Quest Theatre Ensemble will bring its visual artistry and immersive theatricality to a season of both new and established works for the 2015-16 season, Artistic Director Andrew Park announced today.
For the holidays, Quest will stage the
Alan Menken-
Lynn Ahrens musical version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. This version with music by Menken, the multiple Oscar winning composer of Disney musicals Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Newsies; and lyrics by the Tony award-winning lyricist of Ragtime, Seussical and Once on this Island ,was a hit for ten consecutive seasons at New York's
Madison Square Garden and was later filmed for television in a production starring
Kelsey Grammer as Scrooge. Quest's production will be directed by Quest Ensemble Director Andrew Park, with choreography by Dennis Murphy and scenic and puppet design by Nick Rupard. A Christmas Carol will run from November 20 - December 20, 2015.
In February 2016, the company will stage the World Premiere of The Trial of Abraham, a powerful courtroom drama that tackles the complicated and often violent relationship between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Abraham, the father of all three faiths, is on trial as the court questions the fine line between faith and reason and whether or not Abraham is the source of division or a potential symbol of reconciliation. The Trial of Abraham was written by Arthur Feinsod and Andrew Park and will feature an original score by Scott Lamps performed live.
Quest Theatre Ensemble and The International Chamber Artists (ICA) will partner in May of 2016 to produce a large-scale puppet and music performance called Passion Play. This special collaboration features two organizations that prioritize making art accessible. ICA offers all of their concerts for free, and Quest has been providing free theater to Chicago since 2002. Passion Play will be set to classical composer Antonin Dvorak's Serenade. The International Chamber Artists will play the Dvorak piece live while Quest Theatre Ensemble's unique large-scale puppets, stilt walkers and performers tell a familiar story the whole family can enjoy. The performances will occur at St. Gregory the Great Church on May 14 and May 15 at 4:00pm.
As always, all Quest performances are free. Recommendations are recommended, though not required. Reservations will be accepted starting in late October for A Christmas Carol and in early January for The Trial of Abraham. Reservations may be made at those times by calling Quest Theatre Ensemble at
312-458-0895.
The company has also announced new associate members of the ensemble. Joining Quest will be actors
Kent Joseph,
Molly LeCaptain,
Kirk Osgood, Jomar Ferreras, Justin Burns choreographer Dennis Murphy, and Lighting Designer Eric Vigo.
Brett Taylor, who was named Managing Director in 2014, will continue in that role, as will Artistic Director Andrew Park.
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