Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company Presents MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY, 5/28-7/1

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of Mr. Burns, a post-electric play by Anne Washburn and directed by Steven Cosson. Armageddon has struck and the grid is down: no TV, no radio, no internet-how will life go on?

For one group of tenacious survivors, sitting around a fire and reminiscing about The Simpsons proves to be the greatest escape from despair. Miraculously, from their collective memories, a new industry struggles to be born: a crude theatrical re-creation of the digital culture we can't possibly live without. From The Simpsons to Lady Gaga, from Eminem to the Baha Men, Mr. Burns, a post-electric play leaves you questioning how you'd make sense of the world if all your gizmos were gone. Mr. Burns, a post-electric play runs May 28–July 1; Wednesdays–Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm and 7pm.

"Woolly's season about the demise of civilization reaches a celebratory conclusion with the premiere of Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, Anne Washburn and Michael Friedman's futuristic fantasy-with-music about a technology-starved world where TV memories help forge a new world order," says Artistic Director Howard Shalwitz. "A fascinating comic drama that traces the re-emergence of civilization after a catastrophic collapse, the play is a brainy work of imaginative cultural anthropology that broadens our ideas about 'culture' and how it functions in our lives. I'm delighted to welcome director Steve Cosson to Woolly for the first time, and to acknowledge the great partnership between The Civilians artists and Woolly artists in bringing this ambitious new play to life."

Mr. Burns, a post-electric play was commissioned by The Civilians, an investiGate Theatre troupe based in New York, and developed in partnership with The Civilians, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and Playwrights Horizons. Anne Washburn was recognized as a Finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Award in 2010-11 for this play.

Mr. Burns, a post-electric play will feature Company Member Kimberly Gilbert (A Bright New Boise, Clybourne Park, In the Next Room or the vibrator play) with Chris Genebach, Amy McWilliams (Maria/Stuart), ERIKA ROSE (Lenny & Lou, The Mineola Twins), Steve Rosen, Jenna Sokolowski (Civilization (all you can eat), Antebellum, She Stoops to Comedy), and James Sugg (Hell Meets Henry Halfway).

Mr. Burns, a post-electric play will feature set design by Company Member Misha Kachman, costume design by Frank Labovitz, lighting design by Company Member Colin K. Bills, sound design by Elisheba Ittoop, and choreography by Diane Coburn Bruning.

For more information, visit www.woollymammoth.net.

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