July 17, 2015
Shelley Koppel
YOUR VOICE NEWS/STAFF WRITER

STUART – It’s summer in the city and there aren’t as many entertainment opportunities around as there are during the season. The Lyric Theatre is doing its part, with several events for hot summer afternoons or evenings, including more entries in the Art Cinema series, an appearance by singer Taylor Dayne and a late-summer concert by the Southern rock group, the Outlaws.

On July 23, the Lyric will hold a screening of “Life Itself.” This documentary, based on the Roger Ebert memoir, is directed by Steve James, director of “Hoop Dreams,” and produced by directors Martin Scorsese and Steve Zaillian. It recounts the world of the famed film critic and social commentator, from his days as a Pulitzer-prize-winning film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times to his battles with cancer that took away his speech but not his love for life. The film runs 120 minutes and was a selection at the Cannes Film Festival.
July 30 brings “5 Flights Up,” starring Diane Keaton and Morgan Freeman and based on Jill Ciment’s novel, “Heroic Measures.” The two Oscar winners teamed up for the first time in this Richard Loncraine film about a long-married couple who live in a Brooklyn apartment that’s a five-floor walk-up.

When they discover that it is getting harder to walk up the stairs, and find out how much their apartment is worth, they decide to sell it and move to Manhattan. Cynthia Nixon plays a real estate agent who introduces the couple to the reality of Manhattan real estate as the couple discovers just how little $1 million buys.
The 92-minute film is rated PG-13. It was an official selection at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival.

Trailers for both films are available on the Lyric website. The Lyric Film Society makes these films possible, and Film Society memberships are available for $100 annually. These entitle members to discounted tickets at $6. Supporting memberships at $250 provide one free ticket to all films.

Pop star Taylor Dayne, who has sold more than 75 million singles and albums, will headline Dancin’ in the Streets on the Lyric stage Aug. 22. The Grammy-nominated artist is also a songwriter, having co-written the Tina Turner hit, “Whatever You Want.”

It’s a complete change of pace when the Lyric welcomes the Outlaws Aug. 29. The group has gone through several incarnations, losing founding members Frank O’Keefe, Billy Jones and Hughie Thomasson. They have regrouped around founding members Henry Paul and Monte Yoho. Florida’s ‘Guitar Army” will perform classics including “There Goes Another Love Song,” “Green Grass and High Tides,” “Tomorrow’s Another Night,” and “So Long.”

There’s still time to become a Lyric Theatre member and purchase tickets for the upcoming season before they go on sale to the general public Sept. 8. Memberships start at $35 and entitle the member to purchase up to two tickets in advance for each Lyric presentation. The new season begins in November, but the Lyric usually has some surprise announcements in the summer. Stay tuned.

The Lyric Theatre is located at 59 S.W. Flagler Ave., Stuart.

“Life Itself” will be screened July 23 at 4 and 7 p.m. “5 Flight up” will be shown July 30 at 4 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.
The Outlaws will perform Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $45

Tickets for the Taylor Dayne concert, at 4 and 7 p.m., are $50, and include admission to Dancin’ in the Streets. Tickets are available online and at the Lyric Box Office.
For more information about tickets or memberships, visit the website www.lyrictheatre.com or call (772) 286-7827.