Quintessence Theatre Group Opens Season With a Family Series Performance of AESOP'S FABLES

Quintessence Theatre Group kicks off its 8th Season with a new family series. This series begins with a World Premiere of a modern adaptation of, Aesop's Fables, by Lee Cortopassi. This delightful show runs September 6-17, before it is set to tour area schools. Opening is Saturday, September 7 at 7 p.m. All shows are at The Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy. Tickets cost $15-$25 and are available online at www.quintessencetheatre.org or at the Box Office at time of performance. Family Series subscriptions are also available.

Quintessence Company Member Lee Cortopassi creates a modern adaption of Aesop's Fables, a collection of short morality tales for children that have been told since 600 BCE. Keeping the delightful anthropomorphic animals of the original stories, the Quintessence adaptation uses contemporary language and situations to re-imagine these timeless tales of friendship, trust, honor, common sense and morality for the whole family.

Cortopassi directs this ensemble. The ensemble includes: Emily Fernandez, Faith Fossett, Michael Gamache, Liam Mulshine. Joseph Glodek is the Lighting Designer. Jane Casanave is the Costume Designer turning the cast into the animals in these classic tales. Daniel Ison is the Sound Designer.

"At a moment when our country's values are being tested, returning to these ancient secular tales about morality and smart citizenship is must see theatre for Philadelphians of all ages," said Quintessence Theatre Group Artistic Director Alexander Burns. "Lee Cortopassi's style is part Marx Brothers, part Looney Toons, part Quentin Tarantino, and his take on these anthropomorphic animal adventures will make even the most somber curmudgeon laugh."

About the Director and Ensemble

Lee Cortopassi - (Writer/Director) Quintessence: Love's Labor's Lost, The Broken Heart, Mother Courage and her Children, The Three Musketeers, As You Like It, Richard II, The Seagull. Off-Broadway: The Imbible: Christmas Carol Cocktails (The Elektra Theater), New York: Dark, Dry and Weird (also writer/director) (The People's Improv Theater- PIT), Juliet and Romeo (TheTank Theater). Training: The William Esper Acting Studio in NYC.

Faith Fossett- (Ensemble). Regional: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Hansel & Gretel (Quintessence); Passing Strange, Saucy Jack & The Space Vixens (Obsidian Theater); A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo & Juliet (NE Shakespeare); The Sound of Music (Virginia Musical Theatre). Film Scoring/Sound Design: Feartown, USA; The Slashening. Music Director: Passing Strange, Saucy Jack &The Space Vixens (Obsidian Theatre); The Rocky Horror Show (Barn Arts Collective); The Last 5 Years (NWU). Original works: My Sacred Prairie Cherry, a solo cabaret; PULSE: A Vampire Musical (book, music, and lyrics.) Training: Nebraska Wesleyan University BFA.

Michael Gamache (Ensemble) -- Originally a Virginia native, he now lives and works in the Philadelphia area. He has been seen at Quintessence Theatre (Wild Tales, The Broken Heart, Love's Labor's Lost), Bristol Riverside Theatre, Revolution Shakes, Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, Resident Theatre Company, The Greenfield Collective, Delaware Shakespeare Festival, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Virginia Shakespeare Festival, Broadway Theatre of Pittman, and Virginia Opera. Michael has an M.F.A. in Classical Acting from Illinois State University.

Liam Mulshine (Ensemble) -- is thrilled to be making his Quintessence debut. Recent credits include the US premiere of Leper + Chip at Inis Nua, The Just, Levée des Conflits at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and understudy roles at the Arden, Walnut Street Theatre and Theatre Horizon. As a founding member of Tut'Zanni Theatre Company, Liam has created and performed Commedia dell'arte-based shows in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington DC, across the Southern US, and in Italy.

Emily Fernandez (Ensemble) - is thrilled to be making her Quintessence debut! Emily is a UArts grad and teaching artist around town. She recently co-created and performed in a solo show called The Art of Losing, a meditation on loss, in collaboration with The Greenfield Collective. She has understudied at the Arden Theatre Company (Beauty and the Beast, Jungle Book, Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates), played Katherine in a feminist adaptation of Taming of the Shrew for Reject Theatre Company and was in Pay Up with Pig Iron.

Performance Schedule

Wed, Sep 6 - 7pm - Pay What You Can Preview
Thur, Sep 7 - 7pm - Preview
Fri, Sep 8 - 7pm - Preview
Sat, Sep 9 - Noon - Preview & 7pm - Opening Night
Sun, Sep 10 - Noon & 4pm
Wed, Sep 13 - 10am - Student Matinee
Thur, Sep 14 - 10am - Student Matinee
Thur, Sep 14 - 7pm
Fri, Sep 15 - 7pm
Sat, Sep 16 - Noon & 4pm
Sun, Sep 17 - Noon & 4pm

About Quintessence Theatre Group

Theatre Group is a professional classic theater dedicated to the performance and adaptation of epic works of literature and drama for the contemporary stage. Its approach attracts both nationally-recognized and local actors who find challenge and inspiration in Quintessence's thought-provoking, innovative productions. It is building an acting ensemble with a rotating repertory at the historic Sedgwick Theater in the Mt. Airy neighborhood. As Quintessence Theatre Group's home, the Sedgwick, a 1928 art deco movie palace designed by William Lee, has regained its place as a jewel in Philadelphia's cultural landscape.

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