Two major motion picture stars are scheduled to be on hand this evening Nov. 5, when their new movie premieres in Great Neck as part of the Great Neck Arts Center's Cinematheque Film Series at the Squire Theater.

Stars Lee Grant and Ben Gazzara will join director Slava Tsukerman, playwright-screenwriter Sophia Romma, and the dean of the NYU Film School, Jeremiah Newton, for the preview of the soon to be released film Poor Liza. They will participate in a discussion about the film with the audience following the showing, scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. this evening.

The movie is the third in the Fall Cinematheque Series, bringing East Coast premieres of important new films to Great Neck's Squire Theater, 115 Middle Neck Road. The pictures are shown as part of a unique arrangement The Arts Center has with the movie theater, part of the Clearview Cinema chain, allowing it to make use of one of the Squire's seven screens for Arts Center presentations.

Poor Liza was shot entirely on location in Moscow. A classic Russian short story written at the end of the 18th century by Nikolai Karamzin, it introduces the writer, living through his story, experiencing passion for his creation, poor Liza.

Lee Grant has starred in a long list of award winning roles in theater, film and TV productions, many along with the late actor Henry Fonda. Her Poor Liza co-star, Ben Gazzara, also has had major roles in hit theater, film and TV shows since his acting debut in 1957.

On the following Thursday, Nov. 12, The Arts Center will premiere Down in the Delta, in which poet Maya Angelou makes her directorial debut. The picture stars Alfre Woodard and Wesley Snipes. The guest speaker following the film will be Stacy Spikes, vice president of marketing for October Films of New York. He had previously served in the same position for Mirimax and is the director of the African-American Film Festival.

In addition, next Monday, Nov. 9, The Arts Center will present the final movie in its Jewish Documentary Film Series, Jumpin' Nights in the Garden of Eden, followed by a discussion of Hasidism and New Age Revival with Dr. Jeffrey Schandler, professor of Judaic Studies at NYU. The movie is about klezmer, Yiddish dance band music, and features The Klezmer Conservatory Band of Boston. It looks at assimilated young American Jews unearthing their links to a buried cultural heritage. There is no charge for the film and reservations can be made by calling The Arts Center at 829-2570. The series is funded by a grant from the New York Council for the Humanities.

Reservations for the Cinematheque series can also be made by calling The Arts Center. Tickets are $25 at the door or $45 for both films in the series. Tickets can be paid for using most major charge cards, or by cash or check made payable to The Great Neck Arts Center. All films include complimentary refreshments.