In 2018, QUINTESSENCE became Philadelphia’s 18th Actors’ Equity Theatre as a Small Professional Theater. This formal commitment to professionalism is another major milestone in bringing and keeping talented actors and other theater professionals at Quintessence.
In 2010, Alexander Burns and Pamela Reichen set out to establish a classic repertory theater in Philadelphia. They chose the historic Sedgwick Theater located in the culturally and economically diverse Mt. Airy neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia. There, they built an ensemble of actors dedicated to re-envisioning the classics for present-day audiences while remaining true to each play’s epic scope and poetic text. Quintessence’s approach attracts both nationally recognized and local actors who find challenge and inspiration in our thought provoking, innovative productions.
Quintessence has presented nearly 50 professional, fully produced plays, including 16 productions in repertory. We have hosted 45 play readings and created a holiday tradition of family-friendly productions of classic theater. In 2020, Quintessence presented the full works of J.M. Synge, our third musical - L. Frank Baum’s The WIzard of Oz - and were 4 weeks into rehearsal for our first ever three-show repertory, before being shut down by the CDC in compliance with their Covid-19 precautions.
Quintessence’s commitment to actor and text-driven plays and our use of seasoned actors alongside emerging actors has created a loyal ensemble that continually returns to work together. Our ensemble has not only embraced established local actors, but also brought a new group of talented actors to Philadelphia. Finally, Quintessence has become a home and training ground for a new generation of professional classical actors.