PHILADELPHIA, PA — Quintessence Theatre has announced the Philadelphia premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks’ acclaimed trilogy, “Father Comes Home From The Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3.” Known as the first African-American woman awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Parks was anointed into the Theater Hall of Fame in 2022. She is recognized for her inspiring adaptation of The Odyssey, which reexamines and reinterprets the Civil War in a new light.
“Father Comes Home From The Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3” is set to steal the Philadelphia theater scene from May 29 to June 23. The curtains will first rise at the historic Sedgwick Theater in Mt. Airy on Saturday, June 1 at 7:30 PM. Tickets for this much-anticipated play start at $25, and a special pay-what-you-can performance is scheduled for May 29.
In this unforgettable play, Parks takes us on a remarkable journey of freedom, viewed through the lens of the Civil War and leading towards the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s a gripping story of an enslaved Texan named Hero, who must choose between joining the Confederate army for a promise of emancipation or staying with his true love, Penny, on the plantation. Parks masterfully shatters norms, presenting history through the eyes of the enslaved, impacting our understanding of the American Civil War and the events leading up to Juneteenth.
The directorial reins of this production will be handled by Raelle Myrick-Hodges, a proud fan of Suzan-Lori Parks and a seasoned Philadelphia director. She holds the distinction of being one of the founders of Azuka Theatre and a former Arden Theatre Company Apprentice.
Kelechi Udenkwo, Deja Anderson-Ross, Eric Carter, Donovan Whitney, Peter Bisgaier, and a few newcomers from Quintessence debut in this epic play. In the announcement, Anderson-Ross comes with recent accolades, having won Best Actress for “Players Only” at the Queens Underground International Film Festival.
Quintessence Theatre also plans to host a fundraiser for the local Germantown-based Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery on June 9th. The event will not only allow attendees to engage with the museum’s collection but also offer an opportunity for a Q & A session.
This is a must-see event for all theater enthusiasts and history buffs, as “Father Comes Home From The Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3” will leave audiences with a deeper understanding of their history and an appreciation of Parks’ genius for distilling history into a compelling narrative.
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