ASU Gammage hides free books around the Valley

ASU Gammage believes reading and the arts should be shared with everyone.

The final production in the organization’s 2016-2017 Broadway season is "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time," an adaptation of Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel and winner of the 2015 Tony Award for Best New Play. 

In anticipation of the show, which runs June 20-25 at the iconic Tempe venue, ASU Gammage has hidden 20 copies of the novel in several locations throughout Tempe and Phoenix. 

“It’s a fun way to connect local communities with the production coming to ASU Gammage in a few weeks,” said Erica Lin, digital marketing specialist for ASU Gammage. 

Some are hidden in Little Free Libraries, miniature outdoor libraries created as part of a neighborhood book-exchange program. Others are hidden in coffee shops, parks and other unexpected locations.

Anyone is welcome to pick up a copy, read it, then pass it on to the next literature aficionado. Each bright orange book is marked with a blue sticker explaining this process.

Individuals who find a copy of the novel can post photos and share their experience on social media with the hashtag #ASUGammageBookClub.

Both the novel and play tell the thrilling story of 15-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone, a highly intelligent young man on the autism spectrum who works to prove his innocence and uncover the true culprit’s identity after he is accused of killing the neighbor’s dog.

The play’s North American tour, produced by the acclaimed National Theatre, has been hailed for its immersive and dazzling storytelling. 

Tickets to "The Curious Incident" are available for purchase at asugammage.com.