To a standing ovation, longtime movie star and Palm Beach County native Burt Reynolds took the stage at the Lyric Theatre on the evening of Thursday, Aug. 16, after a special 40th anniversary screening of his widely acclaimed film Deliverance.
The standing-room-only crowd anxiously awaited Reynolds’ responses to a question-and-answer session arranged by Lyric Executive Director John Loesser. With his trademark self-deprecating sense of humor, Reynolds charmed his audience as he told stories of his adventures during the filming of the movie. Additional footage was included in the talkback and provided a rare opportunity for his fans to go “behind the scenes.”
“I haven’t seen Burt look this healthy or happier in years,” Loesser said after the event, which was billed as a benefit for the Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre (BRIFT). “I can’t wait for him to return with his one-man show, ‘An Evening with Burt Reynolds.’”
Performance dates Reynolds’ show are set for Jan. 30 and 31, 2013.
The Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre is a nonprofit committed to educating and involving the community and artists in all aspects of film, television, theater, live performances, film festivals and exhibitions, as well as preserving Reynolds’ memorabilia and the history of the film industry.
Adhering to its namesake’s philosophy of “giving back,” BRIFT offers reasonably priced classes in acting and film making, guaranteeing that knowledge of the arts is available to everyone. Additionally, the BRIFT Saturday Spotlight Series provides unique, one-of-a-kind family-friendly entertainment for theater-goers of all ages. For more info., visit www.brift.org.
Above: Jon Voight, Ronny Cox, Ned Beatty and Burt Reynolds at the Burt Reynolds Museum.
