PHILADELPHIA: Quintessence Theatre Group has announced that Erica Ezold has joined the organization as executive director as of April 15. She serves alongside founding artistic director Alex Burns and succeeds Grace Grillet, who will remain on staff as a senior advisor. Ezold and Grillet both previously worked as managing directors at People’s Light in Malvern, Pa.
“As Quintessence prepares to celebrate our 15th season, it is propitious that Erica Ezold’s journey is joining ours,” said Quintessence founding artistic director Burns in a statement. “Since our first meeting, I have admired Erica’s business acumen, producing prowess, and commitment to bringing audacious theatrical events to Philadelphia. I believe our partnership will allow Quintessence to achieve its ambitious goals for the historic Sedgwick Theater, while allowing Quintessence to grow and flourish as Philadelphia’s home for epic classic theatre.”
Erica Ezold grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, moved to New York City for college, and spent the subsequent 15 years producing independently, working for large nonprofit institutions and in commercial theatre management. Upon her return to the Philadelphia area in 2014, she served as general manager for Pig Iron Theatre Company, where she supported the company’s innovative theatremakers as well as the next generation of devisers attending Pig Iron’s master’s program. Ezold first joined People’s Light as director of finance in 2018, became director of finance and operations in 2020, and was promoted to managing director in 2023.
She holds a BFA in Drama from New York University and a MBA from Baruch College. She is on the adjunct faculty at University of the Arts teaching Theatre Management, and is a member of the Forum of Executive Women, where she serves on the finance committee. As executive director, Ezold will oversee the theatre’s planned renovations, expand the organization’s presence in the community, and ensure the company continues to produce quality works of classic theatre.
“I am honored and thrilled to join the team of this exciting and growing organization that is planning to purchase and renovate the historic Sedgwick Theater to serve as our permanent home in Northwest Philadelphia,” said Ezold in a statement. “Notably, Quintessence has experienced a 48 percent increase in subscriptions this year and we are about to announce our 15th anniversary season…I look forward to partnering with Alex and collaborating with the board and staff as we continue to serve the Philadelphia and regional arts community by making Quintessence a destination for classical theatre and community gathering.”
Founded in 2009, Quintessence Theatre Group is dedicated to bringing epic works of classic drama and literature to the contemporary stage. As a text-based, actor-focused repertory theatre company, Quintessence re-envisions the classics to inspire their community to consider what is essential in theatre and in human nature. As of 2023, Quintessence had an approximate budget of $1.3 million.
