Luis Valdez comes to the Adams State campus Oct. 12

(10-02-2007)

The Adams State College Theatre Department ignites the Fahrenheit 451 Project with the "24-Hour Big Read" from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, in the ASC Main Stage Theatre. The featured speaker for the Big Read will be Luis Valdez, playwright, activist, and the founder of El Teatro Campesino. Working with Cesar Chavez, his theatre company was the cultural voice of the farm workers' movement. This event is free and seating is based on a first come/first serve basis.

Known as the father of Chicano theatre, Valdez has created new forms of performance and, in the process, given voice to those who had been ignored by society. With its New York premiere in 1979, Valdez's play, "Zoot Suit," became the first Latino-themed work to appear on Broadway. In 1987, he directed "La Bamba," which became the highest grossing Latino-themed film of all time. Students in the ASC Theatre program and Semillas de la Tierra will also perform.

Dr. John Taylor, associate professor of theatre, has been organizing the Fahrenheit 451 Project since last spring. "It is a great honor to have someone of Luis Valdez' stature visit our campus and community," he said. "Not only is he a major figure in the world of theatre, but he is has had tremendous impact on America's society."

The National Endowment for the Arts selected Adams State College and the San Luis Valley to be among 117 organizations and communities taking part in the Big Read initiative. Representative Rafael Gallegos, Senator Gail Schwartz, and Charlotte Bobicki, representing Senator Ken Salazar, will give words of welcome and speak about the Big Read and Fahrenheit 451 Project preceding Valdez' speech.

"Valdez is a hero of many, including me," Taylor said. "His combination of artistry and activism is breathtaking."

Dr. Carol Guerrero-Murphy, chair of the English, Theatre, Communications, and Languages Department, said projects like the Big Read and the Fahrenheit 451 Project continue to be of importance in every community.

"The great Puritan author of Paradise Lost, John Milton, wrote in the 1600's that 'he who destroys a good book, kills reason itself,'" Guerrero-Murphy said. "At colleges, protection of freedom of speech, intellectual freedom, the right of everyone in the community to express themselves openly and peacefully, without fear of reprisal, is fundamental to learning and to reason itself. We should never be afraid of ideas, but only of failing to understand them."

Following Valdez's address, there will be a reception and the continuation of the 24-Hour Big Read. From 9:00 p.m. Friday to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, college and community members will be reading from their favorite literary selections in 15 minute slots. Readings will occur in the lobby of the Adams State Theatre as well as in public libraries across the San Luis Valley. Following the conclusion of the read, the film version of Fahrenheit 451 will be shown in the Adams State Main Stage to start the Banned Book Film Series.

The Alamosa Southern Peaks Library will show the film, Zoot Suit, at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5.

For more information, check the project website at Fahrenheit 451 or call Taylor, at 719-587-7382 to sign up to read in the theatre lobby.

By Linda Relyea