Trinity Rep to honor 3 R.I. residents with Pell Awards

ON MONDAY, JUNE 10, Trinity Repertory Co. will honor three Rhode Island residents with Pell Awards, along with actress Kate Burton.  / COURTESY ANNE HARRIGAN
ON MONDAY, JUNE 10, Trinity Repertory Co. will honor three Rhode Island residents with Pell Awards, along with actress Kate Burton. / COURTESY ANNE HARRIGAN

PROVIDENCE – Trinity Repertory Company will honor three Rhode Island residents with Pell Awards along with Kate Burton, who was previously announced as the recipient of the 2013 Pell Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.

Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre Artistic Director Tony Estrella, noted art collector and philanthropist Dr. Joseph A. Chazan, and educator and Shakespeare in the City founder Martha Douglas-Osmundson will receive Pell Awards at the 17th annual awards ceremony on Monday, June 10, at Trinity Rep. There will be a reception to follow at the Providence Public Library.

The Pell Awards honor the late Sen. Claiborne Pell and recognize artistic excellence in Rhode Island as well as in the New England region and nationally.

Actress Kate Burton will receive Pell’s 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award for her work on Broadway, in regional theater, and on film and television.

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“Just as important as her illustrious career, however, has been her service in promoting the arts, education, and arts education for Brown University, the American Theatre Wing, and the Williamstown Theater Festival, among other boards and national organizations,” Trinity Rep’s Richard L. Bready Artistic Director Curt Columbus said in a statement. “I am deeply pleased to present Kate with the Lifetime Achievement honor this year.”

Estrella will receive the Rhode Island Pell Award for Excellence in the Arts. Columbus called Estrella “an immensely skilled and multi-faceted artist: a superb actor and director, a venerable artistic leader, and a true advocate for the arts on both a local and national level.”

Columbus added that under Estrella’s leadership The Gamm has transformed into a nationally renowned and respected theater company. “In many ways, much of this success can be directly attributed to Tony’s talent, hard work and his dogged pursuit of artistic excellence,” Columbus said in prepared remarks.

Dr. Chazan will receive the Pell Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Arts. “His kind of philanthropy fully expresses and furthers Sen. Claiborne Pell’s original intention to support local artists in communities,” said Columbus, adding that Chazan is “not only a dedicated patron of the arts in Rhode Island, but one of its most tireless behind?the?scenes champions.”

Columbus also lauded Douglas-Osmundson, who will receive the Charles Sullivan Award for Distinguised Service in the Arts. “Martha not only is a fearless educator, but has worked tirelessly on the Shakespeare in the City program over the past five years,” he said in a statement. “Few people could have brought any such bold, new program into existence, much less one focused on using Shakespeare to connect children and teachers from urban public and private schools.

“Through belief in the vitality of her mission and a special kind of determination, Martha has positively influenced the artistic growth and educational future of so many young people in our community – and that is something we at Trinity Rep could not be happier to celebrate,” said Columbus.

The 17th annual Pell Awards will be held on Monday, June 10, at Trinity Rep. Individual tickets to the full event are $500. A limited number of individual tickets to the ceremony and post-show reception are $250. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Trinity Rep’s artistic and educational programs.

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