Moore than alright

The Hasty Pudding Theatricals of Harvard University has chosen Julianne Moore as its 2011 Woman of the Year.

The award festivities will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 27, when the award-winning actress will lead a parade through the streets of Cambridge. Afterward, the president of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, Michael Barron ’11, and the vice president of the cast, Kyle Dancewicz ’11, will roast the actress and present her with her Pudding Pot at 3:15 p.m. at the New College Theatre, the Hasty Pudding’s home in the heart of Harvard Square since 1889. After the roast, several numbers from the Hasty Pudding Theatrical’s 163rd production “Kashmir If You Can” will be performed at approximately 3:40 p.m., and a press conference will be held at approximately 4:10 p.m.

Moore, an actress of great range, has delivered outstanding work in both box office hits and independent features. Moore is the ninth person in Academy history to receive two acting Oscar nominations in the same year for her performances in “Far From Heaven” (best actress nomination) and “The Hours” (best supporting actress nomination). While lauded for her performances in dramatic films, such as “Boogie Nights,” “The End of the Affair,” and “A Single Man,” Moore has also received praise for her roles in comedic films such as “The Big Lebowski.”

She made her Broadway debut in 2006 in the Sam Mendes production “The Vertical Hour,” and has a recurring role as Alec Baldwin’s love interest on NBC’s hit comedy “30 Rock.” She also has a children’s book series, “Freckleface Strawberry” and “Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully.”

Moore most recently starred opposite Annette Bening and Mark Ruffalo in the acclaimed film “The Kids Are Alright,” for which she has earned a Golden Globe nomination. She will next be seen in “Crazy Stupid Love” opposite Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling, and in “Shelter,” also starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

The bookend Man of the Year event will take place Feb. 4. The recipient of this year’s award will be announced next week.

For more information on the events, contact Learah Lockhart ’12 at 917.399.4627, or by email at press@hastypudding.org.

The awards are presented annually to performers who have made a lasting and impressive contribution to entertainment. Established in 1951, the Woman of the Year award has been granted to such talented entertainers as Meryl Streep, Katharine Hepburn, Julia Roberts, Jodie Foster, Elizabeth Taylor, and, most recently, Anne Hathaway. The Man of the Year award was established in 1963, and past recipients have included Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, Anthony Hopkins, Bruce Willis, and, last year, Justin Timberlake.

To purchase tickets to “Kashmir If You Can,” which will be performed at the New College Theatre, contact the Hasty Pudding Box Office at 617.495.5205. The show opens on Feb. 4 following the Man of the Year ceremony and continues in Cambridge until March 6. The show performs Wednesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m., and Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m. The company then travels to New York to perform at Hunter College’s Kaye Playhouse on March 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. (Call 212.772.4448 for tickets.) The tour continues to the Hamilton City Hall in Bermuda for performances March 17-19 at 8 p.m.