The Rosenbach Museum & Library, 2008-2010 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, “A Mad Tea Party,” 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 3.

The event celebrates author Lewis Carroll, his Alice books and Walt Disney Pictures March 5 release of “Alice in Wonderland,” the movie, in conjunction with the exhibition “Moore Adventures in Wonderland.”

“A Mad Tea Party” invites museum-goers to celebrate Lewis Carroll’s Alice books, examine a first edition copy of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” up-close, sample teas from local tea companies Cha Cha Tea and NecessiTea (among others), learn how to brew the perfect cup, and view several tea sets from the Rosenbach’s collection.

The evening will be hosted by Scott Chamberlin Hoyt, the director of the documentary “The Meaning of Tea” and Alexis Siemons, local tea enthusiast and founder of the blog teaspoonsandpetals.com. Hoyt and Siemons will discuss the important role that tea plays in our fast-paced daily lives and their personal journey with tea. Hoyt will also screen selections from “The Meaning of Tea.”

Lewis Carroll, pseudonym of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832 – 1898), was an English author, mathematician, and Anglican clergyman. His most famous writings are Alice’s “Adventures in Wonderland” and its sequel “Through the Looking-Glass” as well as the poems “The Hunting of the Snark” and “Jabberwocky”, all examples of the genre of literary nonsense.

Information from the Rosenbach Museum & Library notes that today it “preserves one of the world’s finest Lewis Carroll collections: over five hundred letters in Charles Dodgson’s hand, nearly three dozen original drawings by Sir John Tenniel, rare and often inscribed copies of his books, photographs, and much more.”

“A Mad Tea Party” is presented in conjunction with the Rosenbach’s new exhibition “Moore Adventures in Wonderland,” created by Rosenbach Artist-in-Residence, Sue Johnson. On view through June 6, 2010, the exhibition investigates the Rosenbach’s collection of the work of Lewis Carroll and Modernist American poet and writer Marianne Moore and uncovers the unexpected connections between the two.

Coinciding with “A Mad Tea Party” and the “Moore Adventures in Wonderland” exhibition, the Rosenbach will present several related programs and events. As part of the museum’s Hands-On Tours programming, the Rosenbach will feature two related tours: “Marianne Moore, Modernist Poet” (this Sunday and April 7 and 23), which looks at Marianne Moore’s letters, clippings and the objects she surrounded herself with; and “Lewis Carroll/Charles Dodgson” (March 10, 14, 19), which explores both the man and the author and features original drawings by Sir John Tenniel (the illustrator of the Alice books), photographs of children taken by Carroll, and copies of his books.

“A Mad Tea Party” is free with museum admission, registration required. Admission to the Rosenbach is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for students and free for children under 5. To register, contact Mary Duffy, development associate, at 215-732-1600 ext. 123 or rsvp [at] rosenbach [dot] org. For additional information, visit www.rosenbach.org.