Theater Wit Sets 'MR BURNS' Cast, Adds BAD JEWS & SANTALAND DIARIES to Season

Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, confirmed today more exciting plans for its 2014-15, three-play season.

Wit's eleventh season launches November 21-December 28 with The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello, directed by Theater Wit Artistic Director Jeremy Wechsler, once again starring Mitchell Fain.

Back for its eleventh straight year, Wit's edgier antidote to traditional holiday classics always plays to rave reviews and sold out houses, so make your reservations soon. Tickets start at $18. For tickets and information, visit TheaterWit.org or call 773.975.8150.

In January and February 2015, Theater Wit will present one of the most anticipated productions of Chicago's upcoming theater season, the Midwest premiere of Mr. Burns, a post-electric play by Anne Washburn.
Today, Wechsler announced the cast and design team for Wit's staging of Washburn's meta-apocalyptic comedy/drama/musical about America rebuilding itself from the ashes of an apocalypse, and the enduring power of Bart Simpson.

The cast includes top Chicago actors Kelly Abell (Nedra), Daniel Desmarais (Matt), Hannah Gomez (Colleen Daniel), Christina Hall (Susannah), Andrew Jessop (Sam), Leslie Ann Sheppard (Sam), Jeff Trainor (Gibson) and Leah Urzendowski (Jenny).

The production team includes Jeremy Wechsler (director), Andra Velis Simon (musical director), Brigitte Ditmars (choreography), Joe Schermoly (set), Mike Durst (lights), Mara Blumenfeld (costumes), Jesse Gaffney (props), Majel Cuza (production manager) and Katie Klemme (stage manager).
Wit's Mr. Burns will also boast a live band.

A paean to the power of live theater and the resilience of Bart Simpson through the ages, Mr. Burns is an animated exploration of how the pop culture of one era might evolve into the mythology of another, and a dazzling, panoramic vista on the power of storytelling. The story begins after life as we know it has ended. Small bands of survivors band together to keep the pilot light of civilization burning, and their path to redemption is as unexpected as it is inevitable.

Mr. Burns had a hugely successful New York premiere in fall 2013 at Playwrights Horizons. The New York Times raved "Downright brilliant. When was the last time you met a new play that was so smart it made your head spin? Get ready to reel. Anne Washburn's Mr. Burns, a post-electric play has arrived to leave you dizzy with the scope and dazzle of its ideas."

Previews of Theater Wit's all-Chicago production of Mr. Burns are January 9-January 18, 2015. Press opening is Monday, January 19. Performances run through March 1. Tickets go on sale October 15, and start at $25. For tickets and information, visit TheaterWit.org or call 773.975.8150.

Wechsler also confirmed Theater Wit's spring 2015 production, the Midwest premiere of Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon. First seen in New York in 2012, the 2013 production at Roundabout Theatre Company was hailed by Charles Isherwood of The New York Times as "the best comedy of the season."

Nothing brings out the worst in a family like a funeral. Daphna is the most devout Jew in the Feygenbaum family. Just ask her. Her cousin Liam is the most deserving first-born. Just ask him. Don't ask Liam's brother Jonah anything. In this savagely funny comedy, long standing (and not-so-buried) antipathies boil up in a battle between two cousins over a treasured family heirloom. Stir in the identity curation of the Facebook generation and you get one of the funniest, wisest, most excruciating comedies you'll see this year.

Theater Wit's Chicago staging of Harmon's savage comedy about the holy and holier-than-thou will be presented in April and May 2015. Casting is TBA. Tickets will go on sale in January 2015. For tickets and information, visit TheaterWit.org or call 773.975.8150.