Burt Reynolds Appears at Lyric Theatre's 40th Anniversary Screening of DELIVERANCE

To a standing ovation, star Burt Reynolds took the stage at the Lyric Theatre in Jupiter, Fla., on Thursday evening, August 16th, after a special 40th anniversary screening of his widely acclaimed film Deliverance. The standing room only crowd anxiously awaited Reynolds responses to a Q&A 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.”

In an interview after the event, which was billed as a benefit for The Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre (BRIFT), John Loesser said, “I haven’t seen Burt look this healthy or happier in years. I can’t wait for him to return with his one-man show, An Evening with Burt Reynolds.” Performance dates are January 30th and 31st of next year.

The Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre is a 501 c(3) 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 Mr. Reynolds’ memorabilia and the history of the film industry.

Adhering to its name sakes 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 popular BRIFT Saturday Spotlight Series provides unique, one-of-a-kind family friendly entertainment for theatre goers of all ages.

Pictured: Jon Voight, Ronny Cox, Ned Beatty, Burt Reynolds at Burt Reynolds Museum. Photo by Steve Clark.