Every year, Women's Project and Productions honors Women of Achievement. Past recipients of the citation have included Lauren Bacall, Ruby Dee, Dame Judi Dench and Vanessa Redgrave. In 2001, the award goes to Broadway's Audra McDonald, producer Laura Pels, choreographer Twyla Tharp and classic stage star Irene Worth. The gala presentation will be held June 11 at Pier 60 at Manhattan's Chelsea Piers.

McDonald, a three-time Tony winner for Carousel, Master Class and Ragtime, most recently appeared on Broadway in Marie Christine before taking time off to have her first daughter. Producer Pels created the Laura Pels Foundation, supporters of many Roundabout productions including Moliere's Scapin, Miller's All My Sons and Feydeau's A Flea in her Ear. Tharp choreographed the dances in the movie versions of Hair, Ragtime and Amadeus and is known for humorous and edgy work with the Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and her own dance group. Worth also won three Tonys in her lengthy career, these for her work in the original production of Tiny Alice, Sweet Bird of Youth and most recently for 1991's Lost in Yonkers.

Also honored will be journalist, feminist, founder of the Coalition of 100 Black Women and tap dancer Evelyn Cunningham and flutist Eugenia Zuckerman.

Actress Mariska Hargitay ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "ER") will emcee the evening. AOL/Time Warner's Richard Parsons, A Chorus Line composer Marvin Hamlisch, Roundabout artistic director Todd Haimes, Museum of Television president Robert Batscha, Tiny Alice and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf/ playwright Edward Albee and filmmaker David Seltzer ("The Omen," "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory") make up the all-male award presentation team.

Cocktails are at 7 PM with the ceremony and dinner to follow at 8 PM. For further information and tickets, call Lorelei Enterprises at (212) 838 2660. Pier 60 at Chelsea Piers is located at West 23rd Street at the Westside Highway. — By Christine Ehren