Amadeus

A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Amadeus

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  3w, 12m

Peter Shaffer

"Peter Shaffer's greatest play." – The Stage

Image: 2016 National Theatre Production (Marc Brenner)

Amadeus

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 12m
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Period
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 1981 Tony® Award, Best Play
    Winner! 1985 Academy Award, Best Film
Amadeus

Details

Summary
In the court of the Austrian Emperor Joseph II, Antonio Salieri is the established composer. Enter the greatest musical genius of all time: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Salieri has given himself to God so that he might realize his sole ambition, to be a great composer. Mozart is a foul-mouthed, graceless oaf who has that which is beyond Salieri’s envious grasp: Genius.
History

Amadeus premiered at the National Theatre in London in November 1979 under the direction of Peter Hall.

Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups
ANTONIO SALIERI
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOTZART
CONSTANZE WEBER - wife to Mozart
JOSEPH II - Emperor of Austria
COUNT JOHANN KILIAN VON STRACK - Groom of the Imperial Chamber
COUNT FRANZ ORSINI-ROSENBERG - Director of the Imperial Opera
BARON GOTTFRIED VAN SWIETEN - Prefect of the Imperial Library
TWO "VENTICELLI" -  “Little Winds”, purveyors of information, gossip and rumour
MAJOR-DOMO
SALIERI'S VALET - non-speaking
SALIERI'S COOK - non-speaking
TERESA SALIERI - wife of Salieri, non-speaking
KATHERINA CAVALIERI - Salieri’s pupil, non-speaking
GUISEPPE BONNO - non-speaking
SERVANTS AND CITIZENS OF VIENNA
  • Time Period 18th Century, 19th Century
  • Setting Vienna in November 1823, and in recall, the decade 1781-1791
  • Features Period Costumes

Media


"A total iridescent triumph [...] of complexity of thought, emotion and dramatic power." - New York Post

"Mozart blazes." - The New York Times

"Inspired." - Toronto Star

"Brilliant and excellent." - WABC-TV

"A theatrical wonder." - WCBS-TV

"Back in town and very welcome [...] highly theatrical it contains technical skill with a genuine sense of rage." - The Guardian 

RELATED ARTICLES ON BREAKING CHARACTER 

MYSTERY, MEMORY AND MUSIC IN PETER SHAFFER’S AMADEUS 
by Andy Knight 
June 15, 2016

Photos

  • Amadeus

    Image: 2016 National Theatre Production (Marc Brenner)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $130 per performance

Scripts

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Authors

Peter Shaffer

Peter Shaffer

Sir Peter Shaffer, in full, Sir Peter Levin Shaffer (1926-2016), was a British playwright of considerable range who moved easily from farce to the portrayal of human anguish.

Educated at St. Paul’s and Trinity College, Cambridge, Shaffer first worked for a music publisher and ...

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