In the gloomy American future of Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451, books are contraband - and anyone found in possession faces a painful execution. The title refers to the temperature at which paper will ignite and burn.
It's quite a frightening story, and its freedom-of-expression metaphor wasn't lost on the millions who gobbled it up when it was first published in 1953.
Bringing Bradbury's tale of terror to the stage requires a deft touch; SCAD theater professor Sharon Ott, a veteran director who's always ready for a challenge, has assembled the largest crew in school history - more than 120 people - to create the multi-media stage production of Fahrenheit that will run March 10-13 at the Lucas Theatre.
The massive set includes eight video screens and five projectors, representing the combined talents of students in SCAD's film, animation, motion graphics, production design, sound and performing arts departments.
Did we mention there will be live actors, too? It is a stage play, after all.
Film professor Michael Chaney, with a full crew, spent much of December 2010 shooting brief inserts for the production at various Savannah locations.
Shows will be at 8 p.m. March 10-12, with 3 p.m. matinees on the 12th and 13th. General admission tickets $15, $10 with senior, student or military ID, and $5 with valid SCAD ID. Call (912) 525-5050 or go to savannahboxoffice.com.
Wine not?
Coming Saturday, April 16 is the annual Tybee Wine Festival, a benefit for the restoration of the Tybee Post Theater.
The event - at which you can taste more than 100 different wines and craft beers - is one of those lovely spring afternoon happenings, on the grounds of the Tybee Lighthouse. There's also food from Tybee restaurants, live music, and prize giveaways. Tickets are $50 at tybeewinefestival.com.
The acoustic duo Montana Skies (guitar and cello) will perform April 29 at the in-progress theater. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are $20 at tybeeisland.com.
Short takes
@ First admission to the U.S. Air Force Academy Band's free show March 8, at the Johnny Mercer Theatre, nevertheless requires tickets, which can be had at the Savannah Civic Center website; if you don't have a ticket for the 8 p.m. concert, you'll be admitted after all the ticket-possessors are inside.
@ Carl Rosengart directs the classic mind-games drama Deathtrap April 1-9 at Muse Arts Warehouse. It's a Savannah Community Theatre show.
@ The previously-announced Collective Face production of The Belle of Amherst (at Muse) has been postponed.
@ Savannah's own Wine & Jazz Fest, with tastings and live music aplenty, takes place April 2 at the Westin Harbor Resort. Tickets for the event (3-7 p.m.) are $55 at westinsavannah.com
