Rice, Taymor, Armstrong Set For NY Times Arts & Leisure Weekend, Ends 1/9

The New York Times will hold its 10th annual Arts & Leisure Weekend on Jan. 6 to 9, 2011. 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.

This year's lineup includes "CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric interviewed by Gail Collins; Food Network's Ina Garten interviewed by Alex Witchel; music director of the Metropolitan Opera and of the Boston Symphony Orchestra James Levine interviewed by Daniel Wakin; and HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" co-creator Terence Winter with actors Steve Buscemi and Paz de la Huerta, interviewed by Charles McGrath. The weekend also features interviews with superstar classical pianist Lang Lang; Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Brokeback Mountain" and the memoir "Bird Cloud" Annie Proulx; Academy Award-winning actor-director-producer Robert Redford; two-time Academy Award-winning actor-director-producer Kevin Spacey; and award-winning, visionary director of film, opera and theater Julie Taymor. In addition to the interviews and panel discussions, the 10th anniversary celebration will feature special events and performances, including Green Day vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and "American Idiot" director/co-writer Michael Mayer interviewed by Patrick Healy; a salute to Disney music on Broadway with Oscar and Tony Award- winning lyricist Tim Rice; The New York Times crossword editor, bestselling author and the subject of the documentary "Wordplay" Will Shortz; and singers-songwriters-musicians Rufus and Martha Wainwright.

The following TimesTalks events will be of particular interest to theater enthusiasts:

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6 AT 6-7:15 P.M.
Kevin Spacey
The two-time Academy Award-winning actor-director-producer is currently starring as disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff in "Casino Jack" as well as serving as creative director of the Old Vic theater in London.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7 AT 6-7:15 P.M.
SIR Tim Rice & FRIENDS
The Oscar- and Tony-winning lyricist and Broadway performers celebrate the musical theater scores of Disney, including love songs and other favorites from shows past, present and future.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8 AT 2-3:15 P.M.
Julie Taymor
The award-winning, visionary director of film, opera and theater has two major works now on screen and stage: her film adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and her new Broadway musical, "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark."

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8 AT 4-5:15 P.M.
Robert Redford
The legendary Academy Award-winning actor-director-producer discusses his career, his latest film, "The Conspirator," and his leadership of The Sundance Institute, which he founded 30 years ago to foster independence, discovery and new voices in American film.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9 AT 8-9:15 P.M.
Billie Joe Armstrong & Michael Mayer
The vocalist/guitarist of Green Day and the director who co-wrote the TonyAward-winning Broadway musical "American Idiot" with him are joined by the show's Tony Award-winning star, singer-songwriter John Gallagher Jr.

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