MARQUETTE — Anne Washburn’s imaginative dark comedy propels us forward nearly a century, following a new civilization stumbling into its future.

After the collapse of civilization, a group of survivors share a campfire and begin to piece together the plot of The Simpsons episode “Cape Fear” entirely from memory. Seven years later, this and other snippets of pop culture (sitcom plots, commercials, jingles, and pop songs) have become the live entertainment of a post-apocalyptic society, sincerely trying to hold onto its past. Seventy-five years later, these are the myths and legends from which new forms of performance are created.

A paean to live theater, and the resilience of Bart Simpson through the ages, “Mr. Burns” is an animated exploration of how the pop culture of one era might evolve into the mythology of another. Directed by Jamie Weeder

“Mr. Burns” opens at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Ore Dock Brewing Co. Additional performances will be offered Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 13 at 7:30 pm, and November 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available in advance at www.upshakes.org. For more information, call 906-869-1456.