The New York Times presents the annual event, which includes a special edition of its "TimesTalks" discussion panels at The City University of New York's Graduate Center, located in Manhattan at Fifth Avenue and 34th Street.

Billed as an "international celebration of the arts," the weekend will include "a wide range of activities from interviews with celebrated artists to free admission at cultural institutions around the world."

Vanessa Redgrave and Joan Didion — star and playwright of the Broadway-bound The Year of Magical Thinking — are on the roster of events that also include Fame Becomes Me star Martin Short as well as Rufus Wainwright, who recently triumphed with a Judy Garland-themed concert. Actors Michael Cumpsty and Lynn Redgrave will join Public Theater head Oskar Eustis and author James Shapiro on the topic of "Shakespeare Now." Cabaret duo John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey will also participate.

Previous years have seen many Broadway and stage stars as well as playwrights, directors and other theatre artists taking part. Among the many names to have been included are Matthew Broderick, Michael Cerveris, Harry Connick Jr., Barbara Cook, Nilo Cruz, Dame Edna, Edie Falco, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael C. Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tony Kushner, Neil LaBute, Nathan Lane, John Lithgow, Kathleen Marshall, Audra McDonald, Donna McKechnie, Terrence McNally, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bebe Neuwirth, Tim Robbins, Stephen Sondheim and Susan Stroman.

For tickets or more information on the special edition of "TimesTalks" and other "Arts & Leisure Weekend" events, visit www.ArtsAndLeisureWeekend.com.