Full NY Times Arts & Leisure Weekend Schedule Announced: Includes Lansbury, McAvoy, Shanley et al.

The New York Times has announced the final schedule of interviews for the ninth annual Arts & Leisure Weekend, Jan. 7 to 10. The Times's signature event is a four-day celebration of the arts featuring TimesTalks interviews between New York Times journalists and celebrated guests from film, media, music, television and theater. 

The latest addition to this year's line-up is the five-time Tony Award-winning star of "A Little Night Music," Angela Lansbury interviewed by Anthony Tommasini. Previously announced is the star of the new film "Crazy Heart," Jeff Bridges interviewed by Lynn Hirschberg; the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash interviewed by Jon Pareles; best-selling crime novel authors Lee Child ("Gone Tomorrow") and Carol O'Connell ("Bone by Bone") interviewed by Janet Maslin; Tony Award-winning actor Alan Cumming interviewed by Patrick Healy; the director and star of the award-winning new indie film "Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push' by Sapphire," Lee Daniels and Gabourey Sidibe interviewed by Patricia Cohen; NBC late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon interviewed by Bill Carter; the author and star of the autobiographical Broadway show "Wishful Drinking," Carrie Fisher interviewed by David Carr; Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights Beth Henley, Donald Margulies and John Patrick Shanley interviewed by Robin Pogrebin; the talent from Bravo's hit television reality show "Top Chef," Padma Lakshmi, Eric Ripert and Gail Simmons interviewed by Frank Bruni; Golden Globe-nominated actor James McAvoy interviewed by Melina Ryzik; "All My Children" creator and head writer Agnes Nixon, actors Rebecca Budig, Susan Lucci, Cameron Mathison, Debbi Morgan and executive producer Julie Hanan Carruthers discussing the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking daytime drama, with Jacques Steinberg; the star of Jim Sheridan's film "Brothers," Natalie Portman interviewed by Patrick Healy; the star of the upcoming Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's "A View From the Bridge," Liev Schreiber interviewed by Lynn Hirschberg; the Grammy Award-winning musical director and bandleader for the "Late Show with David Letterman," Paul Shaffer interviewed by Jon Pareles; and performers from Cirque du Soleil's "Banana Shpeel" with writer-director David Shiner and choreographer Jared Grimes interviewed by Jason Zinoman.

The Times will offer an Access Pass to a select number of New York City museums offering two-for-one admissions throughout the weekend. The Pass will be published in The New York Times and also available along with a detailed list of participating museums at www.ArtsAndLeisureWeekend.com.

For additional information or to purchase advance tickets, which are $30 for each interview plus service fees, please call: 1.888.NYT.1870 or visit www.ArtsAndLeisureWeekend.com. All TimesTalks are held at TheTimesCenter, 242 West 41st Street, New York City.

This year's Lead Sponsors are Viceroy Hotels and Resorts, Vaseline® Sheer InfusionTM and HBO. The NYU School of Continuing Professional Studies is the Corporate Sponsor. NY1 and WNYC Radio are the Media Sponsors. Companies interested in advertising opportunities for Arts & Leisure Weekend should contact their New York Times account manager or Cheryl DeSimone (212) 556-7408; desimc@nytimes.com.

Schedule for Arts & Leisure Weekend 2010

All TimesTalks will take place at TheTimesCenter, 242 West 41st Street. Tickets are $30 for each interview, plus a service fee.

Thursday, Jan. 7

6 - 7:15 p.m.
Cirque du Soleil Behind the Scenes - David Shiner, Jared Grimes and dancers
Special opening-night conversation performance. A look inside the creative process of the 25-year-old Worldwide Entertainment company's new show opening Feb. 4 on Broadway: "Banana Shpeel: A New Twist on Vaudeville." Featuring writer-director David Shiner, choreographer Jared Grimes and dancers from the cast. Interviewed by Jason Zinoman.

8 - 9:15 p.m.
Paul Shaffer
The Grammy-winning musical director and bandleader for late-night host David Letterman, and before that, "Saturday Night Live," talks about his work and the experiences as revealed in his new memoir, "We'll Be Here For the Rest of Our Lives." Conversation with performance. Interviewed by Jon Pareles.

