Quintessence Theatre Extends SAINT JOAN and DOCTOR FAUSTUS Through May 1

Quintessence Theatre Group has announced the extension of its celebrated Devil and Saints Repertory: SAINT JOAN and DOCTOR FAUSTUS, performed in rotating repertory now through May 1.

ABOUT THE PLAYS:

SAINT JOAN

Inspired by the voice of angels, a French peasant girl defies society, her church and her king as she leads her country's army to victory over the invading English forces. Are Joan's angels real, or is her fearless heroism and ability to lead an innate greatness which transcends class, gender and physical strength? Can the men in Joan's world accept and celebrate such a powerful and enigmatic woman, or must they destroy what they cannot understand and control? Shaw's masterpiece challenges all preceding artistic representations of the Saint Joan story to create one of the greatest heroines in the history of drama.

Following last season's celebrated production of Kafka's The Metamorphosis, Rebecca Wright returns to Quintessence to direct Shaw's Saint Joan. Leigha Kato, who stunned audiences with her portrayal of Myrrah in the Arden Theater's Metamorphoses earlier this season, makes her Quintessence debut as Joan. Andrew Betz (the Cheshire Cat in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and Celia in As You Like It) returns as the Dauphin. Andrew delighted audiences with a different Dauphin in Quintessence's Henry V. The creative team includes costume designer Nikki Delhomme, sound designer Adriano Shaplin, and lighting designer Brian Sidney Bembridge.

DOCTOR FAUSTUS

Doctor John Faustus is Germany's preeminent scholar in philosophy, medicine, law and ?theology, and yet, he is unsatisfied with the scope of his knowledge and the power it gives him. Calling on Lucifer, Faustus sells his soul to the devil for the power of black magic, 24 years of unlimited knowledge, and to have Lucifer's minion Mephistopheles as his own. In this dark comedy, Marlowe's mighty verse takes Faustus on an epic adventure through space and time to test the limits of the human mind that knows all, but lacks a soul.

Fulfilling a lifelong dream to direct Christopher Marlowe, Artistic Director Alexander Burns leads Quintessence favorites Gregory Isaac as Doctor John Faustus?, Sean Close as his trusty servant Wagner, and Josh Carpenter as the diabolical Mephistophilis. The creative team includes costume designer Jane Casanave, puppet designers Martina Plag and Chris Coyote, lighting designer Brian Sidney Bembridge, and sound design by Alexander Burns.

Tickets are $34 - $27 general admission, $25 for seniors (65 and over) $15 for student and youth (21 and under). Group discounts and weekday student matinees are available. For tickets, go to 215-987-4450 or visit QTGRep.org.

Quintessence Theatre Group is a professional classic theatre, dedicated to the performance and adaptation of epic works of classic literature and drama for the contemporary stage, igniting the mind, body and soul through the power of the actor, design and spoken word. Quintessence was named 2015 Best Theater Company, Up-and-Coming, by Philadelphia Magazine. Now in its sixth season, Quintessence continues to work towards the establishment of an acting ensemble and a rotating repertory at the historic Sedgwick Theater in Mt Airy, Philadelphia.