Quintessence Theatre Group Sets 2016-17 Season

Quintessence Theatre, Philadelphia's only all-classical repertory theatre, announces its seventh season of progressive classics. Season 2016-2017 includes MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN in the fall, a world premiere family holiday classic WILDE TALES, a rotating repertory: LOVE'S LABOR'S LOST and THE BROKEN HEART in the spring, and UNCLE VANYA to close the season in the summer. Quickly establishing a reputation as Philadelphia's home for the classics and working to build a center for America's next generation of classical theatre artists, Quintessence ignites the classics for today with their celebrated brand of actor and text driven theatre.

MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN by Bertolt Brecht adapted by David Hare

October 12 - November 6, 2016 Opening Night: October 15, 2016

An epic retelling of the Thirty Years' War is experienced through the trials of a cunning canteen operator determined to make a profit off of the war, no matter the danger to herself or her children. Considered to be one of the greatest plays of the 20th century, Quintessence will expand its definition of classic and launch its seventh season lead by Philadelphia legend Janis Dardaris as Courage.

WILDE TALES by Oscar Wilde, adapted by Jeremy Bloom

December 7, 2016- December 31, 2016 Opening Night: December 10, 2016

A selfish giant builds a wall around his beautiful garden to prevent the local children from playing in it. When the wall is finished the garden falls into perpetual winter, and doesn't awake until a young boy finds his way in through a hole in the wall. Quintessence will continue to establish a tradition of holiday classics for the entire family as Jeremy Bloom makes his Quintessence debut and adapts Oscar Wilde's mystical tales for children, including "The Happy Prince" and "The Selfish Giant," into WILDE TALES.

THE LOVE AND LONGING REPERTORY March 15 - April 23, 2017

LOVE'S LABOR'S LOST by William Shakespeare

March 15 - April 21, 2017 Opening Night: March 18, 2017

The King of Navarre and his entourage swear off women and promise to cloister themselves for seven years to enrich their minds. The following day the Princess of Aquitaine and her retinue arrive with business for the King. Can the gentlemen and their oath survive the intelligence and beauty of their newly arrived female guests? William Shakespeare's early romantic comedy LOVE'S LABOR'S LOST explodes with wit and revelry, and includes some of Shakespeare's greatest romantic poetry.

THE BROKEN HEART by John Ford

March 29 - April 23, 2017 Opening Night: April 1, 2017

After the death of their father, an ambitious young solider marries his sister to a powerful older gentleman, despite her father's consent to marry her to her first love, a poor student. The marriage elevates the soldier and his triumphs in war have him in line to marry the princess. But his sister collapses into despair from her loveless marriage, and her student lover swears he will risk all to revenge his loss, even if it means bringing down the kingdom. John Ford's romantic revenge tragedy THE BROKEN HEART proves that one can die from broken a heart.

UNCLE VANYA by Anton Chekhov, translated by Annie Baker

May 31 - June 18, 2017 Opening Night: June 3, 2017

What keeps a person alive? A celebrated professor has built a life and career off of the profits of a rural farm run by Sonya, his daughter, and Vanya, his brother-in-law from a previous marriage. Returning to the family estate the professor surprises all by announcing his intention to sell the property so that he and his beautiful younger second wife can live more comfortably in the city. Can the different members of this complicated family and their friends survive the tedium of life without work? Quintessence will conclude season VII with Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA in a new American translation by Annie Baker. This classic Russian drama is part romance, part tragedy, part farce, and explores what it is essential and of the most value in the collective human struggle to progress and endure.

QUINTESSENCE THEATRE GROUP is a professional theatre, dedicated to the performance and adaptation of works of classic literature and drama for the contemporary stage. Founded in 2009, Quintessence takes its name from Shakespeare's Hamlet: "What a piece of work is a man.... And yet to me, what is this quintessence of dust?" Quintessence aspires to the Elizabethan understanding of the word: the fifth element (the element of the heavens and the soul), and the purest essence of a substance.

Quintessence will continue to work toward the establishment of an acting ensemble and a rotating repertory at the historic Sedgwick Theater, a 1928 Art Deco movie palace designed by William Lee, in Mt. Airy, Philadelphia. Quintessence's residency at the Sedgwick has played a fundamental role in the renaissance of main street Mt. Airy, a revitalized neighborhood in northwest Philadelphia.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION & PARKING: The Sedgwick Theater is readily accessible via SEPTA Regional Rail to either the Allen Lane Station (Chestnut Hill West) or Sedgwick Station (Chestnut Hill East). The SEPTA 23 Bus also services the Sedgwick Theater, connecting South Philadelphia to Chestnut Hill. Free Parking is available behind the theatre and in the municipal parking lot across Germantown Avenue.

TICKETS:

Preview tickets are $25.

General Admission tickets for week 2 are $30, week 3 are $35 and week 4 are $40.

Student tickets (21 and under) are $15.

Active military are $20.

Seniors receive $5 off the ticket price.

Opening night tickets are $50.

Individual tickets go on sale September 1, 2016 and will be available via box office, website, or phone.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: A variety of subscription packages are on sale now. Subscribers save up to 35% on the cost of tickets, may exchange tickets up to 24 hours before the performance, receive free tickets to the Elemental Recitations series and discounts at local Mt. Airy restaurants and businesses. To purchase a subscription visit: www.QuintessenceTheatre.org or call 215.987.4450, Ext. 1.

MEMBERSHIP: For only $50 you can become a member of Quintessence Theatre Group. Membership privileges include 50% off five individual tickets and access to all subscriber benefits. For information, or to become a QTG member, visit: www.QuintessenceTheatre.org or call 215.987.4450, Ext 1.

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: For only $85 ages 21-29 receive five tickets to season VII and have the opportunity to socialize with other young professionals. For information, or to become a QTG member, visit: www.QuintessenceTheatre.org or call 215.987.4450, Ext 1.

GROUP SALES & STUDENT MATINEES: Group rates and special weekday student matinees are available. For information on group sales please call 215.987.4450, Ext. 5 or email Quintessence at BoxOffice@QuintessenceTheatre.org.

RUSH TICKETS: $10 rush tickets for industry professionals and students with ID are available at the box office one hour before performances pending availability.

PAY WHAT YOU CAN: The first preview for each Quintessence production is a Pay What You Can (PWYC) performance and is open to the general public. The Season VII PWYC performances are:

Mother Courage: October 12. Wild Tales: December 7. Love's Labors Lost: March 15.

The Broken Heart: March 29. Uncle Vanya: May 31.

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