Seattle Rep Workshops New Play Inspired By The Simpsons July 15-16

Seattle Repertory Theatre will workshop and perform two public readings of Anne Washburn's new play Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play July 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Poncho Forum. A play with music, Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play is set in a post-apocalyptic world where episodes of "The Simpsons" gain new significance as stories from a fallen civilization.

Washburn was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Award for this play. Washburn is a member of New York-based investigative theater company The Civilians. Civilians Artistic Director Steve Cosson will direct a primarily Seattle cast in this public reading.

Tickets for the reading are $15 and are available exclusively by phone or in person. To purchase seats contact the Box Office at 206-443-2222 (Toll-free 1-877-900-9285). Seating is general admission.

"The play will have its official world premiere next April at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company," said Seattle Rep Artistic Director Jerry Manning. "I think it's going to be a huge hit, and Seattle audiences get to see this incredibly funny, outrageous piece before anyone else through Seattle Rep's New Play Program. We're proud to work with Anne to develop it."

Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play is just one of nine new works that Seattle Rep has worked on through the spring and early summer. This past week, Cheryl L. West was at the theatre continuing development of her play with music, Pullman Porter Blues, which is slated for a main stage season slot in 2012.

Other works in recent development at Seattle Rep include The Red Dress Party by Stephanie Timm (in collaboration with New Century Theatre Company), 100 Heartbreaks by Joanna Horowitz, and a new adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles by R. Hamilton Wright and David Pichette.

Through the theatre's Yes Project-an initiative tied to the New Play Program to find and develop plays for the main stage that feature young characters and/or have a curriculum tie-in-Seattle Rep is also supporting projects by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig and Justin Huertas. Cowhig is in residence developing a play about kids protesting in Seattle; Huertas is writing a piece based on his experiences as a cellist with the national tour of Spring Awakening.