Richard Dreyfuss dives into his career and the horror classic 'Jaws'

Feb. 14—Don't go into the water, but do catch Richard Dreyfuss chatting about his award-winning career and then take in a screening of the 1975 blockbuster "Jaws" at the Music Hall in Portsmouth at 7 p.m. Friday, May 24.

Dreyfuss famously played a marine biologist, Matt Hooper, who is determined to get the mayor of Amity Island to shut down a beach that attracts locals and tourists — as well as a great white shark.

"Mr. Vaughn, what we are dealing with here is a perfect engine, an eating machine. It's really a miracle of evolution. All this machine does is swim and eat and make little sharks, and that's all," the exasperated Hooper says.

The cast also featured Roy Schneider, Robert Shaw and Lorraine Gary.

There's also that famous soundtrack by conductor John Williams — including the pounding beats that herald the shark as it nears its prey — and Stephen Spielberg as director.

Dreyfuss also will give the audience a look at his experiences on the sets of "Stand By Me," "Close Encounters of The Third Kind," "American Graffiti" and "The Goodbye Girl."

Other movies he's done include "Down and Out in Beverly Hills," "Stakeout," Moon Over Parador, and "What About Bob."

Tickets to the Seacoast program range from $70 to $300. Sales for Music Hall members start at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, and to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16. For more information, go to themusichall.org.