Phillip Baker Hall, Ed O'Neill, David Ogden Stiers, Hector Elizondo and Dakin Matthews will be among the actors taking part in the reading, which will benefit the PEN USA Freedom to Write Program. Show time is 7:30 PM.

Floodgate, according to press notes, "features highlights of a faux congressional committee’s investigation to determine responsibility for the equally faux, farcically disastrous events that recently swamped and overwhelmed the nation’s capitol. The chief casualty of the hearings: the destruction of what little is left of the English language."

Larry Gelbart is the winner of two Best Book of a Musical Tony Awards for his work on City of Angels and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. He also penned the Broadway comedies Sly Fox and Mastergate as well as the book for The Conquering Hero. Gelbart received Academy Award nominations for the screenplays to "Oh, God!" and "Tootsie"; he also developed the Emmy-winning television series "M*A*S*H."

The Geffen Playhouse is located at 10886 Le Conte Avenue in Westwood, CA. Tickets, priced $50-$250, are available by calling (310) 208-5454 or by visiting www.geffenplayhouse.com.

* PEN USA Freedom to Write Program works for "the release of writers who have been imprisoned for practicing their craft in countries outside the United States and to help defend the First Amendment here at home."