Tyler Bernstine, Gibson Frazier & More Set for Playwrights Horizons' MR. BURNS

Complete casting has been announced for the Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) New York premiere production of Mr. Burns, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY, a new play by Anne Washburn (The Internationalist), with music by Obie Award winner Michael Friedman (Saved, The Drunken City at PH; Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson). Directed by Obie Award winner Steve Cosson (Gone Missing, This Beautiful City, founding Artistic Director of The Civilians), Mr. Burns will be presented as the first production of the theater company's upcoming 2013/2014 Season.

The production will begin previews Friday evening, August 23 at 8PM with an Opening Night set for Sunday, September 15 at 7PM. The limited engagement will play through Sunday matinee, October 6 atPlaywrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

The cast will feature Obie Award winner Quincy Tyler Bernstine (the current Far From Heaven at PH; In the Next Room... on Broadway; Ruined at MTC), Gibson Frazier (There Are No More Big Secrets,Orlando, God's Ear, The Internationalist Off-Broadway), Susannah Flood (Tribes Off-Broadway; As You Like It in Central Park; world premiere of A Civil War Christmas at Long Wharf), two-time Obie Award winner Matthew Maher (The Flick, The World Over at PH; Uncle Vanya, Golden Child, School for Lies, You Better Sit Down Off-Broadway) two-time Audelco nominee Nedra McClyde (Headstrong, Miss Evers' Boys), Civilians founding member Jennifer R. Morris (Gone Missing, The Ladies, Canard Canard Goose?, You Better Sit Down Off-Broadway), Colleen Werthmann (Miss Witherspoon, Recent Tragic Events at PH;Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Gone Missing Off-Broadway) and Sam Breslin Wright (Macbeth on Broadway, Paris Commune, 365 Plays/365 Days, God's Ear Off-Broadway).

What will endure when the cataclysm arrives - when the grid fails, society crumbles, and we're faced with the task of rebuilding? Anne Washburn's imaginative dark comedy propels us forward nearly a century, following a new civilization stumbling into its future. A paean to live theater, and to 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 production features scenic design by two-time Obie Award winner Neil Patel, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Justin Townsend and sound design by Ken Travis. Production Stage Manager is Kyle Gates.

Mr. Burns had its World Premiere at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (Washington, DC) in May 2013. Writing on that premiere, Peter Marks of The Washington Post called it, "Inexhaustibly original. The sort of once-in-a-blue-moon show that stays stuck in your brain long after it has chilled you to the bone."

The performance schedule for Mr. Burns will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7PM, Thursdays and Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 2:30 PM & 8PM and Sundays at 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM. The Tuesday, September 10 evening performance has an 8PM curtain, the Sunday, September 15 matinee has a 2PM curtain and the Thursday, September 19 evening performance (which is a special 30&Under event) has a 7PM curtain. Single tickets, starting at $70, will go on sale to the general public beginning Monday, July 22. As of that date, they may be purchased online via www.TicketCentral.com, by phone at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8pm daily), or in person at the Ticket Central Box Office, 416 West 42nd Street (between Ninth & Tenth Avenues).

A ticketing initiative created as part of Playwrights Horizons' Arts Access program, LIVEforFIVE makes available $5 tickets for the first preview performance of each Playwrights Horizons production through a lottery via the company's website. The LIVEforFIVE lottery for Mr. Burns will be for tickets to the first preview on Friday, August 23 at 8PM. Details for the lottery are as follows: beginning Wednesday, August 14 at 10AM, theatergoers can enter the lottery by filling out an entry form at www.PlaywrightsHorizons.org. Entries will be accepted until Monday, August 19 at 12 Noon. Winners of the lottery will be notified via email no later than 3PM on Monday, August 19 with instructions on how to book their $5 tickets. Unclaimed tickets will be offered via email to a limited standby list starting at 12 Noon on Tuesday, August 20 on a first-come, first-served basis. One or two tickets may be purchased for $5 each. A limited number of tickets will be available for Mainstage shows via the lottery.

Reflecting Playwrights Horizons' ongoing commitment to making its productions more affordable to younger audiences, the theater company will offer HOTtix, $25 rush tickets, subject to availability, day of performance only, starting one hour before showtime to patrons aged 30 and under. Proof of age required. One ticket per person, per purchase. Cash only.

LIVEforFIVE and HOTtix are two of Playwrights Horizons' popular Arts Access initiatives, which allow the institution to reach out to those who may not be able to afford the cost of a full-price theater ticket. This program is supported, in part, by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and The McGraw-Hill Companies.

A special open captioned performance of Mr. Burns for theatergoers who are deaf and hard of hearing will be held on the Sunday, September 8 matinee at 2:30 PM. Funding for this program is provided, in part, by the Theodore H. Barth Foundation, and TDF and TAP Plus, which is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

In addition, special Post-Performance Discussions with members of the creative team will take place immediately after the following three performances: Wednesday evening, August 28 at 7PM; Sunday matinee,September 1 at 2:30 PM; and Friday evening, September 6 at 8PM.

Three subscription packages to Playwrights Horizons' 2013/2014 season are now available: a 6-show Subscription package ($240 for subscribers, four Mainstage and two Peter Jay Sharp Theater Productions);FlexPass (4+ tickets, $45-50 per ticket); and Membership ($55 membership fee + one ticket at $40 or less for each show, as desired). In addition to discounts on all season productions, subscribers receive priority booking and seating, ticket exchange privileges, parking and dining discounts, and exclusive mailings of Playwrights Horizons Bulletins. Packages are available at www.TicketCentral.com.

Patron Program Memberships begin at $1,500 (all but $550 is tax-deductible) and include two house seats to all six Playwrights Horizons productions reserved only for Patrons, as well as a variety of exclusive benefits including invitations to attend special events with artists, staff and board members.

Playwrights Horizons' season productions are generously supported in part by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Playwrights Horizons is supported in part by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. In addition, Playwrights Horizons receives major support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Peter Jay Sharp Foundation.

For ticket information to all Playwrights Horizons productions, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200, Noon to 8 pm daily, or purchase online at www.TicketCentral.com.

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