New York and presented 22 Awards to emerging artists in theater, dance and film, as well as two Princess Grace Statue Awards to artists who have previously won Awards and have shown achievement and growth in their respective fields. Every year, PGF-USA proudly awards these prizes at its annual gala to support its mission of providing crucial support to emerging artists in America. Princess Grace Awards honorees came to New York City this week from around the country for two days of events including the gala, a special luncheon held in their honor and mentoring activities. PGF-USA also honored Indiana Jones and Star Wars creator George Lucas with the Prince Rainier III Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the arts. It was presented to him by none other than James Earl Jones, famed Darth Vader from Star Wars. The 25th Anniversary Gala took place in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and TRH The Prince and Princess of Hanover.
Prince Rainier III Award honoree George Lucas has had an accomplished artistic career which spans almost 40 years and includes his work as a writer, director, producer and most significantly, creator of some of the most noteworthy movies of our generation, including the epic Indiana Jones and Star Wars series. In 2006, George Lucas' Lucasfilm Foundation donated $175 million to Lucas' alma-mater USC School of Cinematic Arts for the construction and renovations of educational buildings and to provide an endowment for the school. Two-time Tony Award winner and Academy Award nominee James Earl Jones introduced George Lucas who commented, “When they showed the film [Star Wars], some of the [20th Century Fox] film executives fell asleep, and others hated it. One of the people who stood up for me was Princess Grace -- a board member at 20th Century Fox -- I will always be thankful for that. This award is an especially exciting award. I am keen on education, film students and art students of all kinds.”
The Princess Grace Awards has three categories of award recognition including: theater, dance and film. Honorees in film were presented with awards by Golden Globe Award winner Sir Roger Moore; theater by actor Anthony Rapp (who originated the role of Mark Cohen in RENT on Broadway and brother of 2006 Princess Grace Statue Award winner Adam Rapp); for dance Tony Award winning choreographer Susan Stroman and special guest host world- renowed opera singer Renée Fleming. During the evening, attendees were entertained by past Princess Grace Award winner Donna Lynne Champlin with a medley of songs from West Side Story. Notable attendees for the evening included: TRH The Prince and Princess of
