Amadeus (2019)

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.

Synopsis

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

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 Peakers*, Antonio Salieri

John Taylor Phillips*, Emperor Joseph II

Ned Read, Kapellmeister Bonno

Deidra LaWann Starnes*, Madame von Strack

Kathyrn Zoerb, Katherina Cavalieri

Understudies

Justin Adams*, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Julia Messer, Venticello

Rachael Montgomery, Venticello

Yvonne Par*, 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

Richard Clifford, Director

Tony Cisek, Scenic Design

Mariah Anzaldo Hale, Costume Design

Max Doolittle, Lighting Design

Sharath Patel, Sound Design

Michele Osherow, Resident Dramaturg

Eisneburg/Bean Casting, New York Casting

Manna-Symonne 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

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