Lansbury, Schreiber, Cumming et al. Set for NY Times' Arts & Leisure Weekend, 1/7 - 1/10

The New York Times has released the line-up of celebrities partaking in the next annual Arts & Leisure Weekend, to be held from January 7 - January 10, 2010.  Among the theater stars and playwrights participating this year include Tony Award winners Angela Lansbury (A Little Night Music), Alan Cumming (Cabaret), Liev Schreiber (A View From The Bridge) and John Patrick Shanley (Doubt).  Additional names include Carrie Fisher (Wishful Drinking), 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.

Arts & Leisure Weekend is The Times' annual event of national and international celebrations of art and culture. The weekend includes a wide range of arts and leisure activities from interviews with celebrities to free admission at museums around the country and the world.

The weekend calendar includes:

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

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

January 9, 2010 - Precious: Lee Daniels & Gabourey Sidibe
Noon - 1:15 PM

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's got everyone talking.

Jan. 9 (6-7:15 PM) - Alan Cumming
The Scots-American Tony Award-winning actor, performer and writer coming to Broadway in "Spiderman the Musical" and to film in "The Tempest." Conversation with performance.

Jan. 9 (8-9:15 PM) - 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.

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.

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 discuss their experiences in the theatre, with readings from the new American Theater Wing book The Play That Changed My Life.

Jan. 10 (4-5:15 AM) - James McAvoy
The actor who recently completed a run on London stage in Three Days of Rain - and seen in the films Atonement and Wanted discusses his career and starring alongside Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer in the new film The Last Station.

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 and to purchase tickets for events at The Times Center, call (888) NYT-1870 or visit ArtsAndLeisureWeekend.com.