The starry event — titled In Quarter Time — will be at Guastavino's at 409 E. 59th Street.

According to the Off-Broadway theatre company, "For a quarter of a century, artistic director Tim Sanford has devoted himself to the discovery, development and advocacy of playwrights and musical theatre artists. Starting as an intern in Playwrights' Literary Department, Tim has dedicated his career to championing the American voice. Since taking the artistic reins of the theatre in 1996, Tim has produced more than 75 new plays and musicals including one Pulitzer Prize winner, fostered the development of hundreds of emerging and established writers, and encouraged dozens of artistic collaborations."

The evening's artistic co-chairs will include nine notable Playwrights Horizons veterans: Joan Allen (The Heidi Chronicles in '88), Christopher Durang (Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You in '81, Baby with the Bathwater in '83, Laughing Wild in '87, Betty's Summer Vacation in '99, Miss Witherspoon in '05), Craig Lucas (Three Postcards in '87, Small Tragedy in '04, Prayer for My Enemy in '08), Michael Mayer (Baby Anger in '97, The Credeaux Canvas in '01 and Our House in '09), Cynthia Nixon (The Heidi Chronicles in '89, On the Bum in '92), Lynn Nottage (Mud, River, Stone in '97, Fabulation in '04), Mary-Louise Parker (Dead Man's Cell Phone in '08), Theresa Rebeck (The Butterfly Collection in '00, Bad Dates in '03, Our House in '09) and Marisa Tomei (Demonology in '96).

Cocktails and a silent auction will begin at 6 PM, followed by dinner at 7:45 PM and the evening's entertainment. Complete details on the silent auction, including preliminary online bidding which will begin April 8 and run through April 29, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Ticket prices for the Gala Benefit start at $800 and can be reserved by calling Michelle Kiefel at (212) 564-1235 extension 3143. Visit www.playwrightshorizons.org.