Christopher M. Bohan as Antonio Salieri *Photo credit: Eric Vaughn Messing

Amadeus Performance Breakdown: Wed. 2 p.m.: Feb. 21 Thurs. 8 p.m.: Jan. 18, Feb. 22, Mar. 1 Fri. 8 p.m.: Jan. 12, 19, Feb. 2, Mar. 2 Sat. 2 p.m.: Jan. 27, Feb. 17 Sat. 8 p.m.: Jan. 13, 27, Feb. 17, Mar. 3

Featuring a company as strong as ever, the Hilberry Theatre continues
its highly anticipated 44th season with Amadeus by Peter Shaffer on
Friday, January 12 at 8:00 p.m. and playing in rotating repertory
through March 3, 2007.

To what extent would you go to win immortal recognition, especially
considering that admiration is in the eye of the beholder? Meet two
brilliant composers, Mozart and Salieri -one of them humbly gifted, the
other viciously envious. Witness the depth of jealous rage that true
genius can provoke, even causing one to abandon his vow to God with the
sole determination to destroy the other. Full of resentful pain over
another\'s advantages, Amadeus has been selected by audience demand.

The play explores the rivalry between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and
Antonio Salieri, the court composer for the Emperor of Austria in the
late eighteenth century. Shaffer became interested in the relationship
between the two composers after learning about Mozart\'s mysterious
death. Although failing to find evidence that Salieri murdered Mozart,
Shaffer admits, in an interview with Roland Gelatt, that "by then the
cold eyes of Salieri were staring at me. . . . The conflict between
virtuous mediocrity and feckless genius took hold of my imagination, and
it would not leave me alone." Critics have praised the play\'s
craftsmanship and its penetrating psychological study of the effects of
success and failure and the search for spirituality.

Directed by Joe Calarco, the cast includes: Christopher M. Bohan
(Antonio Salieri), Jeff Luttermoser (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), Cynthia
D. Barker (Constanze Weber), Nathan Magee (Joseph II), Patrick Moltane
(Count Johann Kilian von Strack), Jeff Thomakos (Count Franz
Orsini-Rosenberg/Messenger in Black), Michael Brian Ogden (Baron
Gottfried van Swieten), Michael Boynton (Venticelli 1), Sean Patrick
Ward (Venticelli 2), James Kuhl (Major-Domo), Aaron Kirby (Salieri\'s
Valet), Benny Lee Harris Lumpkins Jr. (Salieri\'s Cook), Morgan Chard
(Teresa Salieri), Megan Callahan (Katherina Cavalieri), Christopher
Corporandy (Guiseppe Bonno), Dylan Stuckey (Priest), Shanna Hurt,
Tiffanie Kilgast, Dylan Stuckey and James Kuhl as Citizens of Vienna and
Caroline Price, Andre Anton, Scott Wilding and Stephen Church as
Servants.

The production staff for Amadeus includes: Brad Darvas (Scenic
Designer), Liz Moore (Costume Designer), Jared Cole (Technical
Director), Andrew Morehouse (Lighting Designer), Rahme Rayes (Sound
Designer), J. Marc Quattlebaum (Properties), Aili Smith (Period Movement
Specialist) and Candace Hemphill (Stage Manager).

Amadeus plays through March 3, 2007 in rotating repertory with Side Man
by Warren Leight and On the Verge by Eric Overmyer. Ticket prices range
from $15 - $28 with student rush tickets available the day of the
performance for $10. Group discounts are also available. For tickets
and further information, please call (313) 577-2972 or visit the Wayne
State University Box Office at 4743 Cass Ave. on the corner of Cass
Avenue and Hancock. Performance information may be obtained by visiting
the theatre\'s website at www.hilberry.com.  

Season sponsored by Between the Lines, Dearborn Times-Herald and
GreatStuff.