Lucie Arnaz to host Abingdon Theatre Co.'s 4th Annual AB*IE Awards 9/13

Abingdon Theatre Company - set to begin its upcoming 18th Season in October with the New York premiere of Reggie Cheong-Leen's THE NANJING RACE - honors its 2009-2010 Season with the presentation of THE 4th ANNUAL AB*IE AWARDS to be held Monday, September 13, beginning at 6:30pm, at Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex's June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street) in Manhattan. Hosted by acclaimed actress Lucie Arnaz, the awards ceremony and pre- and post-show receptions are FREE and open to the public.

The AB*IE Awards will be presented to the favorite production, director, cast members and designers from Abingdon Theatre Company's recently concluded 17th Season. Abingdon theatergoers, who voted at the end of the season, determined the winners in each category. Productions eligible for THE 4th ANNUAL AB*IE AWARDS include Robert Cary and Benjamin Feldman's INVENTING AVI, directed by Mark Waldrop; Jan Buttram's PHANTOM KILLER, directed by Jules Ochoa; John Morogiello's ENGAGING SHAW, directed by Jakob G. Hoffman; and Stephen
Swift's SISTER MYOTIS'S BIBLE CAMP, directed by Jerre Dye.

Previous AB*IE Award winners have included John Epperson's MY DEAH; Nancy Opel for her performance in MY DEAH; Robert Brustein's THE ENGLISH CHANNEL; and Austin Pendleton for his performances in both Bruce Robinson's ANOTHER VERMEER (also a favorite play winner) and
Romulus Linney's LOVE DRUNK.

Lucie Arnaz has been an Honorary Board Member at Abingdon Theatre Company for over 5 years and was a dear friend of Abingdon's main stage theatre namesake, June Havoc. Most recently, she appeared on Broadway in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS. Other theatre credits include THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG, LOST IN YONKERS, MASTER CLASS, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, and ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. She earned a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe nomination for her work in THE JAZZ SINGER, opposite Neil Diamond and Laurence Olivier; and she won an Emmy Award for LUCY AND DESI: A HOME MOVIE, her documentary about her parents, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

In addition to THE NANJING RACE, directed by Brian Tom O'Connor, which runs October 29-November 21, Abingdon Theatre Company's upcoming 18th season of American plays also includes the New York premieres of Joel Field's HOW I FELL IN LOVE, winner of the 2009 Christopher Brian Wolk Award, directed by Jules Ochoa (January 21-February 13, 2011); and Al Letson's SUMMER IN SANCTUARY, directed by Rob Urbinati (March 25-April 17, 2011).

Since 1993, Abingdon Theatre Company has developed and produced new plays by American Playwrights exclusively. Actors, directors, designers, producers and dramaturgs have collaborated with more than 200 playwrights to develop original plays. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Jan Buttram and Managing Director Sam Bellinger, the company provides a safe home in which playwrights collaborate with other theatre artists and receive audience feedback through the
utilization of a four-step development process: Page 2 Stage, Staged Readings, and Workout Labs, which culminate in Studio and Mainstage Productions.

THE 4th ANNUAL AB*IE AWARDS are to be presented Monday, September 13 at Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex's June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Doors open at 6:30pm. The awards ceremony and pre- and post-show receptions are FREE and open to the public. No reservations
are required.

For more information, call 212-868-2055 or visit www.abingdontheatre.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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