by Anne Washburn
Blarney Productions & You Are Here Theatre Presented by Edmonton Fringe Theatre in the 19|20 Off Season | Westbury Theatre | November – December 2019
“Dad, What’s the point of this story?” – Bart “I like stories.” – Homer
The Apocalypse, the Simpsons and a Musical. In a future with no electricity, no food, and no hope humans gather together to retell their favourite ‘Simpsons’ episode to survive. Follow a group of survivors through a generation of storytelling when mere cartoon characters are transformed into Gods.
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
Marge/Jenny: Nadien Chu
Homer/Matt: Murray Farnell
Quincy/Bart: Kristi Hansen
Mr. Burns/Gibson: Patrick Howarth
Lisa/Maria: Paula Humby
Troy/Colleen: Madelaine Knight
Nelson: Jenny McKillop
Edna: Elena Porter
Itchy: Rebecca Sadowski
Scratchy/Sam: Jake Tkazcyk
Playwright: Anne Washburn
Lyrics by Anne Washburn
Original Score by Michael Friedman
Director: Andrew Ritchie
Choreographer: Ainsley Hillyard
Musical Director & Composer: Mhairi Berg
Set & Costume Designer: Brianna Kolybaba
Lighting Designer: Tessa Stamp
Mask Designer: Megan Koshka
Sound Designer: Lana Hughes
Fight Director: Sam Jeffery
Stage Manager: Nyssa Beairsto
Assistant Director: Morgan Henderson
Assistant Designer: Even Gilchrist
Promotions & Marketing: Marlee Yule
Promotions Designer: Tynan Boyd
AWARDS
Winner of Outstanding Set Design (Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards)
Winner of Outstanding Score of a Play or Musical (Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards)
Nominated for Outstanding Independent Production (Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards)
Nominated for Outstanding Fight Direction (Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards)
Nominated for Outstanding Choreography (Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards)
SUPPORT
This project is supported by the Edmonton Arts Council and the City of Edmonton.
SELECTED PRESS
“This play has made possibly the best use of the Westbury that potentially I have ever seen. The third act…I am reeling from it…its funny and haha and then all of sudden we are snapped back to reality and it is scary” – Mel Priestly, Ghostlight Podcast (Full podcast here)
“Under Ritchie’s direction, the actors have a compelling and alert, natural spontaneity about them, in the cross-weave of fragments, interruptions, silent pauses. There’s a wild go-for-the-gusto theatricality about this bold play. And in this ambitious indie venture Ritchie and his designers really dig in. Post-electric lighting, with its eerie off-the-grid sources, is an imaginative challenge; kudos to Tessa Stamp’s design. Hillyard’s choreography is a collage of 20th century pop-culture riffs and trends, remembered by non-pros. The Act III dance is a mesmerizing mash-up of stylized classical theatre, grandly Broadway gestures, the can-can…” – Liz Nicholls, 12th Night (Full article here)
“Mr. Burns, a post-electric play under the perceptive and creative direction of Andrew Ritchie, is distinctive and insightful. You certainly can’t take exception to the talent in this local production – which succeeds in brilliantly illuminating the playwright’s daring concept. The large cast are all well-known and highly skilled local performers adept at realizing their characters through sharply observed, subtle traits. They seamlessly morph from their characters into the comic personas of The Simpsons while recreating the voices of some of the best-known unseen TV voice actors working today.” – Colin MacLean, Gig City (Full article here)
“They all made me laugh, think, appreciate the need for art in terrible times, and leave feeling hopeful. Which is probably their intent.” – Louise Mallory, Ephemeral Pleasures (Full article here).
“Is pop culture what we derive our meaning, our ethics, our morality, from?” says Ritchie of a play whose three acts happen, successively just after the apocalypse, seven years, then 75 years later. “Pop culture is a time capsule,” says Hillyard. “But you don’t get to decide what to put in…. That decision is for the masses to make.” The Simpsons, says Ritchie, becomes the oral tradition, evolving, transforming over time.” – Liz Nicholls, 12th Night (Full article here)
“Listed as a show not to miss this season on Edmonton stages” – Liz Nicholls, 12th Night. (Full list here)