Photo Flash: Bebe Neuwirth Hosts The 2018 Princess Grace Awards Gala, Featuring Tyne Daly, Leslie Odom, Jr. and More

On Tuesday, October 16, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA (PGF-USA) celebrated the 2018 Princess Grace Awards Gala at Cipriani 25 Broadway in New York. Held in the presence of Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco, the Awards Gala honored actor, director, producer, and philanthropist Tim Daly, Tony Award-winning director Sam Gold, and founder of the dance company A.I.M (Abraham.In.Motion) Kyle Abraham. Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth served as mistress of ceremonies for the event.

Tim Daly was honored with the the distinguished Prince Rainier III Award for his outstanding artistry and exemplary give-back, which was presented to him by his sister, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress, Tyne Daly. The Prince Rainier III Award recognizes a renowned leader in the arts whose own accomplishments are coupled with demonstrated service to their community. The Prince Rainier III Award includes a grant of $25,000 to the philanthropic organization of the recipient's choice and a uniquely designed sculpture by artist Alex Soldier. Past recipients of the Award include Julie Andrews, Mikhail Baryshnikov, James Cameron, Glenn Close, Queen Latifah, George Lucas, Mandy Patinkin, Sibylle & Robert Redford, Twyla Tharp, Pauletta & Denzel Washington, Cicely Tyson, and Dick Van Dyke.

During the event, Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco said, "It is always so exciting to welcome new award winners to the Princess Grace Awards family and to celebrate in the city my mother-in-law began her career as an actress. It was a privilege to honor Tim Daly with the Prince Rainier lll Award. In addition to his impressive work as an actor on both stage and screen, I applaud his devotion to supporting the arts as the President of The Creative Coalition."

Tony Award-winning actor Leslie Odom Jr. (2016 Princess Grace Statue Award Recipient) presented Sam Gold and Kyle Abraham with 2018 Princess Grace Statue Awards for their continuing excellence in their respective artistic disciplines since receiving their initial Princess Grace Awards. Chicago Med actress Emma Duncan (2014 Princess Grace Award Winner) performed "Ring of Keys" from Fun Home as a tribute to Sam Gold, and A.I.M (Abraham.In.Motion) dancer Marcella Lewis (2018 Princess Grace Award Winner) performed a special dance routine as a tribute to Kyle Abraham.

Additionally, the Gala awarded 22 emerging artists in theater, dance, and film with Princess Grace Awards presented to them by GRAMMY-winning songwriter, composer and producer David Foster. The 2018 Princess Grace Awards Gala continues the legacy of Princess Grace (Kelly) of Monaco, who helped emerging artists pursue their artistic goals during Her lifetime. In total, the Foundation is awarding over $1 million to artists in theater, dance, and film annually.

Guests also enjoyed a spirited live auction led by auctioneer Robbie Gordy, which featured an adventurous trip package to South Africa, the home country of HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco, and a once in a lifetime opportunity to join the Riviera Bike Challenge alongside celebrities, athletes and The Princess of Monaco. The evening also featured a dazzling performance by American Housewife actress Carly Hughes who sang "All That Jazz" from Chicago.

Later in the evening and prior to announcing Tyne Daly's presentation, host Bebe Neuwirth introduced a 21-year old clip of HSH Prince Albert with Tyne Daly meeting for the first time and singing an impromptu duet.

Additional VIP guests and Princess Grace Foundation-USA supporters in attendance included Gerard Butler, Katharine McPhee, Candace Bushnell, Pauline Ducruet, Gigi Gorgeous, Nats Getty, Denise Rich, H.E. Maguy Maccario Doyle (Ambassador of Monaco to the United States and Canada), Hon. John F. Lehman (PGF-USA Chairman), D. Christopher Le Vine (PGF-USA Board of Trustees), H.E. Isabelle Picco (Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Principality of Monaco to the United Nations), Alex Soldier (Prince Rainier III Award Designer), Jon B. Turk, M.D. (PGF-USA Board of Trustees), and more.

The Awards Gala was co-chaired by Dennis & Phyllis Washington and Anne Sweeney& Phillip Miller. Major Gala supporters include Rod & Karen Gancas and Dennis & Phyllis Washington as Crown Sponsors.

ABOUT THE PRINCESS GRACE FOUNDATION - USA
The Princess Grace Foundation-USA is a non-profit, publicly-supported foundation, headquartered in New York City and founded 36 years ago by Prince Rainier III of Monaco to honor his wife, Princess Grace's [Kelly] legacy. The Foundation's mission is to identify and assist emerging talent in theater, dance, and film by awarding grants in the form of scholarships, apprenticeships, and fellowships. Since its inception the Foundation has given awards to nearly 800 recipients. Some notable Princess Grace Award recipients in Film include: Emmy winner Cary Fukunaga will direct the next James Bond film, directed Netflix's Maniac, HBO's "True Detective", and Jane Eyre; Greg Mottola director of Superbad, "Arrested Development", and Amazon's The Dangerous Book for Boys; Stephen Hillenburg, creator of SpongeBob SquarePants. Theater recipients include: Tony Award winner for Best Direction of a Play, Anna D. Shapiro; Pulitzer and Tony Award winning playwright Tony Kushner; Golden Globe Award winner Oscar Isaac; and Tony Award winning actor Leslie Odom Jr. Dance/Choreography recipients include: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Robert Battle; American Ballet Theatre's Gillian Murphy and Isabella Boylston and New York City Ballet's Tiler Peck; as well as choreographers Camille A. Brown and Michelle Dorrance.

The Princess Grace Awards Ceremony is produced by Scott Mauro Entertainment, Inc/ Scott H. Mauro, Executive Producer for the 12th year.

For more information about the Princess Grace Awards program, please visit www.pgfusa.org.

Photo Credit: Getty Images for Princess Grace Foundation-USA