The annual honors were established for late Senator Claiborne Pell to recognize artistic excellence in Rhode Island and on the national level. In addition to Morton and Hall, 2011 Pell honors will be presented to glass artist Steven Weinberg (Rhode Island Pell Award for Excellence in the Arts) and Brown University Professor Lowry Marshall (Charles Sullivan Award for Distinguished Service in the Arts).

A Tony nominee for August: Osage County, Morton most recently tackled the role of Martha in Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? for the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. She will reprise her performance on Broadway in fall 2012 opposite Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning August playwright Tracy Letts. Morton will receive the Pell Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts.

Hall will be honored with the 2011 Pell Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts. Hall arrived at Providence, RI, in 1964 where he aided in founding Trinity Rep. In 1983 he simultaneously took on artistic management of the Dallas Theatre Center, creating a connection between the two iconic resident theatre companies.

The 2011 Pell Awards will take place from 6 PM-10:30 PM at the historic Rhodes-On-The-Pawtuxet in Cranston.

For tickets, beginning at $250, phone (401) 453-9237. Visit www.trinityrep.com.