A.C.T. Partners with San Francisco Institutions for MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY Events

To celebrate the West Coast premiere of Anne Washburn's critically acclaimed play, Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) announced today a partnership with several San Francisco institutions-Bartlett Hall, Dynamo Donut, and San Francisco's Cartoon Art Museum. In addition, KBCW 44, Cable 12 is currently airing an entire week of fan-favorite episodes of The Simpsons. The classic "Cape Feare" episode that is at the heart of Mr. Burns, a post-electric play will air Friday, February 6, at 11:30 p.m. The Simpsons is broadcast locally every weeknight at 11:30 p.m. on KBCW 44, Cable 12. Following the 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, March 7, Emmy Award winner and former head writer of The Simpsons, Jon Vitti, will participate in a postshow symposium with Carey Perloff. Vitti has written 25 episodes of The Simpsons, including the "Cape Feare" episode.

Dynamo Donuts, one of the country's most celebrated makers of uniquely flavored donuts, has created a signature treat to honor Homer Simpson's favorite snack. The "D'oh! Nut" is a vanilla and orange donut covered in a raspberry and beer glaze, topped with rainbow sprinkles; it will be available exclusively at the Geary Theater prior to performances and at intermission, and at Dynamo's two San Francisco locations (2760 24th Street and the Kiosk at Little Marina Green).

In The Simpsons, Duff Beer rules, but in San Francisco's Union Square, Bartlett Hall is the purveyor of signature beers. In honor of Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, Bartlett Hall (242 O'Farrell Street) has created Burns' Brew, a German-style Kolsch with notes of biscuit malt, pine resin, and a hint of citrus. In addition to enjoying a refreshing beverage, A.C.T. patrons are invited to enjoy a complimentary chef's choice appetizer for the table before or after the show when they show their tickets!

During the engagement of Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, A.C.T. patrons can enjoy a special two-for-one admission at the Cartoon Art Museum, located in San Francisco's Yerba Buena cultural district. The only museum in the Western United States dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of cartoon art in all its forms, it houses approximately 6,000 original pieces in its permanent collection.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.), in a coproduction with the Guthrie Theater, will present the West Coast premiere of Anne Washburn's Mr. Burns, a post-electric play (February 18-March 15, 2015), which played to sold-out audiences at Playwrights Horizons in New York. In a post-apocalyptic Northern California, a group of strangers bond by recreating the memorable "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 Bay Area-born playwright 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 2013 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). Tickets (ranging from $20-$120) are available at the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org.

Winner of 31 Emmys, a Peabody Award, and the record for the longest-running sitcom in television history (561 episodes and counting), The Simpsons is a cultural time capsule and a piercing look into the complexities of human nature. A masterful example of 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.

The cast of Mr. Burns, a post-electric play includes Nick Gabriel, Anna Ishida, Charity Jones, Tracey A. Leigh, Jim Lichtscheidl, Kelsey Venter, Andrea Wallenberg, and Ryan Williams French.

Directed by A.C.T. Associate Artistic Director, Mark Rucker, Mr. Burns, a post-electric play includes set design by Ralph Funicello, lighting design by Alex Nichols, costume design by Alex Jaeger, score by Michael Friedman, lyrics by Anne Washburn, music direction by David Möschler, and sound design by Jake Rodriguez.
In association with Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, A.C.T. will offer numerous InterACT events-many of which are presented free of charge-that will give patrons opportunities to get closer to the action while having an entire night out at the theater. Visit act-sf.org/interact to learn more about subscribing to these events throughout the season:

• Bike to the Theater Night
Wednesday, February 18
Providing a greener alternative to theater transportation, A.C.T. and the San Francisco Bike Coalition offer free valet bike parking, as well as a special discount on tickets, for these select performances.

• Prologue:
Tuesday, February 24, 5:30 p.m.
Before the curtain goes up, get behind the artistic process at this fascinating preshow discussion with the director and artistic staff.

• Theater on the Couch:
Friday, February 27, following the 8 p.m. performance
Led by Dr. Mason Turner, chief of psychiatry at San Francisco's Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, this exciting postshow discussion series explores the minds, motives, and behaviors of the characters and addresses audience questions.

• Audience Exchanges:
Tues., March 3, 7 p.m. | Sun., March 8, 2 p.m. | Wed., March 11, 2 p.m.
After the show, stick around for a lively Q&A session with the actors and artists who create the work onstage.

• OUT with A.C.T.:
Wednesday, March 4, following the 8 p.m. performance
The best LGBT night in town! Mingle with the cast and enjoy free drinks and treats at this popular afterparty.

• Symposium:
Saturday, March 7, following the 2 p.m. performance
Join Emmy Award-winner, Jon Vitti, and Carey Perloff in a post-show symposium. Vitti has written 25 episodes of The Simpsons, including the "Cape Feare" episode that is at the heart of Mr. Burns, a post-electric play.

• Wine Series:
Tuesday, March 10, 7 p.m.
Before the show, raise a glass at this wine-tasting event featuring leading sommeliers from the Bay Area's hottest local wineries.

• PlayTime:
Saturday, March 14, 12:45 p.m.
Before this matinee performance, get hands-on with the artists who make it happen at this interactive theater workshop.

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