Quantum sets playwright Jennifer Chang’s innovative and edgy Faustian play at The Tenant Innovation Center at the Frick Building. Pittsburgh-born Kyle Haden directs a stellar 4-person cast, including Quantum regular Sam Turich (An Odyssey) and Emmy-nominated Lisa Sanaye Dring.
The audience has been invited to celebrate the mind-blowing success of George Fast’s company Voltaire (highest earning quarter ever!) Maybe the invited ‘shareholders’ will get a sneak peek at some new technology and help influence the rise of this company headed for the Forbes list.
The Devil is a Lie is a sly and subversive retelling of the Faust story. In this snappy consideration of capitalism, give an eye to the ‘staff’ at this seemingly celebratory cocktail party – the young DJ gigging it offers more than his employers anticipated. Poor George finds payment for his soul is due upon receipt, and the Devil is a disrupter. Prepare to be disrupted.
The Devil Is A Lie offers an immersive world where the audience is invited to contribute. Attendees can offer answers to poll questions via their smartphones. It’s fun, fast, and reminiscent of several reality TV shows, but on closer examination, the questions reflect on things such as social status, cultural marginalization, and ethical decisions. And innovative technology, in the hands of Kyle Haden, blurs the lines between what is real and what’s not.
“This is another case of bringing world-class theater to Pittsburgh,” Haden states. “Jennifer Chang is a nationally renowned theater artist, and we’re getting to premiere this play of hers in Pittsburgh. Me continuing to make art here, to make it a priority, is extending that legacy of great art in Pittsburgh.”
The Devil Is A Lie represents Chang’s ongoing commitment to diversity in storytelling and anti-racist practices.
To meet the technical finesse and elegant party environment that the script invokes, The Tenant Innovation Center at the Frick Building became the perfect solution for the performance venue. The space’s marriage of lush architectural history and modern technological updates. The building, built by and named for Pittsburgh titan Henry Clay Frick, is a relevant tip of the hat to the socioeconomic power struggles examined in the play.
“Taking the bones of the Faust story, which has been around for generations, turning it on its head and twisting it is, I think, very interesting and makes room for people of color or those who have been marginalized or overlooked. There’s something very compelling to me about that.” Haden states.
Every performance begins with the audience invited to mingle over a cocktail, but special evenings during the production’s run include:
- Pay What You Can Night on April 5th.
- Community Night on April 6th.
- Opening Night with a post-show reception on April 7th.
- Sunday Q&A with cast and crew on April 9th.
- Social Q pre-show reception on April 12th.
- Pre-show wine tasting at the Quantum Quaff on April 13th.
- Psychological post-show discussion of the characters Quantum on the Couch on April 22nd.
The Devil Is A Lie’s creative team features Scenic Designer Sasha Schwartz, Lighting Designer C. Todd Brown, Sound Designer Howard Patterson, Costume Designer Grzegorz Labuda, Projection Designer Davine Byon, and Stage Manager Cory F. Goddard to leverage the powerful messaging the play presents.
Tickets and more information about ‘The Devil Is A Lie’ is available at https://www.quantumtheatre.com/ or by calling the Box Office at 412.362.1713.
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