Inside Park at St. Bart's Hosts Lucille Lortel Nominees Reception, 4/19

As the clock ticks ever closer to the 25th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards on May 2nd, the yearly tradition of a fête to celebrate the year's nominees will be held on April 19th, 2010, at 5 PM, hosted and generously donated in part by Inside Park at St. Bart's, 325 Park Avenue at 50th Street.

The room full of Lortel nominators, presenters, Off-Broadway League members, VIP members of the theatre industry, and of course, the nominees from each category, will dine on special contemporary American dishes imagined by Inside Park's executive chef, Matthew Weingarten. Menu highlights include such tempting morsels as Grilled Leek Canapes with Romesco Sauce of Sourdough Ficelle, "Cacio e Pepe" Spaghetti Squash with Pecorino Romano Foam, Grilled Eggplant Rolls Stuffed with Labne Cheese, Lobster Roll Bites with Tarragon Mayonnaise, and a Farmstead Table with Farmstead Cheeses and Selection of House Cured and Artisanally Sourced Charcuterie, paired with fine wine and beers.

The event provides an intimate opportunity for nominees to mingle and celebrate their lauds, intimate interviews with the media and to discuss the Off-Broadway season. Nominations were announced April 1st, and honorary recipients Daryl Roth and Lincoln Center Theater (André Bishop: Artistic Director; Bernard Gersten: Executive Producer), along with nominees like Joe Mantello, David Cromer, Hugh Dancy, Sherie Rene Scott, Judith Ivey, Susan Stroman, Keith Carradine, Laurie Metcalf and others are sure to attend.

In 2002, the Lortel Awards began announcing nominations for its awards. Prior to that, a voting committee of critics and Lucille Lortel chose and announced the recipients prior to the Ceremony. To Ms. Lortel, the Ceremony was a time for people working Off-Broadway to come together and celebrate in a relaxed atmosphere. In order to continue this tradition, the Lortel Awards began hosting a cocktail reception for members of the Off-Broadway community to mingle and enjoy the company of their peers without the pressure of waiting for the awards to be announced.

"We are thrilled to have Inside Park at St. Bart's host this year's event," said George Forbes, President of the Off-Broadway League. "With their impeccable décor, elegant presentation and tantalizing menu, it shines a special spotlight on the nominees."

For more information on the Lortel Awards, the Nominee Cocktail Reception, or Inside Park, please contact Max Wixom or Thomas Onorato at OW! Onorato Wixom at the information above.

Located at one of New York City's most treasured landmarks, Inside Park at St. Bart's welcomes diners to a warm, relaxing and unique space in which to "escape", break bread and share a fine dining experience. The contemporary American menus reflect Executive Chef Matthew Weingarten's longtime allegiance to a respect for responsibly sourced ingredients, seasonality, sustainable practices and lost culinary arts. Since opening in 2008, Inside Park has garnered acclaim for "some of the city's finest Greenmarket cooking" from Time Out New York and food that is "thoughtful, well executed" from New York Magazine, served in an elegant dining room with a distinct old-world-meets-new-world feel.

For more information, please visit online at www.insideparknyc.com.

The Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were created in 1985 by the Off-Broadway League. The Lortel Awards recognize excellence Off-Broadway by honoring the invaluable contribution of artists to the theatre community.

Representatives of the Off-Broadway League, Actors' Equity Association, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society, the Lucille Lortel Foundation in addition to theatre journalists and academics and other Off-Broadway professionals serve on the Voting Committee.

The awards are given in the following categories: Play, Musical, Solo Show, Revival, Alternative Theatrical Experience, Director, Choreographer, Lead Actor and Actress, Featured Actor and Actress, Scenic, Costume, Lighting and Sound Design. The following honorary awards may also be given: Lifetime Achievement, Body of Work (awarded to an institution), the Edith Oliver Award for Sustained Excellence and induction onto the Playwrights' Sidewalk in front of the historic Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York City.

For more information, see www.LortelAward.com