Adapting Novels for Stage
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest.
Venture Productions and the Daniel A. Reed Library have partnered together for 10 years to bring The Big Read to Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. The Library has asked Venture Productions to continue producing The Big Read in the future - we look forward to taking on this challenge and bringing another famous novel to life on stage and screen.
Previously Venture Productions has staged: The Trial of Guy Montag, To Kill a Mockingbird, Searching for Antonia, Wild, Echoes of Emily, The Great Gatsby and Watching God.
Recent Productions:
Watching God - 2016
Their Eyes Were Watching God was originally written by Zora Neal Hurston and adapted for the stage by Venture Productions. Directed by Janie Sharon, SUNY Fredonia students were carefully selected to breathe this novel back to life for the Chautauqua & Cattaraugus County communities. After weeks of rehearsals, Watching God was brought to the SUNY Fredonia campus, Fredonia BOCES and surrounding schools.
The Great Gatsby - 2015
A historically important piece of American literature, The Great Gatsby was brought to the stage by Venture Productions in association with the NEA's "The Big Read" program to inspire students to read F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel. The story itself was adapted by Venture Productions and featured students from SUNY Fredonia.
