Spring Break
Foundation recognizes URI theater instructor
Noelle Myers
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: News
03/05/09 - A University of Rhode Island alumnus and theater professor, Tony Estrella was named "Person of the Year," by the Pawtucket Foundation because of his work as the artistic director of the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre.
In 1996, Estrella began his work as an actor with the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre. He has been the artistic director at the theatre for the past six years. He has produced all 30 plays performed at the theatre.
Estrella said he's acted in about 23 of the 30 productions and directed 10 of the plays.
"My primary way into the theatre is acting," he said.
Estrella said he finds a way to be involved with all of the productions at the theatre.
He said he chooses the plays, casts them, produces them and acts.
"It helps if you love the work that your doing," Estrella said, referring to the long hours he puts into his work.
Estrella is currently directing the play "Grace" by Mick Gordon and A.C. Grayling, which will start on March 12.
"It's this kind of job that goes with the territory. You kind of know that you have to push yourself to get it done," Estrella said.
Along with Estrella's work with the Gamm Theatre, he is currently teaching theatre at URI. Estrella said he is only teaching one course this semester, but has taught other courses like script analysis in the past. He has been a professor at URI for the past 12 years and has directed five different shows, such as "Traces" and "Suburbia."
As a former URI student, Estrella majored in English for his first two years because he was interested in literature.
"I was a big fan of Shakespeare," Estrella said.
During his junior year at URI, he auditioned for the Shakespearean play, "The Comedy of Errors."
Estrella said performing in the play inspired him to change his major to theater. He said he enjoyed his small role in the play as Doctor Pinch. The character was a conjuring schoolmaster.
"[He was] an oddball kind of character," he said.
After graduating from URI in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in theatre, he enrolled in the Trinity Repertory Conservatory program where he received his graduate degree. Estrella said he did more work with Trinity's company directly after graduate school.
Estrella said he was honored to receive the "Person of the Year Award" from the Pawtucket Foundation.
"It's important to re-birth and re-identify the city," he said.
Estrella is a Rhode Island native, having lived in Pawtucket for most of his life.
In 1996, Estrella began his work as an actor with the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre. He has been the artistic director at the theatre for the past six years. He has produced all 30 plays performed at the theatre.
Estrella said he's acted in about 23 of the 30 productions and directed 10 of the plays.
"My primary way into the theatre is acting," he said.
Estrella said he finds a way to be involved with all of the productions at the theatre.
He said he chooses the plays, casts them, produces them and acts.
"It helps if you love the work that your doing," Estrella said, referring to the long hours he puts into his work.
Estrella is currently directing the play "Grace" by Mick Gordon and A.C. Grayling, which will start on March 12.
"It's this kind of job that goes with the territory. You kind of know that you have to push yourself to get it done," Estrella said.
Along with Estrella's work with the Gamm Theatre, he is currently teaching theatre at URI. Estrella said he is only teaching one course this semester, but has taught other courses like script analysis in the past. He has been a professor at URI for the past 12 years and has directed five different shows, such as "Traces" and "Suburbia."
As a former URI student, Estrella majored in English for his first two years because he was interested in literature.
"I was a big fan of Shakespeare," Estrella said.
During his junior year at URI, he auditioned for the Shakespearean play, "The Comedy of Errors."
Estrella said performing in the play inspired him to change his major to theater. He said he enjoyed his small role in the play as Doctor Pinch. The character was a conjuring schoolmaster.
"[He was] an oddball kind of character," he said.
After graduating from URI in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in theatre, he enrolled in the Trinity Repertory Conservatory program where he received his graduate degree. Estrella said he did more work with Trinity's company directly after graduate school.
Estrella said he was honored to receive the "Person of the Year Award" from the Pawtucket Foundation.
"It's important to re-birth and re-identify the city," he said.
Estrella is a Rhode Island native, having lived in Pawtucket for most of his life.
