Chita Rivera to Receive Pell Award for Excellence in the Arts

Chita Rivera, who is currently starring on Broadway in Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life, has been selected to receive the Pell Award for Excellence in the Arts, which is named for the former U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, Claiborne Pell.

The Pell Awards, which are hosted by Trinity Repertory Company, have publicly recognized local and national excellence in the arts for the past decade. Past national winners include Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Miller, Toni Morrison and Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. Pell's own contribution to the Arts has been invaluable. In 1965 Senator Pell sponsored legislation that created the National Endowment for the Arts and chaired the Senate Education and Arts sub-committee. He also served on the board of directors for Trinity Repertory Company.

Senator and Mrs. Claiborne Pell are honorary chairs of the black-tie event which will be held at the Rhode Island Convention Center on May 22, 2006.  Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit artistic programming at Trinity Repertory Company.

Since its founding in 1964, Trinity Repertory Company has been one of the most respected regional theaters in the country. Trinity Rep has a reputation for producing critically-acclaimed new and classic works. Trinity Rep offers subscription productions, an annual production of A Christmas Carol, and a Pay What You Can program to keep live performance accessible to everyone.

www.trinityrep.com