Opening the 2025-2026 season of Centenary Stage Company’s NEXTStage Repertory comes Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play, an imaginative dark comedy written by Anne Washburn gives an animated exploration of one pop culture era evolving into the mythology of another.
With lyrics by Anne Washburn and score by Michael Friedman, this production follows the survivors of a civilization collapse enjoying a campfire and piecing together the plot of The Simpsons episode “Cape Feare” from memory. After 75 years, this and other snippets of pop culture including sitcom plots, commercials, jingles and pop songs have become the live entertainment of a post-apocalyptic society trying to hold onto its past. Seven years later, these are the myths and legends from which new forms of performance are created.
The cast includes both Centenary and non-Centenary students who make up a large portion of the creative and stage management team for NEXTstage Repertory, an all student performance division. As a part of CSC’s Professional Theatre Company, these students play an active and vital role in all professional productions from cast to crew, participating in all facets of production. Students also have the opportunity to network with artists who come to work with CSC throughout the year. These opportunities allow them to make important personal connections with working professionals.
Directing the students in their production is Christopher Young, who serves as the General Manager for CSC and an adjunct faculty member for the theatre department teaching stage combat and Acting for the Camera.
All tickets for Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play are $17.50. Performances will take place in the Kutz Theatre located in the Lackland Performing Arts Center of the Centenary University campus at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown.
For more information, visit centenarystageco.org or call the Centenary Stage Company box office at 908- 979-0900. The Centenary Stage Company box office is open Monday through Friday from 1-5 pm and two hours prior to performances. Centenary Stage Company can also be found across social media platforms; Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter. Like and follow to receive the latest in CSC news and special offers.
The 2025-26 Season of Performing Arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of the NJ State Council on the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, the Sandra Kupperman Foundation, the John and Margaret Post Foundation, The New Jersey Theatre Alliance, the CSC corporate sponsors, including Heath Village, Visions Federal Credit Union, Explore Warren, and Fulton Bank, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.
Mr. Burns - A Post-Electric Play at CSC
Anne Washburn’s imaginative dark comedy is an animated exploration of how the pop culture of one era might evolve into the mythology of another. After the collapse of civilization, a group of survivors share a campfire and begin to piece together the plot of The Simpsons episode “Cape Feare” entirely from memory. 75 years later, these are the myths and legends from which new forms of performance are created.