PHILADELPHIA, PA — Quintessence Theatre Group‘s Board of Directors, chaired by Patricia Stranahan, has purchased the historic Sedgwick Theater in the Mt. Airy neighborhood for $2.3 million. “Quintessence Theatre Group’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that we have purchased our home of 14 years, the Sedgwick Theater,” said Stranahan. She expressed gratitude for the community’s support and excitement for upcoming renovations.
The Sedgwick Theater, built in 1928, is an Art Deco landmark designed by architect William Harold Lee. It originally opened as a movie palace with a grand lobby, live orchestra space, and seating for 1,636 people. The theater closed in 1966, and the building was later used as a warehouse. In 1994, David and Betty Ann Fellner acquired it and operated it as a community gathering space until 2006.
In 2010, Alex Burns, a Mt. Airy native, rented the space for his newly formed Quintessence Theatre Group. “The remains of the Sedgwick Theater are a reminder of the world-class city Philadelphia has been for nearly three and a half centuries,” Burns shared. He highlighted the theater’s grandeur and its suitability for classic repertory theatre.
The purchase from the Fellners is financed by Mid Penn Bank, with support from private donors. State Senator Art Haywood supported the acquisition and helped secure $1.75 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Funding Program (RACP) funds for renovations.
Quintessence plans extensive upgrades to the Sedgwick, including a new marquee replicating the original, expanded seating capacity, new dressing rooms, and modernized facilities. The group will work with Philadelphia-based Voith & Mactavish Architects. Renovations are expected to be completed by the end of 2026 or early 2027, in time for the theater’s 100th birthday in 2028.
Erica Ezold, Executive Director of Quintessence, noted, “I can’t think of a better way to start our XV Anniversary Season than with Quintessence’s commitment to the Sedgwick as our permanent home in Mt. Airy.” She thanked the board, staff, and pro-bono legal team at Ballard Spahr for their efforts, and expressed gratitude to the Fellners for their stewardship of the property.
Quintessence Theatre Group will continue producing classic theatre while renovations are underway, with plans for a grand re-opening in the renovated Sedgwick Theater.
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