Trinity Repertory Company has announced the first two honorees of the 2026 Pell Awards Gala. Trinity Rep’s outgoing Artistic Director Curt Columbus will receive the Pell Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Arts in recognition of his 20 years leading the theater. Community philanthropist and volunteer Paul J. Choquette, Jr. will receive the Charles Sullivan Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts.  

The 27th Pell Awards Gala will occur on Tuesday, June 9, 2025, in Providence, Rhode Island at The Lindemann Performing Arts Center on Brown University’s campus. The event co-chairs are Alison & Larry Eichler and Joan & Pablo Sorensen. Additional honorees will be announced at a later date. 

“As we celebrate this year’s Pell Awards, we are thrilled to honor two individuals whose impact on Trinity Rep and our community is profound,” said Katie Liberman, Executive Director. “Curt’s 20 years of artistic leadership have left an indelible mark on this theater, our artistry, and our community. Paul’s decades of dedication and philanthropy exemplify the spirit of service that sustains the arts in Rhode Island, including his through role as Co-Chair of The Public Square Campaign—a $40 million construction project that is a transformative investment in Trinity Rep’s future.” 

The event will begin at 6 pm with a VIP cocktail reception. All guests can arrive beginning at 7 pm and will enjoy a seated dinner and the awards ceremony starting at 7:30 pm. Attendees will mingle with artists, business, political, and social leaders; savor food by Russell Morin Catering & Events; and experience unforgettable moments as the theater honors individuals committed to bettering the world through art, education, and activism.  

Tickets, sponsorships, and event program tribute ads are on sale now at trinityrep.com/pell or by phone at (401) 453- 9237. Trinity Rep is a 501(c)3 non-profit, and all proceeds from the Pell Awards Gala support the theater’s artistic, educational, and community engagement programs.  

This year’s Pell Awards Committee includes Katie & Malcolm Chace, Susan Chung, Corey Martin Fitzgerald, Lamont Gordon & Jim Donahue, Nancy Smith Greer, Laura Harris, Joe Madden, Suzanne Magaziner, Sara Shea McConnell, Kibbe & Tom Reilly, Mark Sandner-White, Nick Wall, Toots Zynsky. The Honorary Event Committee includes the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation: Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and Congressmen Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner. Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley also joins the honorary committee with Laurie & Oskar Eustis, Sharon & Richard Jenkins, Dr. Tripler Pell, Christina Pell Neal, Nick & Annie Pell, Clay Pell, and Eames Yates, Jr.