Amadeus (2019)

Folger Theatre produced Amadeus, by Peter Shaffer, directed by Richard Clifford, from November 5th - December 22nd 2019.

Amadeus (Samuel Adams) Conducts for the Amadeus Cast. C. Stanley Photography

Synopsis

Genius and jealousy collide in the opulent salons and opera houses of 18th-century Vienna in this Tony Award-winning play. When an impulsive and eccentric prodigy outshines an envious composer, theatrical fireworks emerge. Salieri will do everything in his power to destroy his musical rival-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Winner of 5 Tony Awards®, including Best Play.

The play opens in Vienna, November 1823, where whispers and rumors are rampant that Antonio Salieri, once the famed director of the Italian opera and a favorite of Emperor Joseph II, has admitted to murdering Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart thirty-two years prior. Now an elderly man in a wheelchair, Salieri speaks directly to the audience and begins to explain the story behind the rumors.

The story turns backward in time to 1781. The young Salieri, a devout Catholic who has vowed to dedicate his life to composing music in the name of God, is a favorite of the Royal Court. He has not met Mozart but is thrilled to learn Mozart is in Vienna for a performance. Salieri’s first encounter with Mozart is an accidental eavesdropping on a profane, private moment between Mozart and his fiancée. Mozart’s music is indeed the thing of myths…its genius pierces through to the very soul of Salieri, who cannot reconcile the man whom he calls the “filthy creature” and the “absolute beauty” of Mozart’s God-given musical genius. Right then and there, Salieri swears off God and religion and decides to dedicate himself, instead, to ruining Mozart’s career as a way to wage war on God.

Production

Entertainment unions represented in Folger Theatre productions include The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (**), United Scenic Artists (***), and the Actors' Equity Association (*), which includes members of the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers.

Cast

• Justin Adams*, Baron von Swieten
• Samuel Adams*, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Amanda Bailey*, Venticello
• Louis Butelli*, Venticello
• Junior Gomez, Salieri's Valet
• Lilli Hokama*, Constanze Weber
• James Joseph O'Neil*, Count Orsini-Rosenburg
• Yvonne Paretzky*, Teresa Salieri
• Ian Merrill Peakes*, Antonio Salieri
• John Taylor Phillips*, Emperor Joseph II
• Ned Read, Kapellmeister Bonno
• Deidra LaWan Starnes*, Madame von Strack
• Kathyrn Zoerb, Katherina Cavalieri

Understudies

• Justin Adams*, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Julia Messer, Venticello
• Rachael Montgomery, Venticello
• Yvonne Paretzky*, Madame von Strack
• John Taylor Phillips*, Antonio Salieri
• Ned Read*, Baron von Swieten & Count Orsini-Rosenburg
• Jeff Allen Young, Emperor Joseph II, Kapellmeister Bonno, & Salieri's Valet
• Kathryn Zoerb, Constanze Weber

Creative Team

• Peter Shaffer, Playwright
• Richard Clifford, Director
• Tony Cisek***, Scenic Design
• Mariah Anzaldo Hale***, Costume Design
• Max Doolittle***, Lighting Design
• Sharath Patel, Sound Design
• Michele Osherow, Resident Dramaturg
• Eisenburg/Bean Casting, New York Casting
• Manna-Symone Middlebrooks, Folger Casting & Assistant Director
• Kate Kilbane*, Production Stage Manager
• Juliet Jewett*, Assistant Stage Manager

Production Team

• Kelli Jones, Production Assistant
• Raquel Sequeira, Dramaturg Assistant
• Bella Faccia Inc., Set Construction
• Cameron Osterneck, Props Master
• Jeannette Christensen, Assistant Costume Designer
• Cindey Forkpah, Wardrobe Head
• Jenn Pinkos, First Hand
• Daisy Howard & Kristina Martin, Stitchers
• Adelle Gresock, Milliner
• Dori Beau Seigneur, Wig Design
• Jamie Bagley & Lucy Wakeland, Wig Builders
• Daisy Howard, Wig Mistress
• Alex Keen, Master Electrician
• Kristen Roth, Assistant Master Electrician
• Brandon Roe, Sound Engineer
• Kara Jobe, For Eisenburg/Beans Casting Casting Intern

• OpenBox9, Graphic Design and Advertisement Agency
• Emily Tartanella & Jeff Herrity, Marketing Consultants
• Brittany Diliberto & Bee Two Sweet Photography, Promotional Photography
• C. Stanley Photography, Production Photography
• Mark Fastoso & Leon Swerdel-Rich, Promotional and Production Video
• WAPAVA, Archival Video
• C2, Open Captioning

Folger Theatre

• Janet Alexander Griffin, Artistic Producer
• Beth Emelson, Associate Artistic Producer
• David Polk, General Manager
• Charles Flye, Theatre Production Manager
• Rebekah Sheffer, Assistant Technical Director
• Katelyn Manfre, Humanities Program Coordinator

Other Media

Amadeus Promotional Video

Folger Theatre Spotlight: Ian Merrill Peakes

Cast Talks Mozart and Salieri in AMADEUS

Reviews

"Gorgeous … Amadeus will be music to your ears” – The Washington Post

"Ingenious ... Amadeus soars at Folger Theatre" - DC Theatre Scene

"Truly spectacular ... it's a delight to have Salieri and Amadeus back in town" - BroadwayWorld

"Rapturously performed ... this Amadeus is note-perfect" - MD Theatre Guide

"Samuel Adams plays the eccentric Mozart masterfully ... grab your seats" - K Street Magazine

"Amadeus is a triumph" - DC Metro Theater Arts

"Ian Merrill Peakes and Samuel Adams are transcendent" - Plays To See

"Phenomenal ... Ian Merrill Peakes stuns as a vengeful Salieri" - The Rogers Revue

Image Gallery

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  Antonio Salieri (Ian Merrill Peakes) shares to the audience his secrets from Emperor Joseph II (John Taylor Phillips) and Madame von Strack (Deidra LaWann Starnes). C. Stanley Photography.

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  Constanze Weber (Lilli Hokama) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Samuel Adams) play cat and mouse. C. Stanley Photography.

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  Cast of Amadeus. C. Stanley Photography.

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  Antonio Salieri (Ian Merrill Peakes) shares his frustrations. C. Stanley Photoraphy

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  Antonio Salieri (Ian Merrill Peakes) visits Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Samuel Adams) for the last time. C. Stanley Photography

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  Constanze Weber (Lilli Hokama) holds Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Samuel Adams) in his final moments. C Stanley Photography.

Related Events

• Stage Director Talk: Amadeus (2019)
• Folger Friday: A Viennese Ball (2019)
• Pre-Show Talk: Amadeus (2019)
• Free Folger Friday: Mozart vs. Salieri (2019)
• Brews and Banter: Amadeus (2019)