APRIL 2020

 

Stay updated about the diverse, inspiring, and extraordinary artists, people and events that make up the Princess Grace Foundation USA.

Dear Friends,
If we ever needed a reminder of the value of the arts and the importance of our Princess Grace Award winners work, we need to only look as far as our computers, smartphones and TV screens where creativity and innovation are bursting out in the form of livestreams, films, virtual performances and more! Even as arts professionals are among the hardest hit by this crisis, they are also providing much of what is making us smile. We are deeply grateful for their creativity and dedication and encourage you all to enjoy their work! I’m also grateful to our team at the Foundation who are continuing to work tirelessly to support our artists as we transition to working from home. Speaking of transitions, Rachel Biermann, our Marketing Director, left us in the beginning of March for an exciting opportunity at CBS; she joined their team as a producer working on human interest and celebrity-driven content. We thank her for her contributions to the Foundation and wish her well.
And now, on with the (virtual) show…
Warmest Regards, 
Brisa Trinchero
CEO, Princess Grace Foundation-USA

Movie Night In With Grace Kelly

Join us on Instagram each week as we enjoy a #moviewithgrace

First Up! Rear Window

 

Like all of us in quarantine, the film’s main character Jeff (played by Jimmy Stewart) is confined to his apartment. He is idling away his time with little to do but watch the lives of his neighbors through his apartment’s rear window. Visits from his socialite girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly) are a welcome distraction between his bouts of suspicion of murder committed by one of his neighbors.
This 1954 thriller directed by the legendary “master of suspense” Alfred Hitchcock, is considered by many filmgoers and critics to be one of Hitchcock’s best and one of the greatest films ever made. It received four Academy Award nominations and stars James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Thelma Ritter and Raymond Burr.
Suggested drink pairing:   Brandy Old Fashioned
Fun Fact:  Though the address given in the film is
125 W. Ninth Street in New York’s Greenwich Village, the set (shot entirely at Paramount Studios) was actually based on a real courtyard located at 125 Christopher Street.

Visit our Instagram (@princessgraceus) for our weekly
Movie Night In With Grace Kelly

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Princess Grace Award Winner Tiler Peck teaches over 1,500 people online every day and features special guest stars like Leslie Odom Jr.!

Photo credit: Tiler Peck

One of ballet’s most popular leading ladies, Tiler Peck (2004 Dance), on break now from New York City Ballet, is spending her time with family in California. But far from resting, she’s continuing her ballet training routine daily and is joined by over 1,500 dancers from around the country who participate via Instagram live! Read how it all came about, why celebrities are joining her classes, and what it means to her to be teaching ballet virtually to thousands at all skill levels.
Watch #turnitoutwithtiler with fellow Princess Grace Award winner Leslie Odom Jr. here !
PGF-USA: You started teaching on Instagram (IG) Live very early in the shutdown. What inspired you to begin teaching?
Tiler Peck: My sister is a Principal at a High School and had asked me to virtually teach the dance team (the school’s advanced dancers); as I was going to give myself class anyways, I thought I’ll just do it at that time so they can just do it with me. Then I thought, well if they’re doing it, I might as well just put it online for people at home to join as they want as they cannot go to their normal classes. I really didn’t think anybody was going to join or want to do this!
PGF-USA: Tell us a little about how it’s evolved?
Tiler Peck: Once I started teaching and it became a daily thing, I really wanted to see who I was teaching. I’ve taught ballet since I was very young [Tiler’s mom has a dance school] and my teaching style is very hands on. I was missing the opportunity to see my students and give corrections so I created #turnitoutwithtiler so dancers could share their videos and I could watch and offer corrections in the next class. It’s really been amazing to see so many people from so many different dance backgrounds participate. There are professional dancers, really young dancers, people who are putting back on their shoes after 12 years, and beginning students who have never taken class before. As I noticed the wide range of levels, I started giving a beginning and advanced version. I love seeing everyone’s videos and staying connected. This way I feel good that people at every level can participate.
PGF-USA: You’ve started featuring ‘guest stars’ on your classes – tell us a little about how that came to be?
Tiler Peck: It felt like a great way to bring artists that people may not have the opportunity to meet into their lives. It started with Misty Copeland joining and it’s really grown from there.
PGF-USA: Fellow Princess Grace Award winner Leslie Odom Jr. joined you two weeks ago. What was that like?
Tiler Peck: With Leslie, I’ve really met him through Princess Grace Foundation events, and of course I’m a huge fan of Hamilton – I’ve seen it three times! I reached out to him on IG and he immediately said yes. He was fantastic and really had the idea of what he wanted to share during class. I didn’t know that he took dance when he was little and I loved that he shared that information because it shows how you can carry the skills you learn in ballet with you in your future career.
PGF-USA: How do you connect with these artists?
Tiler Peck: I mostly reach out to them, though now some people reach out to me. I’m really excited; one of my guests is going to be Jennifer Garner [she appeared the day after this interview took place]. Some dream guests I have are Cynthia Erivo or Hugh Jackman…. And I’d love to have more Princess Grace Award winners join me!
PGF-USA: Tell us a little bit about your daily life as you try to stay in shape?
Tiler Peck: Actually, teaching class on IG has been the best thing to keep me in shape! It holds me accountable to a set schedule and I have to make sure I do a full hour and all the exercises. It also has been keeping me very busy between planning class, guests and doing interviews – it’s become a full-time job!
PGF-USA: Are there any other ways you’re staying connected during this time?
Tiler Peck: I left home at a young age [to study at School of American Ballet]; the silver lining in this time is how much time I get to spend with my family. We’re watching old movies together and playing board games. Next up a Grace Kelly movie!

