Program Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play

By Anne Washburn, Music by Michael Friedman, Lyrics by Anne Washburn

Published with Permission by Concord Theatricals (Samuel French)

Director: Michael Smith-Gallo

Music Director: Marc Russo

Choreographer: Nicole Boscarino

Assistant Music Director: Will Carey

Stage Manager: Matt Marino

Production Team

Set and Property Construction: Keith Hoovler*, Jessi Baden-Campbell, Evan Dassler-Pardalos, Leticia Diaz*, Hilijos Exume, Amy Fox*, Jill Friedland, Alicia Hayes*, Ray Hoffman, Kay Koch*, Rachelle Mandik, Matt Marino, Alan Rennagel, Jack Rennagel, Rachelle Rennagel, Leni Rose, Cindy Ryan, Steve Sandler*, Tony Smith, E. Dale Smith-Gallo*, Michael Smith-Gallo*

Settings

Act I: Ulster County, NY, 2023

Act II: Pond Creek, OK, 2030

Act III: Springfield, 2105

This production includes: A GUNSHOT, ADULT LANGUAGE, STROBE/FLASHING LIGHT, FOG, AND MILD VIOLENCE

There will be a 10 minute intermission following Act 1 and Act 2

Director’s Note

In 1353, Giovanni Boccaccio completed his masterwork, The Decameron, a tome about ten Florentine youths who shelter away in the country to escape The Black Death embroiling their city and to divert each other with tales of eroticism, tragedy, wit, practical jokes, and life lessons.  Six hundred fifty-nine years later, Anne Washburn’s Mr. Burns, a post-electric play opened in Washington, DC.  

Set in the aftermath of a unnamed civilization-annihilating event (incidentally involving a “quarantine” and the resulting breakdown of all technical infrastructure), Mr. Burns is at root a survival tale. It is a literal tale of survivors.  It is a tale about the survival of culture.  It is a tale about the survival of hope.  Powered by their memories, our heroes reconstruct an episode of The Simpsons as faithfully as possible, first as a diversion, then as livelihood, and then, perhaps, as liturgy.  

The play cleverly takes as its source material Season Five, Episode Two of The Simpsons, “Cape Feare” which is a parody, infused with an operetta, of a movie, which itself is a remake of an earlier film, which was based on a novel.  And then Ms. Washburn, with the assistance of the late Michael Freidman’s exposed and bare score, uses wildly differing theatrical styles infused with the trappings of sitcoms, cartoons, pop music, rap, and yet more operetta. Throughout, we learn more about Ms. Washburn’s post-electric world: what objects, memes, brands, jokes, and rituals persevere, arise, or transmute and how this affects the wants and needs of our citizenry.  We have thus tried diligently to find illustrations of this both in the text, performance, and design of the show. 

I should hardly need to mention that when first investigating mounting a production of Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, back in August of 2018, there was no telling, how this survival tale would sit in our post-2020 experience.  In the earliest rehearsals the actors were quick to point out the foresight of a play which predicted outdoor gatherings, excessive drinking, distrust in government institutions, and the hoarding of toilet paper.  With any luck, what we have created serves as a funny, witty, and often dark catharsis to you, as much as it is for the characters on stage, as we all continue to survive, to tell stories, and to hope. 

Act I

“Three Little Maids from School Are We”* – Gibson

Act II

“Chart Hits”**/“Say Goodbye” -Quincy, Ensemble

Act III

“The Call Came on the Radio”***-Edna, Chorus

“I Stand on the Deck”-Bart, Homer, Marge, Lisa

“Theme from Cape Feare”-Chorus

“Two Little Darling Lads”-Itchy, Scratchy, Burns

“Messing with the Simpsons”-Bart, Lisa

“Everything Will Be Alright”-Homer

“Toxic”****-Burns, Itchy, Scratchy

“Love and Hate / And Now the Sky”-Edna, Chorus

“Say Goodbye”-Bart, Chorus

“Keep On”-Company

“The Rapids”-Company

“Burns’ Last Speech”-Burns, Chorus

“The Clouds Have Parted”-Chorus

“Last Song”-Bart, Company

* Lyrics by W.S. Gilbert, Music by Arthur Sullivan

** Various Artists, Arrangements by Michael Smith-Gallo

*** Additional Composition by Michael Smith-Gallo

**** By Bloodshy & Avant, Cathy Dennis, Henrik Jonback

Pianos: Marc Russo

Drums: Wesley Brown

Guitar: Will Carey

Glockenspiel: Drew Abney, Rachelle Mandik

Tubular Bells: Drew Abney

Gong: Kay Koch

Accordion: Cindy Ryan

Handbells: Jill Friedland, Leni Rose

Special Thanks

Will Carey, Eleanor Chung, David Wayne Fox, Joseph Gallo Jr., Joe Gallo, Raif Hyseni, Emily Miller, Noel Piercy and the First Presbyterian Church of Caldwell, and Justin, Alastair, and Dorothea Townsend.

