Literature to Life Partners with Girls Write Now to Perform Stage Adaptations of If Beale Street Could Talk & Fahrenheit 451

Literature to Life (LTL) has partnered with Girls Write Now to bring great stories to the stage for our community.

In November, Literature to Life held a one-person performance of James Baldwin’s If Beale Street Could Talk at Girls Write Now Headquarters. A story that remains disturbingly poignant sixty years after it was first published, If Beale Street Could Talk is about abiding love in the face of injustice. Told from the perspective of its young heroine, this is the story of one family’s fight for justice in a society where institutional discrimination has the power to destroy lives, a theme that resonates today with audiences from all walks of life. Performed by Channie Waites and adapted and directed by Elise Thoron, the performance featured a 60-minute solo stage adaptation, preceded by a 10-minute introduction to the show, as well as a discussion following the show.

In December, Literature to Life brought to the foreground Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. This classic American dystopian novel presents a frightening vision of the future: where firemen don’t extinguish fires, they start them in order to burn books. Actor Rich Orlow told the story through protagonist Guy Montag’s eyes, seamlessly transforming into five other key characters. Bradbury’s vision of a society awash in information yet devoid of critical thought offers audiences a sobering reflection of our own world, and a glimmer of hope for its future. This adaptation explored themes of censorship, knowledge, and conformity. It was adapted and directed by Wynn Handman, and also featured a pre-show introduction, and post-show discussion.

For both performances, Community Coordinator Annaya Baynes and the Book Club Journey facilitated meaningful conversation.