Jason Reitman to lead reading of ‘American Beauty’ script at TIFF

TORONTO – Director Jason Reitman will lead a live table read of Alan Ball’s screenplay for “American Beauty” on Thursday, the opening day of the Toronto International Film Festival.

The reading will take place at the Ryerson Theatre, with the Montreal native narrating stage directions.

Actors who will perform the reading _ without a rehearsal _ are to be announced later.

The event is part of Reitman’s Live Read series, in which classic movie scripts are read by contemporary actors.

One of the five Academy Awards won by “American Beauty” in 2000 was for best original screenplay.

The film, which also won for best picture, launched at the festival.

“We’re excited to offer festival audiences the opportunity to watch the creative process unfold in front of their eyes,” Cameron Bailey, the festival’s artistic director, said in a release.

“With actors of this calibre being guided by Jason Reitman through Alan Ball’s Oscar-winning screenplay, this will be a unique experience to remember.”