“The Devil is a Lie”: A “Very Quantum” Experience
By Olivia Miller
What do you get when you combine Snoop Dogg, Faust, and Henry Clay Frick? Local theater company, Quantum Theatre, has done just this in their newest show “The Devil is a Lie” to create an experience that is, as artistic director and founder Karla Boos says, “very Quantum.”
Boos originally started Quantum Theatre over 30 years ago as a way to showcase new ideas from local theater artists. She classifies Pittsburgh as a “rich playground for all of us who like to experiment” and knew Pittsburghers would react positively to her “idea of breaking down the walls of theater.”
Each show the company stages utilizes a different location in the city which allows them to activate the community as well as their loyal audience with their “rolling band of merriment.” “The Devil is a Lie” will be staged in The Tenant Innovation Center in the Frick Building at 437 Grant Street. The historic Pittsburgh venue was chosen because of the unique way it integrates contemporary elements alongside its “gorgeous palate that has marble columns and molding.”
It’s clear that this show is not your standard Broadway performance. Based on the Faust story, the show tells the story of a Forbes list bound startup company as they celebrate their success at a cocktail party alongside a suave yet suspicious DJ. Theatre-goers will have the opportunity to directly participate in the performance by playing potential investors and answering survey questions in real time on their cell phones.
However, the meaning behind “The Devil is a Lie” runs far beyond just a sales pitch for a media company. Boos touts that the show is packed with “a lot of humor, some irreverence, and some big ideas.” Writer Jennifer Chang and director Kyle Haden have re-packaged old, time tested ideas such as “what people will do to get ahead and how that will come back to haunt them” into a modern presentation that will lead the audience on a journey of self reflection and discovery.
Quantum Theatre offers numerous pre and post show events which give the audience a behind the scenes look into the talent and production of the performance. On opening night, April 7th, the audience is invited to a post show cast party complete with champagne. On April 9th, after the 5:30 pm show, there is a Q&A session with the cast. On April 12th, the company will hold their Social Q event where young professionals can network before the show and sample food and drinks at Talia. The next night, on April 13th, the audience has a chance to sample a specially themed wine selection during the company’s Quantum Quaff event. Lastly, on April 27th, the Quantum on the Couch event will occur where theater-goers and cast members will be joined by Pittsburgh doctor Dr. Manuel Reich to perform a psycho-analysis on each of the characters.
“The Devil is a Lie” runs from April 7th to 30th with shows every day from Tuesday to Saturday. There are 5:30 pm shows on Sundays and Tuesdays, which are perfect for commuters looking for a unique way to unwind after a stressful workday. For more information, you can visit their website at quantumtheatre.com or buy tickets here. If you have any questions, you can call the box office at 412-362-1713. To keep up with all things Quantum, you can follow them at @quantumtheatre on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
