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Charles Nelson Reilly returns to Jupiter for two shows to benefit Burt Reynolds & Friends Museum

3/10/2004

(Jupiter, FL, Feb. 26, 2004)-Charles Nelson Reilly, the Tony and Carbonell award winning director, writer, actor and teacher is returning to Jupiter to present two benefit shows for the Burt Reynolds & Friends Museum in March.

Reilly, for 10 years a master acting instructor at the Burt Reynolds Institute of Theater Training, will again conduct a master acting class/seminar, this time at the BR and Friends Museum at 100 North U.S. Highway 1, in Jupiter. The class and an intimate reception will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 23. Tickets are $100 per person and seating is limited.

The next night Reilly will perform his highly acclaimed, one-person show, "The Life of Reilly," at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 24 in the Eissey Campus Theater of Palm Beach Community College in Palm Beach Gardens. Giving the audience a compelling look into the life of this extraordinary man, this hilarious show contains anecdotes about his childhood in the Bronx and stories about Hollywood and Broadway. Tickets are $20 - $40 per person and are available at the museum. Seating is also limited.

A popular celebrity figure seen frequently shopping in stores and enjoying activities around the Jupiter area in the 1980's, Reilly not only was a BRITT master acting instructor and eminent scholar, he also acted in and/or directed as many as 31 productions at the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theater, now renovated and renamed The Maltz Jupiter Theatre. A few of those plays included: "Death of a Salesman," starring Julie Harris and Vincent Gardenia; "Educating Rita," starring Annie Potts and Leonard Frye; and "The Music Man," with Jim Nabors and Florence Henderson.

Charles made his Broadway acting debut as Mr. Henkle in "Bye, Bye, Birdie" and was nominated for a Tony Award for "Hello Dolly." He won Tony Awards for his performance in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," and "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum."

Though nominated for numerous acting awards including an Emmy, he began directing in 1967 with, "Private Lives," starring Elaine Stritch and Michael Lipton. He conceived and directed with Julie Harris and Paul Roberson, for Broadway and television, "The Bell of Amherst," starring James Earl Jones. He directed Julie Harris and Charles Durning in "Gin Game," Ruby Dee in her one-woman show, "My One Good Nerve," and was guest director on Burt's popular TV series, "Evening Shade."

Reilly, a nationally respected opera director since 1976, directed Roberta Peters in "The Merry Widow," and has worked for many companies including the world famous Met in New York City.

In 1962 Reilly founded an acting school in Los Angles called The Faculty. Among his former pupils are Liza Minnelle, Lily Tomlin, Bette Midler, Gary Burghoff, Robert Walden, Peter Boyle and Teri Garr. He has been a guest speaker at Carnegie-Mellon, Northwestern University, Florida State University, Julius Hartt College, Fordham University and the University of Hartford.

With re-runs currently showing on cable TV's Game Show Network, Charles was an outrageous panelist with Richard Dawson and Brett Sommers in the 1970's on the famous CBS game show, "Match Game." He appeared in numerous films and on many other television shows through the years. Recently, he made memorable guest appearances on "The X-Files," "Millenium" and "The Drew Carey Show."

The Burt Reynolds & Friends Museum is always looking for volunteers to help out. Call them for information. Ticket prices will be reduced for volunteers. For ticket reservations and additional information, contact museum at (561) 743-9955 or go to the web site at www.burtreynoldsmuseum.org.

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