Sondheim and Jones Among Those Set For TimesTalks this Fall

This fall, some of the brightest names in film, television, theater, books, popular music, technology and culinary arts will sit down with New York Times journalists for TimesTalks events at TheTimesCenter, 242 West 41st Street in New York City. Participants include restaurateurs Donatella Arpaia, Heston Blumenthal, Ken Friedman and Danny Meyer; writer and humorist Roy Blount, Jr.; Food Network creator/producer/host/author Alton Brown; celebrated chefs Daniel Boulud, Bobby Flay, Jose Garces, Masaharu Morimoto, Rene Redzepi, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Michael White; "Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Scream" director Wes Craven; author/director/writer/producer Guillermo Del Toro; writer/director/producer Nora Ephron; award-winning actor James Earl Jones; humorist and radio personality Garrison Keillor; award-winning singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant; author Lemony Snicket with illustrator Maira Kalman; actress/ playwright/professor Anna Deavere Smith; Tony, Grammy, Oscar and Pulitzer Prize winning composer lyricist Stephen Sondheim; former United States Foreign Service diplomat Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV; from The New York Times, magazine writer Frank Bruni; culture reporter Patricia Cohen; theater reporter Patrick Healy; food writer Julia Moskin; chief pop music critic Jon Pareles; technology columnist David Pogue; Op-Ed columnist Frank Rich; food writer Kim Severson; Op-Ed editor David Shipley; dining editor Pete Wells; and theater critic Jason Zinoman.

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

Monday, September 20, 2010
6:30 - 8 PM
A Conversation with James Earl Jones
The award-winning actor, returning to Broadway in October in "Driving Miss Daisy" alongside Vanessa Redgrave, talks about his work in theater, film and TV with Times theater reporter Patrick Healy.

Monday, November 22, 2010
6:30 PM - 8 PM
Stephen Sondheim & Frank Rich: An Onstage Conversation
On the occasion of his 80th year and the publication of his new book, "Finishing the Hat: Volume One," the winner of eight Tonys, seven Grammys, an Oscar and a Pulitzer Prize talks with Times columnist Frank Rich about his extraordinary work and life.

The above TimesTalks event takes place at TheTimesCenter, 242 West 41st Street, New York City. For additional information or to purchase advance tickets, which are $30 plus service fees, call 1.888.NYT.1870 or visit www.TimesTalks.com.

For more information about this and other TimesTalks visit www.TimesTalks.com.

About TimesTalks
For 12 years, TimesTalks events have been evoking intelligent and entertaining conversations among some of the world's most engaging speakers. TimesTalks was created in 1998 to help build relationships with existing readers, who would be able to see and hear from the faces behind the bylines, and to introduce new readers to these talented journalists. TimesTalks brings members of The Times's prize-winning editing, reporting and writing staff together with today's most celebrated talents and thinkers in thought-provoking and entertaining discussions. As all-encompassing and diverse as The Times and its readers throughout the world, TimesTalks has been designed to speak to all interests in a range of categories.

About The New York Times Company
The New York Times Company, a leading media company with 2009 revenues of $2.4 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.

Photo Credit: BWW-Staff