Actor Jerry Orbach and the Ragtime composing team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens will be honored at a May 6 benefit for the Collaborative Arts Project 21, Inc. and the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing program of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. The event will take place at 8 PM at the 5th Floor Theatre of the school (111 2nd Ave.). Orbach's many theatre credits include Chicago, The Fantasticks, Scuba Duba, and Carnival. Flaherty and Ahrens are the authors of the musicals Once on This Island and Ragtime. Garth Drabinsky, the producer of the latter, will present the duo with an honorary memento. Actor Len Cariou, who has appeared on Orbach's television show Law & Order, will present the gift to Orbach.

The Next Generation of Musical Artists, a group of young performers, writers, and composers, will perform. CAP 21 is dedicated to the creation of new work, and the development of new talent and audiences. For information, call (212) 807-0202.