About

Alphabetical Order

Drew Abney (he/him)(Comic Book Guy)…Drew Abney is a Freshman at MSU studying Organ Music. He also do theatre. He has acted in the following; Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King at the Women’s Club in Glen Ridge High School, The Madwoman of Chaillot, The Drowsy Chaperone and many others at Bloomfield High School. He also acted in a film “Ally and I” which is part of the New Jersey School of Dramatic Arts program. Drew thanks his family for always letting him pursue his dreams, which is acting and music. You can find him on TickTock

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Michael Baden-Cambell (he/him)(Barney Gumble)…Mike Baden-Campbell is a choral singer with a musical theater habit. A classically trained singer, he sings in the bass section of Ember Choral Arts. Musical theater credits include Pit Chorus for Gaslamp Player’s “Abba,” Cinderella’s Father/Steward for Eccentric Theater Company’s “Into the Woods.” Operatic roles have included Grand Inquisitor in Verdi’s Don Carlo and Uncle Billy in Andrew Simpson’s The Outcasts of Poker Flat.

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Will Carey (AMD/Willy) is a Rutgers graduate with a BA in Theater Arts. Recent credits include: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Quasimodo), Ragtime (Willie Conklin), Parade (Britt Craig), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Barfée). Will would like to thank everyone who put their time and effort into this show

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Evan Dassler-Pardalos (Nelson Van Houten) (he/him)…Evan Alex is a hopeful actor who has been telling stories since he was able to speak. Like most in the world of performance, Evan is able to wear many hats to be part of a production. His superpower is his ASD. Acting is his determined goal. @actorevanalex(Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

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Anthony DiAmbrosio (he/him)(Troy McClure)…Anthony DiAmbrosio is making his Studio Players debut as Troy McClure. You may remember him in other productions such as ‘Eenie Meenie Miney Murder’ and ‘Oh! Calcutta 2000!’ He lives in Montclair with his wife Christine and their twin boys Christopher & Harrison. He still genuinely enjoys watching The Simpons…even the new episodes and lives by the motto: “A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man.” https://www.facebook.com/anthony.diambrosio

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Leticia Diaz (she/her)(Apu Nahasapeemapetilon)… Ms. Diaz is an actor that has appeared in countless plays and musicals throughout the tri-state area. She is the proud founder of Puffy Shirt Productions, proud mama to Justin, and proud partner to Nico. My heart to this multi talented cast. Thanks to The Studio for welcoming me back. Mike: Rich Dzindzichashvili sends his best! Everything, always, for Nino. )O(

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Hilijos Exume (he/him)(Moe Szyslak)…Hilijos Exume is from Bloomfield NJ. He has recently graduated from Rutgers University in the spring of 2021. “Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play” is Hilijos’s first attempt in public theatre. Having always had an interest in acting and performance since high school, he is exploring acting as a new hobby. His other hobbies include digital art, watching films and eating new foods. Several years from now, Hilijos hopes to create work that inspires. Instagram: @hiliex96

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Alicia Hayes (she/her)(Colleeen/Lisa Simpson)…Alicia Hayes is thrilled to be a part of this adventurous production. She was last seen on Studio’s stage as Petey Fisk in Greater Tuna. Additional acting credits include: Emmy (A Doll’s House: Part Two), Molly (Jake’s Women), Fabian (Twelfth Night), Emily (Our Town) and others. Alicia is also a director and a Perry Award nominated stage manager. She looks forward to directing Clue here at Studio for their 2022-2023 season. She serves on the Board of Members at Studio Playhouse and is a proud member of their Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Special thanks to Chelsea Friedlander for her vocal training and encouraging guidance. Love and thanks to those who support her in all her endeavors. Off we go! www.aliciachayes.com/IG: @alicia.c.hayes /Twitter: @aliciachayes

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Ray Hoffman (he/him)(Gibson/Homer Simpson)…After a long detour, Ray is thrilled to be returning to the stage at Studio Playhouse. He was last seen in Much Ado About Nothing and The Winter’s Tale at the NY Renaissance Festival. Other memorable roles include Riff in West Side Story, Jesus in Godspell, Brian in The Shadow Box. Keen observers can spot Ray as Dirty Harry’s befuddled cafe waiter in Clint Eastwood’s Sudden Impact. Ray lives with his family in Montclair and juggles two jobs – acupuncturist and sign language interpreter. Facebook: /ray.hoffman.503 Twitter: @HoffmanRay

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Keith Hoovler (he/him)(Set Design&Construction)…This Production marks Keith’s 4th set design for Studio which include, “Light Up The Sky”, “Moon Over Buffalo” and “Jack and The Bean Stock.” Other productions of note are “Good People” and “Fuddy Meers” for the Strollers of Maplewood. Best wishes and break legs to cast and crew.

