Lansbury, Cumming, Schreiber, Fisher, Shanley and More to Chat at NY Times 2010 Arts & Leisure Weekend

By Ernio Hernandez
28 Dec 2009

Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury

Theatre stars and playwrights will take part in the 2010 New York Times Arts & Leisure Weekend Jan. 7-10. Tony Award winners Angela Lansbury, Alan Cumming, Liev Schreiber and John Patrick Shanley are among the celebrities.

The Times event is billed as "a four-day celebration of the arts featuring TimesTalks interviews between New York Times journalists and celebrated guests from film, media, music, television and theatre." Discussions take place at The Times Center.

This year's guests include Alan Cumming (Cabaret), Carrie Fisher (Wishful Drinking), Angela Lansbury (Blithe Spirit), James McAvoy (Three Days of Rain), Natalie Portman (The Seagull), Liev Schreiber (Glengarry Glen Ross) and performers and creators from Cirque du Soleil's Banana Shpeel.

Here are some events of interest to theatregoers:

 

 

  • Jan. 7 (6-7:15 PM) - Cirque du Soleil: Behind the Scenes
    A "special opening night conversation with performance." A look inside the creative process of the 25-year-old worldwide entertainment company's new show opening Feb. 4 in New York City's Beacon Theatre. Banana Shpeel: A New Twist on Vaudeville. Featuring writer-director David Shiner, choreographer Jared Grimes and dancers from the cast.

     

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  • Jan. 9 (10-11:15 AM) - Liev Schreiber
    The actor of stage and screen speaks "on acting and directing for film and TV, and on his starring role on Broadway in the revival of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge."

     

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  • Jan. 9 (6-7:15 PM) - Alan Cumming
    The actor, performer and writer who will return "to Broadway in Spiderman the Musical and to film in 'The Tempest'," provides "a conversation with performance."

     

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  • Jan. 9 (8-9:15 PM) – Natalie Portman
    The stage and screen actress "talks about acting, writing and directing, and producing for three different films this season, including her critically acclaimed performance in Jim Sheridan's 'Brothers.'"

     

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  • Jan. 10 (11:15 AM) - Angela Lansbury
    "The legendary stage, screen and television actress — winner of a record five Tony Awards and now starring in A Little Night Music on Broadway — discusses her musical training and influences."

     

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  • Jan. 10 (2-3:15 PM) - Pulitzer Playwrights: Donald Margulies, John Patrick Shanley and Beth Henley
    "Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights produced at Manhattan Theater Club – [speak] on their experiences in the theatre, with readings from the new American Theater Wing book 'The Play That Changed My Life.'"

     

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  • Jan. 10 (4-5:15 AM) - James McAvoy
    The actor – just seen on the London stage — and known for the films "Atonement" and "Wanted" talks about "his career and appearing with Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer in the new film 'The Last Station.'"

     

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  • Jan. 10 (6-7:15 PM) - Carrie Fisher
    "The author and star of the autobiographical Broadway show now at Studio 54, Wishful Drinking, talks about the ups and downs of her life in Hollywood."

    For more information or to purchase tickets to the events at The Times Center, 242 West 41st Street, call (888) NYT-1870 or visit ArtsAndLeisureWeekend.com.

     

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