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
Props Master, Cameron Osterneck
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 Tartunella & 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