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Natylia Foster (she/her)(Mayor Quimby) …Natylia considers herself a late bloomer in more legitimate theatre, but she’s had an entire lifetime of musical influence around her! She’s very excited to be a part of a lovely and welcoming theatre community to serve as the place for her first show!!Facebook-Natylia Foster Instagram- lia_the_pastel_mess YouTube-Natylia Foster

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Amy Fox (she/her)(Costumer Act I&II) …Amy is a fixture here at the Playhouse. Some of her directing favorites are – Superior Donuts, Some Girls, Almost Maine, The Twentieth Century, Other People’s Money (a 2015 Best of Montclair) The Importance of Being Earnest; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Foreigner, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, and Cactus Flower. She is also a Costumer/designer whose credits include Into the Woods, The Importance of being Earnest, Fools (NJACT Perry Award winner), The Man Who Came to Dinner, Sly Fox, Urinetown, The Secret Garden, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, as well as a seasoned stage manager . Amy has enjoyed her first partnership with Julia Sharp and the opportunity to participate in this Avant Garde show. @foxmom5

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Jill Friedland (she/her)(Chief Piggum)…Jill Friedland is a recent graduate from Muhlenberg College with a Bachelor of Arts in theatre. There, she was most recently featured in Unstable Connections and the Sedehi Diversity Project and was a stage manager for I Never Saw Another Butterfly and Clytemnestra. In 2019, she studied abroad at Florida State University’s Theatre Academy London. In her free time, she loves to make art from friendship bracelets! @jafriedland

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Matt Marino (he/him)(Stage manager)…Matt Marino is excited to stage manage his second Studio Players show and, without a doubt, the wildest, most fun production of which he’s ever been a part! Matt’s onstage roles include Glenn Cooper in Rumors (Dover Little Theatre), Scanlon in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Westfield Community Players), and Brakenbury in Richard III (Trilogy Repertory). He also has stage managed productions such as Stuart Little (Studio Players) and Arsenic and Old Lace (Trilogy). Thank you to Michael and to the terrific and talented cast and crew. To the audience: have an EXXXXXCELLENT time!

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Kay Koch (she/her)(Edna Krabappel) Kay Koch (Edna) was most recently seen here at Studio Playhouse in both the “Celebrating Sondheim” and “Welcome Home” benefit cabarets. She additionally appeared in 2018’s “Into the Woods” and is thrilled to add this wild and wonderful world of future-dystopia Simpsons Springfield to the list! Other favorite local credits: “The Sound of Music”, “1776: The Women of Congress”, “Mamma Mia!”, “Gutenberg the Musical!” Thanks to Michael and the entire ‘Burns’ crew for having me aboard the Minnow, massive fistbumps-and-squishhugs to Jessi, and endless love to my husband Packy. Dedicated in memory of my daddy, Tim Koch.

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John L’Ecuyer (he/him)(Matt/Scratchy)…John is delighted to be back onstage at Studio Playhouse, where he played Harold in “Boys in the Band” in 2019. Other credits include Charlotte in “Casa Valentina”; Dale Harding in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”; and Rupert in “Rope.” His last performance in a musical was Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance” in 2001.

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Rachel Lewis (she/her)(Maria/Itchy)…For me, theater is communion. I’ve had the pleasure and adventure of communing with others in playhouses on the Gulf Coast of Florida and in Portland, Oregon. I’m happy now to have found my theatre home in Montclair. I’ve recently heard it said that passion is love and anger combined. This piece has taught me about fighting to preserve the people, places, and practices that we love. A perfect combination of vigor (or anger) and love. This is my first show since 2019 and I’m beyond grateful to join our cast and crew. Thank you for joining us tonight. @sisterrachell

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Rachelle Mandik (she/her)(Nelson Muntz) …Rachelle Mandik spent most of her bi-coastal childhood performing, then studied acting, English literature, and vocal performance at Northwestern University and Oberlin College. She has been in everything from Shakespeare to Shaw to Shepard to Sondheim. She took a nearly fifteen-year hiatus in her twenties and thirties but has been steadily making her way back “home” to the stage once more. She is thrilled to be a part of this production of Mr. Burns.

