Choose the Dream: Free to Read
- Eat More Art Vegas
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
Celebrate the First Amendment with staged readings of Banned Books
The First Amendment, Five Freedoms, and Three Things
The First Amendment in the US Constitution grants all residents Five Freedoms: Belief, Speech, Press, Peaceful Assembly, and to Petition Government. Our Right to Learn is our Right to Life, Liberty & Pursuit of Happiness
Free expression is a human right.
The Asylum Theatre believes that art belongs to everyone, serving as a haven for artists' voices committed to nurturing an inclusive community that celebrates, values, and advances diversity. The more diverse the voices and perspectives in and around our work, the more empowering and democratizing the arts become as a tool to inspire individuals, unite communities, and nourish the human experience.
Culture is the legacy and reflection of Humanity.
The current US Administration has issued executive orders to threaten libraries, schools, theatres, museums, and parks that hold the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion with investigations, and cuts. Events, books, and programs have been banned at federally funded local arts programs across the country, and right here in Nevada which hurts communities, and violates our right to Free Expression and Academic Independence as 501 (c)3 organizations and American artists.
For the past three years, The Asylum has proudly presented FREE TO READ at the public library's request to highlight Banned Books Week. This documentary theatre piece presents actors reading excerpts from banned or challenged books alongside transcripts of public comments from library and school board meetings around the country.
It only takes three things to commit an act of theatre: an actor, a witness, and a shared space.
Theatre is the embodiment of the First Amendment; speaking Truth to power, assembled peacefully in a public space. You can assert a belief in diversity, provide education, defeat censorship and commit your own act of theatre, just grab a favorite banned book and start reading out loud!
Do it at your local library, in book clubs, at the bus stop, in a park, or walking down the street. Would you like to present FREE TO READ in your own community? We welcome you to use our script and powerpoint with visuals. Just be sure to credit "Created by Sarah O'Connell and The Asylum Theatre" in your P/R; include #ChooseTheDream, #FreeToRead, and our website asylumtheatre.org. Email director@asylumtheatre.org with any questions. We are here to support you.
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