SHAWANO, WI- The Box in the Wood Theatre Guild is preparing to take audiences on a one-of-a-kind theatrical journey this October with its production of Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play at the Mielke Arts Center in Shawano.
Directed by Maddie Stuewer, the play was written by Anne Washburn with score and lyrics by Michael Friedman. It’s a story told in three acts, examining how storytelling evolves in a post-apocalyptic world.
“The one-sentence summary is that it’s a commentary on the evolution of storytelling in a post-apocalyptic world,” Stuewer explained. “We start with survivors after the electric grid goes out, passing time by recreating Simpsons episodes. Then we see how that evolves seven years later when they form a theater troupe, and finally, 75 years after that, when a new generation interprets the stories in their own way.”
Stuewer described the production as quirky, thought-provoking, and unlike anything the guild has staged before. The show also incorporates music, though she emphasizes it’s not a traditional musical. “I stand by that it is a play with music,” she said. “There are songs, especially in the third act, where it takes on more of a Greek tragedy feel with a chorus helping to propel the story.”
Performances are scheduled for October 10, 11, 17, and 18 at 7 p.m., with matinees on October 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for youth, available online at shawanoarts.ludus.com or at the door.
Stuewer said the cast features a mix of veteran performers, high school students, and newcomers, creating a dynamic and supportive ensemble. “The beautiful thing about theater is how temporary it is,” she noted. “We work for months to put it together, and after two weekends, it’s done. That’s why I really encourage people to come out and see it while they can.”
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