For fourteen years, Quintessence Theatre has produced award-winning theatre at the Sedgwick in Mt. Airy and is kicking off its XV Anniversary Season with a blockbuster play that embodies the company’s “classics forward” approach to drama and literature. Considered one of the world’s one hundred greatest plays, Quintessence is thrilled to produce the Philadelphia Premiere of the adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac by “in-yer-face” British playwright Martin Crimp.
The beloved pioneer of panache, Cyrano de Bergerac, is a celebration of the power of language. Roxane loves the beautiful-bodied but dim-witted and inarticulate Christian. Cyrano is a genius with words and a masterful swordsman but his long nose makes him embittered and fearful to profess his love. So instead of fighting, Cyrano offers Christian the use of his poetry in order to win Roxane’s affection with more than just looks, and a powerful and often hilarious love triangle is set in motion. Through spoken word, slam poetry, raps and rhymes, this Cyrano breaks out into contemporary culture and becomes instantly recognizable as a man trapped by love and the worth of beauty.
Returning Quintessence Theatre artists are Lee Thomas Cortopassi as Ligniere, Janis Dardaris as Leila Ragueneau, Gabriel Elmore as Valvert, J. Hernandez as Cyrano, Daniel Chase Miller as Christian and Kelechi Udenkwo as Le Bret. Making their Quintessence debuts are Erica Lynn Bridge as Roxanne, Tim Dugan as De Guiche, Liam Gerard as Montfleury, and Laiah Westlyn as Marie-Louise. All other roles will be played by the Ensemble.
If You Go
“Cyrano de Bergerac” runs Sept. 25-Oct. 20. Opening Night is Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. Reserved tickets start at $30, and multiple discounts are available, including day-of RUSH tickets for $10. Premium seats are available starting at $40.
Events during this production include:
- Pay-What-You-Can (Sept. 25)
- Behind-the-Scenes (Oct. 2)
- Queer Affinity Night (Oct.3)
- Cast Talkback (Oct. 10)
- Special Guest Convo (Oct. 13)
- Industry Night (Oct. 17)
- Teen Night (Oct.18).
- Tickets, discount, event details and information are available at www.QTGREP.org.
Quintessence is located 7137 Germantown Ave. Patrons can call the Box Office at 215-987-4450.