On March 30 "an intimate dinner for 30" will be held at the Algonquin Hotel. Prior to the dinner at the Manhattan landmark, Parker's works will be read by Charles Busch, Isaac Mizrahi, Bebe Neuwirth and Cynthia Nixon. On April 13, What Fresh Hell Is This—An Evening of Dorothy Parker will be held at the Tribeca Rooftop. A reading — featuring the talents of Charles Busch, Edie Falco, Nancy Giles, Debbie Gravitte, Kitty Carlisle Hart, Jessica Hecht, Amy Hohn, Judy Kuhn, Oni Faida Lampley, Bebe Neuwirth, Cynthia Nixon, Amy Ryan, Anne Kaufman Schneider, Jessica Stone and Karen Ziemba — will be followed by a cocktail party.

Born in New Jersey in 1893, Dorothy Parker's Broadway credits include the plays Close Harmony, After Such Pleasures and The Ladies of the Corridor. She also wrote the music and lyrics for the musical revue Shoot the Works and contributed lyrics to Candide. She was nominated for two Academy Awards: in 1938 for the screenplay of "A Star Is Born" and in 1948 for "Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman." Parker died June 7, 1967, having become one of the most successful women writers of her era.

Conceived in 1994, the Drama Dept. has since presented such acclaimed productions as June Moon, As Bees in Honey Drown, As Thousands Cheer, The Book of Liz and Rude Entertainment. For more information about the company, visit www.dramadept.org or call (212) 633-9108.