Ray Bradbury, Mister First Nighter

Bradbury receives autographed “Ice Cream Suit” Lid of ice cream carton Bradbury joins in an ice cream celebration.

Ray Bradbury attended the Saturday night opening of his play The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit at the Fremont Center Theater.

John King Tarpinian sent in these photos of (1) John himself displaying the venerable autographed suit from the 1964 production (F. Murray Abraham’s first paying part as an actor); (2) the lid of the commemorative ice cream carton (at least, I think that’s what it is); and (3) Bradbury celebrating with a serving of ice cream.

The play runs weekends until mid-February at the South Pasadena (CA) theater — Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. The closing performance is February 15.

Update 1/21/2009: Corrected the information for the first photo.