2015 -- H 6170

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING DEBRA MESSING FOR RECEIVING THE 2015 PELL AWARD FOR

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT IN THE ARTS

     Introduced By: Representative Antonio Giarrusso

     Date Introduced: May 05, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Pell Awards, now in their 19th year, recognize and celebrate artistic

excellence in Rhode Island, support the Trinity Repertory Company, and honor Senator Claiborne

Pell's legacy of vigorous support of the arts, including his sponsorship of legislation that created

the National Endowment for the Humanities in 1965; and

     WHEREAS, Esteemed Actress Debra Messing will be awarded the Pell Award for

Distinguished Achievement in the Arts on June 15, 2015, at the 19th annual Pell Awards Gala;

and

     WHEREAS, Ms. Messing was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Sandra and

Brian Messing. As a young child, she and her family moved to East Greenwich, Rhode Island.

She attended East Greenwich High School where she thrived as both a student and a performer on

stage starring in various plays including the musicals Annie and Grease. After graduating from

East Greenwich High School, she attended Brandeis University, where she graduated Summa

Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Arts. She was later accepted into the very

prestigious Graduate Acting Program at New York University, and earned a Master of Fine Arts

degree; and

     WHEREAS, Ms. Messing first gained notice as an actress when she received rave

reviews for her performances in the pre-Broadway workshop production of Angels in America:

Perestroika. After working in a variety of television shows and film productions in a supporting

role, Debra landed a starring role in the landmark and groundbreaking television series, Will &

Grace. For her work on this highly successful series, Debra won a 2003 Emmy Award, earned

seven Golden Globe nominations, seven Screen Actors Guild nominations, five additional Emmy

nominations, two American Comedy Award nominations, and two People’s Choice Award

nominations. She was also named TV Guide's Actress of the Year in a Comedy Series in 2001;

and

     WHEREAS, Since her break-out success on Will & Grace, Ms. Messing has gone on to

star in movies, work on Broadway, and currently stars in the television show the Mysteries of

Laura. She also supports many charitable endeavors and is a passionate advocate of various

global health initiatives; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates Debra Messing for receiving the 2015 Pell Award

for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Debra Messing.

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