Gamm Theatre's Artistic Director Tony Estrella to Receive 2013 Pell Award

The Board of Directors of The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre congratulates Artistic Director Tony Estrella on his selection by Trinity Repertory Company as a prestigious 2013 Pell Award winner. Estrella, who has led The Gamm since 2002, will receive the award for "Excellence in the Arts" at a ceremony at Trinity on June 10. He is among three Rhode Island residents to be honored by Trinity, along with Broadway and regional actress Kate Burton who was previously announced as the recipient of this year's award for Lifetime Achievement.

In a press release, Trinity Artistic Director Curt 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."

Under Estrella's visionary leadership, Columbus noted, "The Gamm has transformed into a nationally renowned and respected company; a place where challenging new work and still-trenchant classics are given vibrant life - winning, along the way, three prestigious Elliot Norton Awards and attracting a growing subscriber base and fans from across New England and beyond. In many ways, much of this success can be directly attributed to Tony's talent, hard work and his dogged pursuit of artistic excellence."

Gamm Board President Sam Babbitt echoed Columbus saying, "All of us at The Gamm are delighted that our star, Tony Estrella, is being honored by Trinity Rep. He's a local boy made very, very good, and we share Trinity's pride in having helped to give him a place to demonstrate his unique talents both as an actor and an outstanding artistic leader."

Estrella said he is humbled to be honored alongside collector and philanthropist Dr. Joseph A. Chazan, and educator and Shakespeare in the City founder Martha Douglas-Osmundson, as well as Burton.

"It is a wonderful, humbling surprise to receive this honor and particularly special as it is a testament to a decade of dedication and tireless commitment by each of the Gamm's artists, staff members and board of directors," Estrella said. "I am very lucky to work with such inspiring colleagues and am proud that the organization is being recognized as making a lasting contribution to arts and culture in Rhode Island."

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.

For information and reservations to the 2013 Pell Awards, contact Trinity Rep at 401-453-9237.

Founded in 1984 as Alias Stage, the non-profit Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre creates the finest of live theater, engaging the audience intensely in current and recurrent issues of consequence. The Gamm further serves the public with educational outreach programming designed to support the theatrical experience, and help sustain and enhance the intellectual and cultural life of its community. The Gamm is a member of New England Area Theatre (NEAT), a bargaining unit of the Actors Equity Association.

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