Schwartz, Maguire, Elliot and Others Participate in Boston GlobeTalks January 21-22

ESPN reporter Jeremy Schapp, actor Chris Elliott, Tony-Award winning composer Steven Schwartz and James Beard Award winner Gordon Hamersley are among the luminaries that will participate in the debut of the Boston Globe 2005 Arts & Entertainment Weekend GlobeTalks series on January 21-22 at the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts.

The GlobeTalks series includes exclusive discussion forms, featuring a wide array of artists in conversation with Globe critics, reporters and editors. This series offers enthusiasts an opportunity to hear directly from cultural leaders. Five GlobeTalks will be held over the course of the weekend, including: Wicked: From Page to Stage; Mark Morris - Dancing Live; ESPN: Sports and Entertainment; Finding The Laughs; and Food in America Today. Tickets for each panel discussion are $19.00 and can be purchased by calling (617) 933-8600 or online at www.bostontheatrescene.com

"From chefs to comedic actors, to sports reporters and choreographers, the debut of our Arts & Entertainment GlobeTalks series features some of the nation's top artistic talent," said Richard Gilman, publisher of the Boston Globe. "As a whole, Arts & Entertainment Weekend allows the Globe to spotlight the rich heritage of the arts, celebrating all that our region has to offer."

The full GlobeTalks schedule is as follows:

Wicked: From Page to Stage

Saturday, January 21, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Join best-selling author Gregory Maguire, Tony-Award winning composer Stephen Schwartz, producer David Stone, and Boston Globe theater reporter Louise Kennedy in a look at how the novel Wicked was transformed into a smash Tony-award winning musical.

Mark Morris - Dancing Live

Saturday, January 21, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Join Mark Morris as he discusses his philosophy on live music only performances for his dance group. Boston Globe classical music critic Richard Dyer talks with Morris, among the world's most important choreographers, about his individual response to music, including the creation of his signature piece, "L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato."

Finding The Laughs

Saturday, January 21, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Attend and be entertained with humor as Globe reporter Geoff Edgers explores the art of creating successful TV comedy with actor and writer Chris Elliott ("Get a Life," "There's Something About Mary") and Alan Zweibel, one of the original "Saturday Night Live" writers.

ESPN: Sports & Entertainment

Sunday, January 22, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Join Boston Globe sports columnist Jackie MacMullan along with ESPN reporter Jeremy Schaap, Sr. Vice President and Director of News Vince Doria, and Executive Vice President and Executive Editor John Walsh along with Boston Phoenix Media Critic Mark Jurkowitz as they discuss ESPN's impact on popular culture and its role in making sports a true form of entertainment.

Food in America Today

Sunday, January 22, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Learn about American cuisine from a few of the best: Award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson, The Food Network's Sara Moulton, host of PBS' Lidia's Food Table Lidia Bastianich, and Boston's own James Beard Award winner Gordon Hamersley as they explore changes and trends in American cuisine in a panel discussion moderated by Fiona Hamersley.

About the Boston Globe Arts & Entertainment Weekend

Arts and Entertainment Weekend. Slated for January 20-22, 2006, the Boston Globe Arts and Entertainment Weekend will partner with over 500 theatres, area attractions, museums, and restaurants from all over New England to offer discounts throughout the weekend, encouraging visitors to participate in the multitude of cultural attractions in the area. For more information, check the Arts & Entertainment Weekend supplement in the January 15th issue of the Boston Globe, or visit the official Boston Globe Arts & Entertainment weekend Web site at www.boston.com/aeweekend

About The Boston Globe

The Boston Globe is wholly owned by The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT), a leading media company with 2004 revenues of $3.3 billion, including The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 16 other newspapers, eight network-affiliated television stations, two New York City radio stations and more than 40 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. For the fifth consecutive year, the company was ranked No. 1 in the publishing industry in Fortune's 2005 list of America's Most Admired Companies. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.