PHILADELPHIA, PA — Quintessence Theatre’s Season XIV roars on with a thrilling production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, this March and April at the Sedgwick Theater, Mt. Airy. A tale carrying an aura of a curse, so much so that it often goes by the moniker “The Scottish Play.” The gripping narrative chronicles the lengths a couple will go to seize and retain political power, resulting in the ensuing chaos.
Macbeth, a story spun around a Scottish general and war hero turned king, is led on a journey of ambition, tyranny, murder, and madness. The play reflects the couple’s insatiable thirst for power and the unraveling calamity it brings about. The production is helmed by Quintessence Producing Artistic Director, Alex Burns.
The cast is an embodiment of original Shakespearean casting. All actors are male-identifying, a lively team of eleven. The play’s supernatural elements and horror are brought to life by Philadelphia-based special effects designers, ensuring a striking visual experience for the audience.
The cast boasts acclaimed Shakespearean actor Scott Parkinson, making his QTG debut as Lady Macbeth. Other notable newcomers include Owen Corey, Jamison Foreman, Corneilus Franklin, Vaughn Meccod, River Moore, Christopher Patrick Mullen, and Zachary Valdez. The theatre also welcomes back Daniel Miller, stepping into the shoes of the titular King.
Set to run from March 14 – April 21, the opening night is March 23 at 7:30 PM. All performances will take place at Quintessence’s home, the historic Sedgwick Theater located at 7137 Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy. Tickets are priced from $25 and can be purchased online at www.quintessencetheatre.org. A Pay-What-You-Can performance is scheduled for March 14th at 7:30 PM.
Quintessence is honored to present an all-male Macbeth production. The aim is to encapsulate the quintessence of all-male Shakespeare, aligning with the theatre’s celebrated productions of Henry V, Othello, As You Like It, and Richard II.
“In Shakespeare, gender is a construct. It’s crafted through heightened language, the power of the actor and designer, and most importantly through the theatrical imagination of the audience,” Burns explains. “We choose to embrace this opportunity to allow Shakespeare’s theatre to re-enter the conversation.”
The casting choice for Lady Macbeth sparks intrigue. Scott Parkinson, a Chicago-based Shakespearean actor, played Queen Margaret in Ed Hall’s ‘Rose Rage’. He is thrilled to explore the dynamics of theatre’s greatest power couple, with the age difference between him and Daniel Miller offering exciting possibilities.
Rounding out the cast, Quintessence regular Lee Thomas Cortopassi plays MacDuff. Christopher Patrick Mullen makes his Quintessence debut as Duncan while Corneilus Franklin, Jamison Foreman, Owen Corey, Zachary Valdez, and Vaughn Meccod flesh out the rest of the ensemble.
The production is underwritten by the National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Midwest, and a Shakespeare in American Communities grant. Over 1600 Philadelphia area high school students are scheduled to attend special Shakespeare workshops and student matinee performances of Macbeth, fostering a whole new generation of theatre enthusiasts.
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