UW-Superior Theatre presents Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play

The University of Wisconsin-Superior Theatre Department will open its 2026-27 season with Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play, directed by Sean Naughton.

After a mysterious catastrophe wipes out modern civilization, a group of survivors gathers around a campfire, piecing together a remembered episode of The Simpsons.

Naughton said that while familiarity with The Simpsons may enhance the experience, audiences do not need to be fans of the long-running animated series to enjoy the production.

“This play is really about how stories evolve over time and within a specific cultural moment,” said Naughton. “It imagines a world in the not-so-distant future that has been plunged back into an electricity-free society. The characters try to recall a specific Simpsons episode from memory, and we see how it changes and transforms over the next seven to 75 years. It’s pretty cool.”

Written by Anne Washburn, Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play is a wildly inventive and darkly funny exploration of storytelling, pop culture and the myths people create to make sense of the world. Blending comedy, music and theatrical imagination, the acclaimed play asks what endures when everything else is lost.

Tickets may be purchased at the box office in the Holden Fine Arts Center or online. Reservations may be made by calling (715) 394-8369.

Performances will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 30-31 and Nov. 1, 5 and 6, with a 2 p.m. matinee Nov. 7.