Celebrating the right to read

Ray Bradbury’s book, “Fahrenheit 451,” and an accompanying study guide will be available from many local locations during the March National Education Association’s Big Read program.

By: From staff reports | News Virginian
Published: March 03, 2010

The community-wide 2010 Big Read’s celebration of Ray Bradbury’s novel, “Fahrenheit 451,” is scheduled for kickoff with a celebration at 6 p.m. tonight, hosted by the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge and the Verona Fire Department at the department location on Route 11 in Verona.

Fiery hors d’oeuvres and libations will be served during the kickoff. In addition, books, reader’s guides, audio guides and other Big Read materials will be available. Everything, including books and food, will be free of charge.

On Thursday ShenanArts will present a dramatized stage reading from the book at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Mockingbird, 123 W. Beverley St., Staunton. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Dinner is separate. Doors open at 5:30. The title of the book represents the temperature at which paper ignites and books burn. And that is precisely what the firemen do, in Ray Bradbury’s classic novel of the future.

They burn books.

It is a crime, in this fictional, future society, to own or read books. Trivial information is looked upon as good and knowledge is considered evil. People receive all of their culture and information through television sets built into their house walls.

The presentation will star ShenanArts regulars Jarod Kearney, Cassy Maxton, Hannah Woodrum, Phil Dixon and Matthew Riley as well as local officials and business personalities Nancy Sorrells (Augusta County Board of Supervisors), Bruce Elder (Staunton City Council), Steve Nichols (Staunton City Schools), Doug Guynn (Staunton City Attorney), Nancy Dowdy (Waynesboro City Council), Lorie Smith (Waynesboro City Council), Ruth Arnold (Staunton Public Library), Diantha McCauley (Augusta County Public Libraries), Zahir Mahmoud (Waynesboro Public Library), Becky Kohler, (Community Foundation), Christiana Shields (Community Foundation), All three area fire chiefs, Charles Scott, of Waynesboro Fire Department; Scott Garber, of Staunton Fire Department; and Carson Holloway, of the Augusta County Fire and Rescue Department; will also participate.