Fahrenheit 451 Lord Leebrick Theater Eugene Oregon

In March, Lord Leebrick Theater presents a live performance of Ray Bradbury’s dramatic science fiction novel Fahrenheit 451. Bradbury’s novel has been called “a visionary parable of society gone awry”. In the popular and well-known story firemen burn books and the state suppresses learning.

Another blogger points out that although “the novel has been the subject of various interpretations, primarily focusing on the historical role of book burning in suppressing dissenting ideas, Bradbury has stated that the novel is not about censorship, but a story about how television destroys interest in reading literature, which leads to a perception of knowledge as being composed of factoids, partial information devoid of context”.

Below are some thoughts from two of the play’s designers.

“It is truly amazing to read a book written in the 1950s that so accurately predicts the pervasive role that technology plays in our lives today. Things that Bradbury found to be shockingly intrusive (companies cataloguing our data, cameras in our televisions, communication devices that talk to us and never turn off) are everyday occurrences to us.” Ryan Rusby, Media Designer.

“I find revisiting Ray Bradbury’s work thought-provoking. I strongly disagree with his premise that ‘minorities’ criticizing stereotyped portrayals in literature harbor a desire to destroy books and authors’ ideas. Historically, people in a majority have burned books to eliminate ideas expressed by people considered undesirable or radical.” Steen V. Mitchell, Scenic Designer

Lord Leebrick presents Fahrenheit 451 in collaboration with the Eugene Public Library’s 2012 The Big Read project. The aim of The Big Read project is inspiring people across the country to “pick up a good book, listen to radio programs, and read essays about classic authors”.

“The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment. The program provides citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities. It includes innovative reading programs in selected cities, comprehensive resources for discussing classic literature, and an extensive website providing comprehensive information on authors and their works.”

The Cast of the play includes:

• Clarisse – Arun Storrs
• Montag – Cameron Carlisle
• Beatty – Stanley Coleman
• Faber – Stephen Speidel
• Mrs. Hudson – Diane Johnson
• Mildred – Kelsey McKean
• Alice – Tracy Ilene Miller
• Black – Thomas Varga
• Henley – Jonathan Knight
• Bieder – Erica Jorgenson

I’m looking forward to another engrossing Lord Leebrick performance!