Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play

Anne Washburn’s daring dark comedy imagines a world after the collapse of modern civilization, where a group of survivors gathers around a fire and reconstructs an episode of *The Simpsons*, “Cape Feare.” As time passes, fragments of television, advertising, popular music, and comedy evolve into cultural mythology: jingles become parables, songs become hymns, and figures such as Mr. Burns become legendary remnants of the lost world. The production blends theater, pop culture, opera, and commedia dell’arte in a funny and unexpectedly moving exploration of the stories people preserve.

Directed by Elizabeth Dinkova, artistic director of Spooky Action Theater, the play returns to its roots after premiering at Washington, D.C.’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.

When: October 9–18, 2026

Showtimes: Friday, October 9 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 10 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, October 15 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, October 16 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, October 18 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: Regular admission is $30 plus a $5 booking fee. Student and youth admission is $10.

Venue: Kay Theatre, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

Seating: Reserved seating

Directed by: Elizabeth Dinkova, artistic director of Spooky Action Theater

Content note: The production contains strong language, haze, prop guns, and gunshot sound effects.

Accessibility: Available services include wheelchair-accessible seating, size-inclusive seating, large-print programs, assisted-listening devices, adult and child-friendly sensory packs, and quiet spaces. ASL interpretation, audio description, and captioning are available for select events or by request at least six weeks in advance.

Livestream: Not available.