It's Official: Lucille Lortel Awards Set for Sunday May 2 at Terminal 5

Today, the Off-Broadway League announces the date and venue for the 25th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. This year's ceremony will benefit The Actors Fund and will be held on Sunday, May 2, 2010 at Terminal 5, 610 West 56th Street. Arrivals / Cocktails begin at 6 PM EST with the ceremony beginning at 8 PM EST.

"We are thrilled to announce that our 25th anniversary show will be bigger and better than ever," says George Forbes, President, Off-Broadway League. "The show will celebrate this year's recipients while honoring Off-Broadway's rich history from the last 25 years."

With the "Off-Broadway Comes Home" theme, this 25th anniversary show features live performances from outstanding Off-Broadway talent, presenters, and several surprises, all in a new Midtown location, Terminal 5. Hosts, presenters and sponsors to be announced in the coming months.

This year, members of the general public are welcome to view the ceremony beginning at 8 PM. Public tickets will be $75.00 and will be available starting on March 1, 2010.

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 Lucille Lortel Awards is produced by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Foundation. Additional support provided by Theatre Development Fund.

The Off-Broadway League's Lortel Awards Producing & Administration Committee (Terry Byrne, Denise Cooper, Margaret Cotter, Carol Fishman, George Forbes, Nicki Genovese, Melanie Herman, Jon Pollard and Tom Smedes) produces the Lortel Awards Ceremony.

The Lortel Awards website, www.LortelAward.com, will have updates and news about the ceremony, hosts and media releases. To follow the Lortel Awards on Twitter, please go to: twitter.com/LortelAward; Facebook at the Lucille Lortel Awards group.

Dates of Note:

March 1st, 2010 - Tickets go on sale.
March 31st, 2010 - 2009-2010 Off-Broadway season ends.
April 1st, 2010 - Nomination Meeting. Nominees announced via press release at 5 PM EST
April 19th, 2010 - Nominee's Cocktail Reception.
May 2nd, 2010 - Award Ceremony at Terminal 5.

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, visit www.LortelAward.com.

Lucille Lortel Foundation was created by Lucille Lortel to foster excellence and diversity in the theatre, as well as to faithfully preserve the rich history and support the continued prosperity of Off-Broadway. The Foundation has several major programs, including its general operating support program that has provided millions of dollars to small to mid-size theatres in New York City, universities, and theatre service organizations. The Foundation created and maintains the Internet Off-Broadway Data Base (www.lOBDB.com). For a listing of all of the Foundation's programs, previous Lortel Award nominees and recipients, information on the Lucille Lortel Theatre and Playwrights' Sidewalk, and much more, please visit www.lortel.org.

Theatre Development Fund (TDF) has played a unique role in strengthening live theatre and dance in New York City for the past 40 years. This not-for-profit service organization's programs have filled 72 million seats at discount prices (with theatre lovers who would normally not be able to attend live performance) and returned over 1.6 billion dollars in revenue to thousands of theatre, dance and music productions. Best known for its TKTS Discount Booths, TDF's membership, voucher, access and education programs as well as its Costume Collection, help to make the unique experience of theatre available to everyone. For more information, go to: www.tdf.org.

The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment. The Fund - which provides programs and services for those on stage and on screen and everyone behind the scenes in theatre, film, TV, music, dance, radio and opera - is a safety net, providing social services and emergency assistance, health services and health insurance information, employment and training programs and housing support for those who are in need, crisis or transition. Learn more about what The Actors Fund does in helping over 10,000 people every year at www.actorsfund.org.