Redford, Spacey, Couric, Wainwright Attend NY TIMES ARTS & LEISURE WEEKEND

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.

"For the past nine years, The New York Times has brought the pages of the Arts & Leisure section to life with live interviews, discussions and performances," said Yasmin Namini, senior vice president, marketing and circulation, The New York Times. "This January, in celebration of our 10th anniversary of Arts & Leisure Weekend, we've assembled a program featuring legendary talents from film, theater, music, television, dance and media. We've also added several special events and live performances to add to the excitement."

This year's corporate sponsor is NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Companies interested in advertising opportunities for Arts & Leisure Weekend should contact their New York Times account manager or Laura Sonnenfeld, (212) 556-3512; sonnela@nytimes.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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