Quintessence Theatre Group

Quintessence Theatre continued to produce live and in-person during our season xiii: celebrating the extraordinary, with virtual streaming options available for select productions. Each production was chosen to remind our audiences and city at large of the incredible power of Theatre, and the theatrical imagination. Many are asking "why" should Theatre still exist in the age of streaming content, and each piece was chosen because in its own time it pushed the limits of our art form, and continues to put what makes Theatre essential and exceptional front and center. Starting with the absurd genius of eugne ionesco's the chairs performed by two of philadelphia's finest veteran artists (frank x and e. ashley izard), followed by our bare stage,actor and chalk driven, but pure magic production of [cont on sch o]mary poppins (hanna gaffney won the 2023 barrymore award for best actor in a musical for her portrayal of the infamous nanny), to the evocative and prescient american labor classic waiting for lefty, which opened while a strike was taking place at an amazon warehouse only miles away, to celebrated tv and stage actor lawrence pressman's return to Quintessence (awake and sing!) To make his swan song as prospero in the tempest. And our season finale, and first commissioned world premiere play, written by phillis, unleashing the sublime verse of one of america's greatest poets on our stage. Our inaugural get lit gathering launched in the summer of 2022 with the creation of written by phillis. Quintessence received its first grants for arts projects award from the nat'l endowment for the arts for written by phillis, and specifically to support the commissioning fees for playwrights paul oakley stovall and marilyn campbell-lowe, as well as housing for the director, chicago's cheryl lynn bruce. Conceived and created as part of Quintessence's collaboration with chicago's new classics collective, this original play based on the life of phillis wheatley (an enslaved woman and the first african american and second female to have a book of poetry published in the u.s.) puts wheatley's poetry front and center, reconsiders her important role in america's founding and ideals, and celebrates her life and legacy. The new play development comprised a series of workshops and readings in 2021-2022, including a public reading and discussion to engage local artists, scholars, and everyday residents' input on the play development. Quintessence produced the world premiere of written by phillis in may-june 2023. Written by phillis sparked a city-wide celebration of a remarkable african american woman and poet, of which our project was one centerpiece. Many patrons shared how they were moved by the nuances of wheatley's poetry and overwhelmed at learning a more complex narrative of her life. Even on nights without a post-show conversation, patrons wouldn't leave they stayed in their seats and talked, compelled to dialogue about the experience. Further workshops and a second production of written by phillis are planned at the chicago shakespeare theater for 2025. Overall, productions last season proceeded fluidly and our increased marketing to stimulate post-covid attendance paid off. Quintessence attracted 12,405 theatregoers, about 11% below pre-pandemic levels. This re-growth was attributed in part to the success of our holiday classic, mary poppins, which garnered our first sold out performances post-pandemic, and became the best-attended show in Quintessence Theatre's 13-year history. However, there remained almost no covid relief funding for the arts in 2022-2023, and ensuring financial stability continued to be challenging in the wake of the pandemic. One relief funding stream was made available through the state of pa in february 2023; however, anticipating and eligible for $380,000, Quintessence was awarded only $37,000 and still awaits receipt of said funds. Despite the challenges that have arisen, Quintessence Theatre remains firmly committed to the philadelphia community and its actors, artists, administrators, and educators. We are fulfilling our mission of bringing epic works of classic drama and literature to the contemporary stage in an increasingly inclusive and equitable manner, including by representing diverse stories and storytellers on our stage. We are in the process of purchasing the sedgwick, exercising our option on december 28,2023; option was extended on march 28,2024. No definitive settlement date has been scheduled but hope to accomplish this by the end of june 2024. We have a renovation plan developed by our architects, voith & macavish and gg&a consultants. Our capital campaign for Quintessence at the sedgwick Theatre provided funds for addressing minor improvements, with the larger venue renovations beginning with a new marquee and facade improvement to occur in 2024/2025.