WHAT A TRIP

“Very soon, I knew we would both be completely twisted. But there was no going back and no time to rest,” wrote gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson 40 years ago in his psychedelic masterpiece Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream. The novel, based on real events, follows Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, a deranged lawyer, as they go on a drug and alcohol-fueled binge in Las Vegas, leaving a trail of destruction behind them. Tonight, hop the train to crazytown, where “freedom doesn’t die unless it is used,” and listen to actor Scott Shepard (Elevator Repair Service), Michael Imperioli (of The Sopranos), and Anthony Rapp (Rent) read excerpts from the book. Pop-culture writer Chuck Klosterman (Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs) will also be on hand to speak on how Thompson’s work has influenced his own writing.

Wed., March 16, 7 p.m., 2011