Experience Award Winner Work at Home!

Cody Stokes, “The Ghost Who Walks”  
Watch Netflix’s #8 Watched Film
Directed by Cody Stokes (2006 Film), his new film
The Ghost Who Walks  was released on Netflix last week and is one of its top watched! H unted by his former boss, a hardened criminal fights for one last chance to reunite his family and become the father he never was. Starring Garland Scott.
Jon M. Chu, “Home BeforeDark”
Now Available on AppleTV
Jon M. Chu  (2001 Film) directs,  Home Before Dark . This new series follows Hilde Lysko (Brooklynn Prince) a nine-year old journalist as she investigates a dark, deeply buried mystery from decades ago in a small Washington town. Also starring Jim Sturgess. You can read the article  Variety  wrote on the series here .
Chinonye Chukwu, “Clemency”
Now Available on VOD
If you missed 2019 Statue Award winner Chinonye Chukwu’s Independent Spirit Award nominated film Clemency when it was in theaters, check it out now on VOD. Deeply moving, it follows a female prison warden (Alfre Woodard) as she prepares to execute a prisoner (Aldis Hodge).
Joshua Kahan Brody, “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea”
Missing the theater? Available now through April 20th, purchase a virtual ticket to Where the Mountains Meet the Sea and experience the world premiere of Jeff Augustin’s new play, directed by Joshua Kahan Brody (2015 Theater). With lyrical storytelling and music, this play vividly imagines how a father and son who long to connect might come to see each other at last.
Check out our new Award winner projects page on our website for more virtual content to enjoy from home. Please consider supporting our artists by purchasing their work via virtual tickets, books, films and through VOD rentals, and more. Your viewing support encourages these media platforms to continue providing a home for independent artists.
Also for those who may have the capacity, please consider donating to organizations that have COVID-19 emergency resources available to individual artists and organizations.

Cooking With Princess Grace Award Winner Carly Hughes

Be the virtual houseguest of this “American Housewife”

During the shutdown, one Princess Grace Award winner started cooking something up… literally.
Now join star of the hit ABC comedy  American Housewife   Carly Hughes (2003 Theater) on her Instagram Live  @carlyhughes  to experience “Cooking with Carly”.  And, check out the recipe for one of her delicious
“Cooking with Carly” meals that you can make from home.

Sesame Ramen With Chicken & Broccoli:

*3 packs of ramen or 1 lb of spaghetti
*Broccoli florets chopped in small pieces or leave in florets
* Chopped chicken – 1 breast per person
* 1/4 C olive oil
* 1/2 C sesame oil
* 6 TBS honey
* 5 TBS soy sauce or gluten free option liquid aminos
* 2 tsp red pepper flakes (less if you don’t like spice)
* 1/2 C scallions
* 1/2 C chopped cilantro (optional)
* 1/2 – 3/4 C chopped peanuts
*2 TBS sesame seeds
Crispy fried onions for garnish
Warm oils in pan on medium low heat.
Until the sesame become fragrant.
Add red pepper flakes and stir with a whisk (1-2 min.)
Add in honey & soy sauce, stir to combine (1-2min.)
Turn heat off.
Mix in noodles, peanuts, scallions, broccoli,  sesame seeds and chicken.
Mix everything well.
Let sit in warm pan for 5 – 10 min to let noodles absorb sauce.
Plate and top with crispy onions.
Bon Appétit

Photo credit: Carly Hughes

A few words from His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco:

As many of you have heard, I was diagnosed with COVID-19. Fortunately, I have made a full recovery. I remain deeply committed to the future of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA. The Foundation and our Award winners represent My Mother’s great artistic legacy and it has been My privilege over the past 38 years to celebrate artistic excellence at the annual awards ceremony. Throughout this crisis we have turned to the work of artists more than ever. I look forward to working together to overcome this adversity and to celebrating new classes of Award winners for many years to come.

PRINCESS GRACE FUN FACT:

Happy Anniversary Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III
April 18, 1956 | All About The Ring

If you’ve ever watched High Society , which happened to be Grace Kelly’s last feature film before her royal marriage, you may have noticed a certain diamond ring on her finger. Even Bing Crosby’s character (C.K. Dexter Haven) draws attention to it, saying, “some stone, did you mine it yourself?” This ring just happens to be her real-life engagement ring from Prince Rainier. Made by Cartier, set on a platinum band, the emerald-cut diamond is 10.48 carats flanked by a pair of diamond baguettes .