Friday, Jan. 8

6 - 7:15 p.m.
Rosanne Cash
The Grammy-winner singer-songwriter on "The List," her latest album of the essential American songs her father, the legendary Johnny Cash, gave her to learn. Conversation with performance. Interviewed by Jon Pareles.

8 - 9:15 p.m.
Jimmy Fallon
The host of NBC's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" on the first year of his show, what it's been like to follow Conan, his six years creating characters on "Saturday Night Live" and more. Interviewed by Bill Carter.

Saturday, Jan. 9

10 - 11:15 a.m.
Liev Schreiber
Award-winning actor of stage and screen on acting and directing for film and TV, and on his upcoming starring role on Broadway in the revival of Arthur Miller's "A View from the Bridge." Interviewed by Lynn Hirschberg.

12 - 1:15 p.m.
Precious: Lee Daniels and Gabourey Sidibe
The director and star of the award-winning new indie film "Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push' by Sapphire," also starring Mo'Nique and Mariah Carey, on making the remarkable, relevant movie that has everyone talking. Interviewed by Patricia Cohen.

2 - 3:15 p.m.
"Top Chef" - Padma Lakshmi, Gail Simmons, Eric Ripert
The top talent behind the hit television reality show discuss what makes a winning chef. Interviewed by Frank Bruni.

4 - 5:15 p.m.
Detective Stories - Lee Child and Carol O'Connell
Best-selling authors discuss their latest books - "Gone Tomorrow" and "Bone by Bone" - and creating characters like crime-fighting ex-MP Jack Reacher and New York police detective Kathy Mallory. Interviewed by Janet Maslin.

6 - 7:15 p.m.
Alan Cumming
The Scots-American Tony Award-winning actor, performer and writer discusses coming to Broadway in "Spiderman the Musical" and to film in "The Tempest." Conversation with performance. Interviewed by Patrick Healy.

8 - 9:15 p.m.
Natalie Portman
The Gotham 2009 Tribute Award winner talks about acting, writing and directing, and producing for three different films this season, including her critically acclaimed performance in Jim Sheridan's "Brothers." Interviewed by Patrick Healy.

Sunday, Jan. 10

10 - 11:15 a.m.
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. Interviewed by Anthony Tommasini.

12 - 1:15 p.m.
All My Children At 40 - Agnes Nixon, Susan Lucci, Cameron Mathison, Rebecca Budig, Debbi Morgan, Julie Hanan Carruthers
Creator and head writer, actors, and executive producer of ABC's "All My Children" discuss the daytime drama launched in 1970 and life in Pine Valley over the past 40 years. The discussion features readings from the show's groundbreaking scripts. Interviewed by Jacques Steinberg.

2 - 3:15 p.m.
Pulitzer Playwrights - Donald Margulies, John Patrick Shanley and Beth Henley
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights produced at Manhattan Theater Club discuss their experiences in the theater, with readings from the new American Theater Wing book "The Play That Changed My Life." Interviewed by Robin Pogrebin.

4 - 5:15 p.m.
James McAvoy
The Golden Globe award-nominated actor ("Atonement," "Wanted") discusses his career and appearing with Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer in the new film "The Last Station." Interviewed by Melena Ryzik.

6 - 7:15 p.m.
Carrie Fisher
The author and star of the autobiographical Broadway show now at Studio 54, "Wishful Drinking," based on her memoir of the same name, talks about the ups and downs of her life in Hollywood. Interviewed by David Carr.

8 - 9:15 p.m.
Jeff Bridges
The star of the new film "Crazy Heart" discusses creating the character of hard-living country music singer Bad Blake, his career in film, and his experiences in such memorable movies as "The Big Lebowski," "The Fabulous Baker Boys" and many others. Interviewed by Lynn Hirschberg.

Arts & Leisure Weekend was originally established in 2001 to mark The Times's 150th anniversary.

The New York Times Company, a leading media company with 2008 revenues of $2.9 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers and more than 50 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment