Kicking off the 2008 season at the TimesCenter Jan. 7-13, Times Talks will feature "some of today's most celebrated talent and thinkers from the worlds of art, film, theatre, music, television, literature, media and politics," according to an announcement.
Talks of note for theatre fans follow:
The renown director talks about his latest film, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," which features stage and screen stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke.
Philip Bosco, Theodore Mann and Frances Sternhagen will take part in a chat about "one of the most successful New York theatre companies," Circle in the Square, as described in the new memoir, "Journeys in the Night."
John Slattery joins co-star Jon Hamm and creator Matthew Weiner of AMC's new television series to "discuss how they capture the zeitgeist of the early 1960s, from Madison Avenue to the bedroom."
Josh Brolin (True West) speaks of his four 2007 film roles: "No Country for Old Men," "American Gangster," "Grindhouse" and "In the Valley of Elah."
Edward Albee, the playwright known for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, talks of "30 plays and almost 80 years behind him."
Disney producer Thomas Schumacher (author of "How Does the Show Go On?") will "reveal how a big Broadway musical gets to the stage, with performances by the stars of Mary Poppins and The Little Mermaid." Scheduled to appear are Ashley Brown, Henry Hodges, Lila Coogan and others.
Susan Stroman and "talent on stage and behind the scenes of the new musical Young Frankenstein" will talk about bringing the monster musical to life. Scheduled beyond the "Arts & Leisure" event is "A Raisin in the Sun: The Legacy of Playwright Lorraine Hansberry" on Feb. 4. Following a special preview screening of the forthcoming ABC world premiere movie event, audiences can hear director Kenny Leon and cast members Sean Combs and Phylicia Rashad (from the 2004 Broadway revival and new television movie adaptation) discuss the work.
Seating is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. TimesTalks programs and speakers are subject to change. For a complete line-up and more information, visit artsandleisureweek.com.
