Today the Norwalk Library is hosting members of the Hudson River Playback Theatre who will act out scenes based on Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 at 3 p.m. today. From the Advocate:

“We create theater pieces on the spot,” said Jo Salas, artistic director of the New Paltz, N.Y.-based improvisational theater. “Sometimes they are full-fledged, 10-minute scenes, or they’ll be shorter pieces or movements.

“So, we’re going to say to the audience, ‘You read this powerful book, and what in the book has echoes or resonance from your own lives or experiences? Or are there moments from the book that you like and would like us to act out?’ ” Salas said.

The cast has five players, including a musician who will improvise on keyboard, trombone and percussion to accompany each skit.

“I myself am looking forward to seeing how it’s done,” said Siegel. “This is perhaps improv in the purest form.”

He added that audience ideas can be anything remotely related to the book or its theme. For example, one might recall a time as a child when he or she used a magnifying glass to ignite a piece of paper, or felt their ideas were being suppressed.”The actors will then take that experience and basically act out the words,” Siegel said. “They will perform a little skit based upon that thought.

source: Advocate, ‘Fahrenheit 451′ improvisations in Norwalk will invite participation, By James Lomuscio, 05/17/2008