MR BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY Hits The Wilbury Group Next Month

The Wilbury Group proudly announces the Spring production of Anne Washburn's 2014 off-Broadway hit Mr Burns, a post-electric play directed by Brien Lang in performances March 16-April 1, 2017.

In post-apocalyptic America, a group of strangers bond by recreating the infamous "Cape Feare" episode of The Simpsons. From this fortuitous meeting, distant memories of "Marge" and "Homer" become the basis for shaping a new society as the play travels decades into the future. An outrageous and enthusiastically acclaimed dark comedy by Anne Washburn, Mr. Burns is both a marvelous meta-tribute to the iconic first family of contemporary pop culture and a celebration of the power of generational storytelling. Hailed as one of the Top Ten Plays of 2014 by the New York Times, Mr. Burns, a post-electric play "has arrived to leave you dizzy with the scope and dazzle of its ideas. 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" (New York Times).

Mr. Burns, a post-electric play is presented March 16-April 1, 2017 at The Wilbury Theatre Group, 393 Broad Street Providence RI. Tickets are $15-$28. Call 401.400.7100 or www.thewilburygroup.org.

Holder of 31 Emmys, a Peabody Award, and the record for the longest-running sitcom in television history (650+ episodes and counting), The Simpsons is a cultural time capsule and a piercing look into the complexities of human nature. A masterful example in writing and animation that showcases the lasting impact of successful parody, "Cape Feare" was first aired in 1993 as the second episode of The Simpsons' fifth season. One of the most celebraTed Simpsons episodes and consistently ranked as a top fan favorite, it premiered just two years after Martin Scorsese's 1991 remake of the original 1962 film Cape Fear. The Simpsons' unforgettable spoof spans the entire film while making additional references to classic horror movies such as Psycho and A Nightmare on Elm Street, and various television shows and musicals.

"Anne Washburn is one of the smartest and most imaginative playwrights working today," says Wilbury Artistic Director Josh Short. "In her equally hilarious and slightly disturbing Mr. Burns, she imagines a post-apocalyptic world in which the only way to stay sane is to try to piece together long-lost cultural artifacts, such as an episode of The Simpsons. Whether you're a Simpsons obsessive or a relative newcomer to the legendary cartoon, Mr. Burns gets us involved in re- creating a story from the past in order to feel that we are less lost in the present and in the hands of Brien Lang it's sure to be a funny, heart wrenching, and beautiful piece of storytelling."

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 16 7:30pm, Friday, March 17 7:30pm, Saturday, March 18 7:30pm. Sunday, March 19 7:30pm, Monday, March 20 7:30pm, OPENING Thursday, March 23 7:30pm, Friday, March 24 7:30pm, Saturday, March 25 7:30pm, Sunday, March 26 2:00pm, Thursday, March 30 7:30pm, Friday, March 31 7:30pm, Saturday, April 1 7:30pm

Mr. Burns, a post-electric play is presented through special arrangement with Samuel French Inc., with support from Dramatists Guild Foundation and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. Learn more at www.thewilburygroup.org/Mr-Burns.

ABOUT THE WILBURY THEATRE GROUP
Founded in 2010, The Wilbury Group is an ever-evolving collaboration of artists committed to presenting adventurous audiences with the highest quality professional theatre. Founded on the belief that quality theatre should be an affordable and accessible means of enrichment to the community; The Wilburys present contemporary, experiential theatre that simultaneously engage, inspire, and provoke thought among audiences.

As the official resident theatre company in the historic Trinity Square Theater at the Southside Cultural Center, The Wilbury Theatre Group is committed to providing our diverse and evolving community with affordable access to the performing arts through our Education program, public outreach programs, and professional productions of cutting-edge theatre from around the world.

The Wilbury Group's 2016/17 season is supported by The Avery Providence, The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, Revival Brewing Company, and Dramatists Guild Foundation. Learn more at www.thewilburygroup.org.

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