TheatreLAB Announces Cast and Creative Team for MR BURNS: A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY

TheatreLAB, Richmond's home for unexpected and evocative performance, is proud to present Anne Washburn's imaginative dark comedy, Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, as the final show of their critically acclaimed season, A Vivid Impression of Reality. Directed by TheatreLAB Artistic Director, Deejay Gray, the production will run July 15th to August 5th at TheatreLAB's venue, The Basement.

What will endure when the cataclysm arrives-when the grid fails, society crumbles, and we're faced with the task of rebuilding?

Mr. Burns propels us forward nearly a century, following a new civilization stumbling into its future. After the collapse of civilization, a group of survivors share a campfire and begin to piece together the plot of "The Simpsons" episode "Cape Feare" entirely from memory. 7 years later, this and other snippets of pop culture (sitcom plots, commercials, jingles, and pop songs) have become the live entertainment of a post-apocalyptic society, sincerely trying to hold onto its past. 75 years later, these are the myths and legends from which new forms of performance are created.

A love letter to the power of live theatre, 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.

The cast features Evan Nasteff, Audra Honaker, Maggie Bavolack, Dan Cimo, Heather Falks, Chandler Hubbard, and Jessi Johnson. The production team includes Musical Direction by Forrest Link; Associate Direction by Phil Vollmer; Scenic Design by Michael Todd; Lighting Design by Ashley Swiger; Costume Design by Emily Atkins; Sound Design by Lucian Restivo; Properties Design by Julia Colpitts; Dramaturgy by Liz Earnest; Production Assistance by Morgan Howard and Darius Robinson; and Stage Management by Justin Janke.

"Downright Brilliant. When was the last time you met a new play that was so smart it made your head spin? ... Mr. Burns has arrived to leave you dizzy with the scope and dazzle of its ideas. With grand assurance and artistry, Ms. Washburn makes us appreciate anew the profound value of storytelling in and of itself, and makes a case for theater as the most glorious and durable storyteller of all. I look forward to remembering it for a long, long time." (Critic's Pick) - The New York Times

From TheatreLAB Artistic Director, Deejay Gray:

"In a lot of ways, Mr. Burns is the most quintessential TheatreLAB show we've ever produced: it features a rousing ensemble, it's unexpected and evocative, it's deeply thought-provoking, and it's a whole hell of lot of fun. In every theatre history class, we learn that theatre started when members of primitive cultures would sit around camp fires sharing stories; in Mr. Burns, the action begins around a campfire with a group of survivors of the apocalypse trying their hardest to remember an episode of The Simpsons. From there, the magic of theatre and storytelling takes over..."

Seating is limited and ticket prices range from $10-30. Tickets are on sale now at TheatreLABrva.org. Reviewing members of the press are invited to attend opening weekend free of charge. Please schedule tickets, media coverage, and interview requests with TheatreLAB Managing Director, Annie Colpitts atAnnie@TheatreLABrva.org. TheatreLAB is Richmond's home for unexpected and evocative performance. The Basement is located at 300 East Broad Street in Richmond's Arts District.

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