Amadeus (2019): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 10:58, 4 February 2021

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

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.
Constanze Weber (Lilli Hokama) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Samuel Adams) play cat and mouse. C. Stanley Photography.
Cast of Amadeus. C. Stanley Photography.
Antonio Salieri (Ian Merrill Peakes) shares his frustrations. C. Stanley Photoraphy
Antonio Salieri (Ian Merrill Peakes) visits Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Samuel Adams) for the last time. C. Stanley Photography
Constanze Weber (Lilli Hokama) holds Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Samuel Adams) in his final moments. C Stanley Photography.