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Kevin Ohlweiler (he/him)(Lighting Designer)…Kevin is very excited to be back designing at Studio Playhouse. At Studio Kevin has designed; Don’t Drink The Water, Appropriate, Complete Game, Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You, and The Actor’s Nightmare, Stuart Little and More. Outside of Studio he has designed Shrek, Legally Blonde, Grease, Steel Magnolias and more. Break a leg to the entire cast and crew! www.kevinohlweiler.com

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Colleen Renee’(she/her)(Jenny/Marge) …Colleen Reneé is delighted to return to Studio Playhouse after performing in Moon Over Buffalo (Eileen) in 2016. Favorite credits include Matilda The Musical (Mrs. Wormwood), Elf The Musical (Emily Hobbs) with Broadway Theatre of Pitman, Annie (Lily St. Regis) with Trilogy Repertory, Elf The Musical (Deb) with Growing Stage Theatre, Ragtime (Evelyn Nesbit) with Light Opera of New Jersey, She Loves Me (Ilona Ritter) with Summit Playhouse, Chicago (Roxie Hart) with The Road Company, and The Wild Party (Queenie) with CDC Theatre. A big thanks to Mike for this wonderfully weird opportunity! Instagram – @colleenreneelis, Twitter – @colleenlis

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Leni Rose (she/her)(Thelma Bouvier)…Leni Rose grew up in Princeton, New Jersey (where she felt she never quite fit in), finally got a master’s from Rutgers University (where she didn’t fit in either) and then began her search for the alien parents who must have left her on this planet (presumably for a very good reason). In addition to over 30 roles on stage, she’s attempting to build a career in print, commercials, TV, film and improv. She thinks she sort of plays the ukulele.

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Cindy Ryan(she/her) (Krusty the Clown)…Cindy Ryan (Krusty the Clown) is excited to be making her Studio Players debut. She has appeared in several Gas Lamp productions, including Oliver!, Hairspray, A Christmas Carol, and Mamma Mia. She is grateful to Michael and the entire cast and crew for making this experience so fun and special, and to Jeff, Sylvia, and Holly for putting up with accordion practice at all hours. Enjoy the show!

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Julia Sharp (she/her)(Costume Designer, Act I&II)…Julia Sharp a retired professor of fashion, is pleased to be working on Mr. Burns. She has costumed over 50 plays for the professional (Equity) theater at Centenary University, including Blithe Spirit, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Deathtrap, She Stoops to Conquer, Prisoner of Second Avenue, the musicals Peter Pan, Oliver, and A Christmas Carol, and several shows for The Studio Players, including Complete Game, Born Yesterday, and Madeline’s Christmas. She is also the author of several textbooks including ones on textiles, and on the use of design elements in creating apparel

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Michael Smith-Gallo (he/him)(Director) having never really left, returns to Studio since directing, most recently, The Receptionist by Adam Bock in 2019. (He did also appear in Studio’s Halloween Zoom-biefest, October 2020 and in Over My Dead Body in March 2020, ahem, October 2021.) He has also directed Company, A Funny Thing…, and The Last Five Years at Columbia and Butter Fly in association with the Columbia University School of the Arts (starring his beloved husband of-too-many-years Dale). That aside, among his favorite times onstage are as Michael in The Boys in the Band (Studio); Roger, A New Brain (NLT); and Kent, reasons to be pretty (Porch Light).  Michael is a current board member of Montclair Studio and an erstwhile one of the Yale Dramat. Thanks to Dale his cast, crew, and creative team, to Juliana, and to Dale, his husband, favored playwright, and co-conspirator. He (and the aforementioned Dale) are expecting a daughter in July. The utmost momentous gratitudes to any and every one who saw potential, got excited, or otherwise promoted our post-electric play.  Cleaving and Upholding!

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E.Dale Smith-Gallo (he/him)(Sam/Mr.Burns)…Dale is extremely excited to dive into this project– crazy as it may be. He has appeared at Studio several times in roles ranging from The Witch in “Into the Woods” and Harold in “Moon Over Buffalo” (NJAct Perry Nomintation) to Adrian Schwalbach in “Stage Kiss”. His original script, “Fruma-Sarah (Waiting in the Wings),” recieved a world premier performance at The Cell in NYC starring Jacking Hoffman in 2021. He currently serves as the theatre department head at Urban Assembly School of the Arts in Harlem. Love to Mike. Insta: E Dale Smith-Gallo

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Devon Villacampa (he/him)(Ned Flanders) …Devon is thrilled to be playing Ned Flanders in Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play. By day, he works as a middle school Language Arts teacher. In his free time, he writes bizarre stories. His horror screenplay 300 Sacrifices of Children was recently named a Semi-Finalist in the BlueCat Screenplay Contest. Special thanks to family and friends for their constant support. Enjoy the show, neighborinos. Instagram: devonitelyyy Twitter: @DevonVillacampa