IVY BAR & GRILL HOSTS ASTAIRE AWARDS KICK-OFF

Marge Champion With Harry Belafonte

Ivy Bar and Grill, New York’s newest hotspot hosted The Astaire Award’s kick-off party with a private cocktail reception to celebrate the New Year and the start of the current theater and dance season. Hosted by Patricia Watt, attendees included Astaire Awards Board Members, Nominating Committee Members and other special guests including Laura Penn (Executive Director of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society), legendary dance instructor Luigi and Tony Award nominee Lee Roy Reams. This year's award nominations are to be announced on Monday, May 5, 2014 with the awards ceremony to take place on Monday, June 3, 2014 at New York University’s Skirball Center .

Honorees Cora Cahan, who was responsible for the revitalization of 42nd St, head of The New Victory Theater and the driving force behind The Joyce and Patricia Birch who is receiving The Douglas Watt Lifetime Award on what would have been his centennial year. In addition, some of Broadway's top choreographers attended including Warren Carlyle (After Midnight), Warren Adams(Hugh Jackman's The Boy from Oz) and Warren Adams(Motown).

For more information about Ivy Bar & Grill or the Astaire Awards please visit http://www.ivybarnyc.com and http://merehansen.aisites.com.