Seth Johnson
After its regular season run from Sept. 2-18, “Fahrenheit 451” will continue taking the stage with six encore showings ending on Sunday.
Franziska Raeber, marketing manager for The Hippodrome Theatre, said the community responded well to the production with at least half of the shows reaching around 80% capacity.
Viewers called the production timely and excellent, Raeber said. Local theatre critics also shared glowing reports, from Ron Cunningham with the Gainesville Sun to Kevin Marshall with Gainesville Theatre Review.
“We’re really excited; it’s been a while since we’ve been able to extend a show,” Raeber said in a phone interview.
“Fahrenheit 451” launched the Hippodrome Theatre’s 50th season and is a co-production with UF’s School of Theatre and Dance. Raeber said more than 400 UF students came to watch.
She said the theatre could only extend it for an additional week because practices for the next show —“Running Mates”—starts Friday and the stage crew will begin tearing down and rebuilding on Monday. The show will open on Oct. 14.
Raeber said the feedback has assured the theatre it’s doing something right as the staff continues to navigate the impacts of the pandemic.
The first encore showing will run Wednesday at 7 p.m., and the last one will be Sunday at 2 p.m. Find the full schedule and tickets online.
Check out our feature story about “Fahrenheit 451” and the Hippodrome’s 50th season here.
