ACT to Stage MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY This Fall

A Contemporary Theatre is thrilled to present the imaginative dark comedy of MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY by Anne Washburn (The Internationalist, A Devil At Noon, and The Small). Spanning several years to several decades after the end of the world, survivors must begin again to create a new society. As the survivors bond by recounting the popular "Cape Feare" episode of The Simpsons, the story evolves into its own mythos.

MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY will run October 16-November 15 (Press/Opening Night: Thursday, October 22) at ACT Theatre Falls Theatre, 700 Union Street, Seattle, WA 98101. Tickets: Adults: $20; Students: $15; Age 25 & Under: $20; Seniors: $20. Available to ACTPass members. Now on sale by calling 206.292.7676 or online at www.acttheatre.org.

MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY premiered at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in May 2012 and has become the most produced American play of the 2014-2015 season.

"Stories like Mr. Burns are an invitation for theatre artists and audiences alike to tap into our universal human need to tell a very particular kind of story -- the story of its own demise and resurrection," says incoming Artistic Director John Langs, who will direct.

The Simpsons has been parodying American culture and many facets of the human condition since its debut in December 1989. Now in its 27th season, The Simpsons has won dozens of awards, including 32 Primetime Emmy Awards, and holds the Guinness Book of World Records for Most Guest Stars Featured in a Television Series. The "Cape Feare" episode from The Simpsons' fifth season spoofs the 1962 film Cape Fear and Martin Scorsese's 1991 remake and is considered one of the best episodes of the series.

ACT has put together a terrific cast, including six actors making their debut appearance at ACT, for this energetic piece. Anne Allgood, who was last seen at ACT in Arthur Miller's The Price, returns as Jenny/Marge. Christine Marie Brown, who returns to ACT after playing Susan in the 2012 production of The Pitmen Painters, will play Marie/Lisa. Andrew Lee Creech, who appeared as Youth in ACTLab's co-production with Sidecountry Theatre of Passing Strange, will make his ACT debut as Sam/Scratchy. Erik Gratton, who appeared in Book-It Repertory Theatre's Slaughterhouse-Five as Billy Pilgrim, will make his ACT debut as Matt/Homer. Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako, who played the title role in Book-It Repertory Theatre's stage adaptation of Chris Cleave's Little Bee, debuts at ACT as Colleen/Itchy. Bhama Roget, who is making her ACT debut as Quincy/Bart, has appeared on television in ABC's Grey's Anatomy and TNT's Leverage. Making his ACT debut as Gibson/Mr. Burns is Adam Standley, who recently appeared in Intiman Theatre's John Baxter is a Switch Hitter. Robertson Witmer, who has designed sound for ACTLab's Seven Ways to Get There and The Three Sisters, will appear onstage as Musician/Actor.

CREATIVE TEAM:

John Langs- Director

Matt Smucker- Scenic Designer

Deb Trout- Costume Designer

Geoff Korf- Lighting Designer

Dominic CodyKramers- Sound Designer

Casey James- Music Director

Crystal Dawn Munkers- Choreographer

Emily Penick- Associate Director

Dramaturg- Frank Honts

Stage Manager- Jeffrey Hanson*

Production Assistant- David Hartig

Assistant Lighting Designer- Marcella Barbeau

*Members of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Special Events:

- Behind the Scenes with KING FM - Oct 20

- Red Carpet Opening Night - Oct 22

- Tastings: Pre-show wine tour - Oct 30

- Post-Play Discussions - Oct 27, Nov 1, Nov 8

About the Playwright - Anne Washburn's recent plays include 10 out of 12 (Soho Repertory Theatre), Mr. Burns (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Playwrights Horizons), A Devil At Noon (Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival of New American Plays), The Small (Clubbed Thumb), transadaptations of Euripides' Iphigenia In Aulis (Classic Stage Company), Orestes (Folger Theatre), and The Internationalist (13P; Vineyard Theater). Honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship, a PEN/Laura Pels award, a Whiting Award, a New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship, Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist, and several MacDowell and Yaddo residencies. Her play Antlia Pneumatica will premiere at Playwrights Horizons in the spring of 2016.

More About John Langs - John Langs has served as Associate Artistic Director of ACT for three years, and will become ACT's Artistic Director in 2016. Langs' 16-year freelance career has afforded him the opportunity to work with many prestigious theatre companies across the country. He has directed productions at Playwrights Horizons NY, Ensemble Studio Theater NY, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Lookingglass Theater Company in Chicago, Circle X in Los Angeles, The Resident Ensemble, New Century Theatre Company, Washington Ensemble Theatre, and Seattle Shakespeare Company. Langs received his directing degree from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Some of his favorite directing credits include The Shaggs Philosophy of the World (Los Angeles Drama Critic Circle Award for Best Original Musical), and Brothers Karamazov (seven LADCC Awards including Best Production of the year and Best Direction) and directing Kurt Beattie in King Lear. Langs received the first annual Seattle Gregory Award honoring excellence in direction for The Adding Machine. Recent Seattle credits include NCTC's Mary's Wedding, The Seagull Project's The Three Sisters, and Seattle Shakespeare's Othello. As a dedicated fan of original work, Langs has shepherded over a dozen projects to their premier production.

Located in Seattle's Downtown Historic Theatre District, ACT is home to five performance spaces under one roof. Since 1965, ACT has been a destination for experiencing new voices, stories, and art. ACT is steadfast in its dedication to producing work with contemporary playwrights and local performing artists through its Mainstage Play series, ACTLab producing partnerships, and Young Playwrights Program. With more than 450 performances a year, ACT is a community hub where artists and the public connect about today's issues and ideas, and celebrate the shared experience.