In a world where the government wants to control all the information people have access to, books are outlawed and firefighters are responsible for burning any that they find. The only way people can gain information is by watching the walls of their homes, which project government-controlled information that distracts them from critical thinking. People who try to obtain information elsewhere are exterminated by the government. This is the society portrayed in Fahrenheit 451, a play based on a novel by Ray Bradbury that Emily Wilson-Tobin (the director of Community Ensemble Theater) chose as the fall play for CET’s 2025-2026 season.
Wednesday, Aug. 27 marked the start of CET’s 2025-2026 season, as students gathered in the Craft Theater for the mass meeting of “Fahrenheit 451.” The mass meeting served as a way to introduce the fall play, greet returning students and welcome newcomers to CET.
Once seated, Wilson-Tobin and the CET student board introduced themselves. The CET board includes CHS seniors Paige Plavnick and Mallory Towers as co-presidents, CHS senior Mia Rubenstein as vice president, CHS junior Ellora Kirbat as secretary, CHS junior Lucy Lowenschuss as publicist, CHS senior Kaylee Gadepalli as merchandise manager and CHS sophomore Jameson Grice as underclassmen representative.
After introductions, Wilson-Tobin talked about CET’s mission. CET strives to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all, embracing a thoughtful and open-minded culture. CET is a student-driven program in which students have a voice in deciding how to tell the story in a meaningful and creative way.
“I’m hoping that we sustain what I think is a pretty wonderful culture within our group,” Wilson-Tobin said. “I’m hoping that students will help me shape the way that this play looks and help me think about what version of the story we want to tell.”
Wilson-Tobin wants all of CET’s performances to provoke thought; when walking away from the performances, Wilson-Tobin hopes that the audience will be filled with questions or think about the world in a new way.
“Theater is a really unique way for us to engage in critical thinking,” Wilson-Tobin said.
Wilson-Tobin proceeded by giving a synopsis of the musical. Fahrenheit 451 tells the story of Guy Montag, a firefighter responsible for burning books, encountering a girl named Clarisse who makes Montag question the way the government is controlling people’s lives. Montag begins to find and read books, which makes him realize how his job of destroying information and freedom of thought is not right. Wilson-Tobin believes that Fahrenheit 451 is the perfect fit for CET.
“I believe we’re living in a time where much of the way that we think about the world is influenced by the way that media comes into our lives,” Wilson-Tobin said. “I’m also fearful that the government is trying to control the way that we think and the way we see the world. So I want to engage students in thinking about how we can tell stories to question authority.”
Wilson-Tobin concluded the mass meeting by giving information on how students can join the cast or crew of CET. CET has no cuts; everyone who auditions for cast and signs up for crew will be included in the play.
Wilson-Tobin always looks forward to the mass meetings and getting to see everybody in CET for the first time after summer.
“[The mass meeting] felt super joyful and like a celebration of everybody coming together,” Wilson-Tobin said. “It’s the perfect way to welcome new people into the fold and for the new to see students who have already been involved, and we all can feel the excitement building during the mass meeting.”
CHS junior Toula Greenawalt has been a part of CET since her freshman year. Greenawalt loves the community aspect of the program and is excited to audition for a role in Fahrenheit 451, which will be her 6th show with CET.
“The mass meeting was a nice way to see everyone in CET again after summer,” Greenawalt said. “The mass meeting is a great way to get back into the swing of things.”
CHS freshman Leaf Meisler also attended the CET mass meeting, which made him very excited for his first show with the CET. After watching his older sibling perform with CET for the last couple of years, Leaf felt inspired to join as well.
Students interested in joining CET’s fall production of Fahrenheit 451 can do so by signing up for an audition slot on CET’s website. Auditions will take place on September 8th and 9th. After months of hard work, the show’s performances will take place from November 20th to November 23rd.
“I’m so thrilled to work with everyone in CET again,” Wilson-Tobin said. “I can’t wait to see all the learning and growth that will take place over the next few months.”
