Off Square Theatre, in partnership with Teton County Library Foundation & Friends, is presenting a staged reading of 𝐅𝐚𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐭 𝟒𝟓𝟏, Ray Bradbury’s play adaptation of his critically-acclaimed novel, during Banned Books week in October.
Directed by Anne Mason, the staged reading will be presented on October 10 in the Center Theater, followed by a talkback. Auditions will occur on August 30-31. There are many roles of varying sizes and OST encourages all interested to audition, no prior experience necessary.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
SYNOPSIS:
In a future where books are banned and burned by the state, fireman Guy Montag begins secretly saving books instead of destroying them after a series of encounters shakes his faith in his conformist, media-numbed society. As his rebellion draws the attention of his fire captain, Beatty, Montag is forced to flee, ultimately joining a community of exiles who preserve literature by memorizing entire books for a future that may one day value them again.
ROLES:
- MONTAG: The protagonist, a fireman whose job is burning books. He starts the play in comfortable complicity with the work, then spends the following two acts unraveling into someone willing to risk everything. The script gives his age as 31.
- MILDRED: Montag’s wife. She spends her days absorbed in wall-sized television programs and leans on sleeping pills to get through the rest.
- BEATTY: The fire chief and the play’s central antagonist. He turns out to be deeply well-read himself, which sharpens the irony of his defense of book-burning. He carries some of the script’s longest and most persuasive speeches, so the role needs both comic timing and real menace. He plays best as someone who has talked himself into his own worldview.
- CLARISSE: A young girl who lives next door to the Montags. Her open curiosity sets the plot moving in Act One, and she reappears near the end of the play among the book people.
- FABER: Clarisse’s grandfather, referred to in the script as a professor, living in hiding. He mentors Montag through a hidden earpiece device rather than face to face.
- MRS. HUDSON: An elderly woman who chooses to burn along with her hidden library rather than give it up.
- ENSEMBLE: The ensemble will play a variety of smaller roles, including paramedics, fireman, neighbors, and “Book People” (as well as voiceovers for clock, radio, alarm, newscaster and others):
- ARISTOTLE: Embodies “The Poetics” and functions as the group’s host
- TOLKEIN: A youthful figure representing “The Lord of the Rings.”
- BRONTE: Represents “Wuthering Heights.”
- ROSTAND: Represents “Cyrano de Bergerac.”
- DOSTOEVSKI: Represents “Crime and Punishment.”
- ST. EXUPEREY: A youthful figure representing “The Little Prince.”
- TOLSTOY: Represents “War and Peace.”
- WILDE: A witty, flamboyant figure drawing on Oscar Wilde’s work.
- CARROLL: Represents the Alice in Wonderland stories and recites from them.
- PLATO: Represents “The Symposium.”
- MELVILLE: Represents “Moby-Dick.”
- ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON: An elder figure who shares a late scene with Clarisse.
AUDITION DETAILS:
- HOW TO AUDITION: Email jaclyn@offsquare.org with the following information: (1) name & phone number, (2) headshot & resume if available, and (3) any scheduling preferences.
- AUDITION BLOCK: August 30 (4-7pm) and August 31 (5-8pm)
- WHERE: Black Box Theater at the Center for the Arts (265 S Glenwood St, Jackson WY 83001).
- WHAT TO PREPARE: Auditioners are encouraged to prepare a 1 minute contemporary monologue. In addition, OST will also provide audition materials in the room for use from the script for anyone who needs material. Please be in touch with questions! (Please see Monologues/Sides for use here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10bxsyur_0VjZjGrCu2zjIWdsIXFwPz-a?usp=share_link)
- In person auditions only. We are not currently accepting Video Submissions.
KEY INFORMATION:
- We are seeking community members of all performance experience levels for this staged reading. There will be no memorization required and there are a variety of roles to be cast with a broad range of ages. If you are passionate about books and curious about performing, please join us for auditions.
- We are currently casting ages 14+ for this production.
- All rehearsals and performances will take place at the Center for the Arts in Jackson, WY (265 S Glenwood St, Jackson WY 83001)
- We are committed to diverse, inclusive casting. Please submit without regard to disability, race, age, color, national origin, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity or any other basis prohibited by law unless otherwise specifically indicated.
- We are seeking actors of all experience levels.
- This will be a STAGED READING (with script in hand).
- Rehearsals — October 3-9, 2026:
- October 3 (10am-4pm)
- October 4 (12pm-6pm)
- October 5-9 (5pm-9pm, with possibility of daytime rehearsals subject to availability)
- Staged Reading Performance — October 10 in The Center Theater (possible morning tech / reading will be in the evening followed by a talkback)
About the Director:
Anne Mason is a life writer, theatre artist, and creative consultant who is passionate about transforming skills and lessons from within the theatre sphere into tools for all facets of community, industry, and humanity. Anne holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Wyoming and is a graduate of the Leadership Wyoming class of 2022. She founded Relative Theatrics, a non-profit theatre company in Laramie, Wyoming, where she served as the organization’s Producing Artistic Director for 11 years and produced over 40 productions. Anne now works as a freelance artist and facilitator with ACM Creative Consulting, collaborating with businesses, non-profits, and theatre companies around the state. She has worked professionally with Capital Stage Company, Sacramento Music Circus, Missoula Children’s Theatre, Snowy Range Summer Theatre Festival, the University of Wyoming, and Pinedale Theatre Company. Anne was named the 2021 University of Wyoming Rising Alumni, a 2020/21 Performing Arts Fellow with the Wyoming Arts Council, the 2023 Wyoming Women of Influence in the Arts, and a 2025 Ucross Fellow. She is a recipient of the 2024 Wyoming Innovation Partnership ArtsWork Investing in Wyoming’s Creative Economies award and the 2022 Wyoming Governor’s Arts Award. Anne was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2014 and strives to turn her experience into lessons of hope and resiliency. When Anne isn’t at the theatre, she can be found reading, enjoying the outdoors, communing at coffee shops, or solving (and creating!) crossword puzzles. Anne lives in Laramie with her cat, Orange Julius Caesar. Connect with Anne: @annecatharine89 – acmcreativeconsulting.com
