Award-winning television, film and stage actor David Morse and his wife, Susan Wheeler, are giving a benefit performance of A.R. Gurney’s "Love Letters" to support Quintessence Theatre’s capital campaign to purchase and renovate the Sedgewick Theater. 

“Quintessence Theatre is an important part of the community and the Philadelphia theatre scene,” said the couple, who live in Northwest Philadelphia. “We’re happy to support them as they take their next big step as a vital regional theater.”

The performance takes place at Quintessence’s home - the historic Sedgwick Theater located at 7137 Germantown Ave. The evening starts with a champagne, specialty cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception starting at 7 p.m., with the performance starting at 8 p.m. 

"Love Letters" is a tender, romantic comedy, in which two childhood friends share a series of love letters over 50 years of life, only realizing in the end the relationship they shared. 

A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, it was written and structured for actors to arrive at the theater without memorizing lines in advance and spontaneously become "Melissa Gardner" and "Andrew Makepeace Ladd III" – a couple who have known and loved each other for nearly all their lives, married other people, but share their friendship, challenges, wins and losses through that most precious form of lost communication – words on paper. 

"What better way to share Valentine's Day with your Valentine than by reading the love letters of others? Or even better, having them read to you by two great actors,” said Alex Burns, founder and producing artistic director of Quintessence.  “It is an honor to celebrate Valentine's Day with David Morse and Susan Wheeler, and are grateful to them.”

David Morse has appeared in numerous movies and television shows, including "Hack," which was filmed in Philadelphia. Susan Wheeler trained at William Esper Studio in New York and has performed in many TV and theater roles. These days she writes as Susan Morse and is now working on a book about duplicate bridge while playing all over the country. 

There will be brief comments from the stage after the curtain call, with the lobby open for post-show chats and photos. Everyone will leave with a custom gift of Valentine’s Day chocolate from Mt. Airy’s own High Point Espresso and Pastry Shop. 

Seating is limited and ticket prices vary. There are six exclusive "Tables for Two" with intimate club-style seating placed in front of the stage that includes a personal bottle of champagne, at $1,000 per table (seats two). Premium center seats in the first four rows of the theater are $500 per person. Premium seating to the left, right and rear of the premium center is $250 per person. House left and right general admission seating is $150 per person. Tickets are available at QTGREP.ORG, or by calling the Box Office at 215-987-4450.