SWEET SIXTEEN
A FUNDRAISING GALA FOR WILBURY THEATRE GROUP
CELEBRATING 16 SEASONS OF GROUNDBREAKING ARTISTS + ADVENTUROUS AUDIENCES
SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2026
6PM - 7PM V.I.P. // 7PM-9PM MAIN EVENT
6PM - 7PM V.I.P. // 7PM-9PM MAIN EVENT
Join us for an unforgettable evening of dinner & drinks, friends and incredible performances highlighting Wilbury Theatre Group's work to make theatre more accessible to all.
More information about the event to-be-announced. Learn more -->.
More information about the event to-be-announced. Learn more -->.
Proceeds from the event will support Wilbury Theatre Group in its mission to provide Providence’s diverse community with affordable and accessible performing arts through its education and public outreach programs.
'SWEET SIXTEEN: A Fundraising Gala for Wilbury Theatre Group' is supported by:
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ABOUT OUR HONOREES
UMBERTO CRENCA
2026 Kerry Callery Award for DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE ARTS
"Bert’s decades of artistic leadership and advocacy inspired the fearless, artist-centered ecosystem that made it possible for Wilbury Group to flourish, and the idealism and accessibility that he has championed have flowed through the veins of this theatre company from our earliest days."
Umberto (Bert) Crenca is a multidisciplinary artist with a long exhibition and performance history. His work appears in the permanent collections of the Rhode Island School of Design and Newport Art Museums, and in numerous private collections in the US and abroad. Bert’s most recent work is an ongoing series of paintings called DIVINE PROVIDENCE, a loving but unsentimental glimpse into the corners, crevices and in-between spaces in which life happens in the city.
Well known for being co-founder and longtime artistic director of AS220, a nonprofit center for the arts in downtown Providence, Bert is a passionate advocate of the conviction that all people should have access to the means to cultivate and express their creativity. He has received numerous honors and awards for his community work and holds honorary doctorates from Roger Williams and Brown Universities.
Previous recipients of The Kerry Callery Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts include Monica Shinn, Shey Ri Acú Rivera Ríos, Richard Donelly, Charles and Cheryl Cavalconte, Barnaby Evans, Wendy Overly, and Brien Lang.
Well known for being co-founder and longtime artistic director of AS220, a nonprofit center for the arts in downtown Providence, Bert is a passionate advocate of the conviction that all people should have access to the means to cultivate and express their creativity. He has received numerous honors and awards for his community work and holds honorary doctorates from Roger Williams and Brown Universities.
Previous recipients of The Kerry Callery Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts include Monica Shinn, Shey Ri Acú Rivera Ríos, Richard Donelly, Charles and Cheryl Cavalconte, Barnaby Evans, Wendy Overly, and Brien Lang.
ERIN X. SMITHERS
2026 Arthur Richter SPIRIT OF GIVING Award
"Our longtime friend and supporter Erin embodies the spirit of generosity and commitment for which this recognition was created in her daily life. Known and beloved by our creative community as a photographer and champion for equity, diversity, and inclusion, Erin has strengthened all of us through her advocacy, philanthropy, and creative work in more ways than could ever be counted."
Erin X. Smithers is a Senior Compliance Manager and Fair Banking Program Manager at Citizens. With more than 20 years of experience in banking, she has built a career grounded in strong risk and compliance expertise, servant leadership, and an unwavering commitment to fair and responsible banking. Her work spans regulatory compliance, risk management, and designing programs that strengthen Citizens’ ability to better serve customers and communities.
Beyond her core responsibilities, Erin manages the PrepareRI High School Internship Program and launched the first Co‑Op Program in Rhode Island at Citizens. Both programs are delivered in partnership with Skills for Rhode Island’s Future, with the Co‑Op Program developed alongside Rhode Island College’s School of Business. These initiatives reflect Erin’s passion for expanding equitable career pathways and helping young people build meaningful skills for the future of work.
Outside of Citizens, Erin is a freelance performance-art photographer and strategy consultant. She also mentors military leaders, veterans, career professionals, and emerging entrepreneurs - offering support in career development, leadership, and small business strategy. Across all of her roles, Erin is dedicated to mobility and empowerment, community impact, and creating opportunities for others to thrive. Erin is a proud mother of two: her son Henry, a firefighter, and her daughter Lian, a mental health counselor. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her rescue dogs, Atticus and Layla, while listening to podcasts, audiobooks, and plenty of jazz.
Past recipients of The Arthur Richter ‘Spirit of Giving’ Award include Joe and Billy Zappala, Ronald and Heather Florence, and members of the Lifelong Learning Collaborative (LLC).
Beyond her core responsibilities, Erin manages the PrepareRI High School Internship Program and launched the first Co‑Op Program in Rhode Island at Citizens. Both programs are delivered in partnership with Skills for Rhode Island’s Future, with the Co‑Op Program developed alongside Rhode Island College’s School of Business. These initiatives reflect Erin’s passion for expanding equitable career pathways and helping young people build meaningful skills for the future of work.
Outside of Citizens, Erin is a freelance performance-art photographer and strategy consultant. She also mentors military leaders, veterans, career professionals, and emerging entrepreneurs - offering support in career development, leadership, and small business strategy. Across all of her roles, Erin is dedicated to mobility and empowerment, community impact, and creating opportunities for others to thrive. Erin is a proud mother of two: her son Henry, a firefighter, and her daughter Lian, a mental health counselor. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her rescue dogs, Atticus and Layla, while listening to podcasts, audiobooks, and plenty of jazz.
Past recipients of The Arthur Richter ‘Spirit of Giving’ Award include Joe and Billy Zappala, Ronald and Heather Florence, and members of the Lifelong Learning Collaborative (LLC).
SUPPORT
An award-winning, not-for-profit professional theatre company, the Wilbury Theatre Group engages our community in thought-provoking conversation through new works, reimagined classics and adventurous playmaking. We are idealistic, ambitious, and stubborn in our resolve to create theatre that entertains, enlightens, and inspires.
It's the support of donors like you that makes our work possible - please consider making a generous donation today and help us continue to grow.
It's the support of donors like you that makes our work possible - please consider making a generous donation today and help us continue to grow.
