Chicago Shakespeare Theater Announces Full Casting For Amadeus

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin returns to CST to stage Peter Shaffer's award-winning drama Amadeus, and brings us into the tumultuous lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his obsessively jealous rival, Viennese court composer Antonio Salieri. Overcome with envy of Mozart's divinely inspired music, Salieri believes God has bestowed genius upon an "unmannered fool" and sets out to destroy his rival and take revenge upon an uncaring God. The original Broadway production received five Tony Awards, including Best Play, and its subsequent film adaptation garnered eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Performance dates are September 6 – November 9, 2008

Gary Griffin (Director/Associate Artistic Director) in his tenure at Chicago Shakespeare Theater has directed A Flea in Her Ear, A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park with George, Pacific Overtures, The Herbal Bed, Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream and Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet. Broadway directing credits include The Color Purple (11 Tony Nominations including Best Musical) and The Apple Tree (Tony Nomination Best Musical Revival). Mr. Griffin also directed the ongoing national tour of The Color Purple. Off Broadway credits include: The Apple Tree, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Pardon My English, The New Moon (Encores!) and Beautiful Thing. London credits include Pacific Overtures at the Donmar Warehouse (Olivier Award-Outstanding Musical Production and Olivier Award nomination for Best Director). His regional credits include work with the McCarter Theatre, ALLIANCE THEATRE, Signature Theatre and Hartford Stage. Chicago credits include work with Court Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre, Writers' Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Pegasus Players and Famous Door Theatre. He has received eight Joseph Jefferson Awards for directing. 

The casting includes Robert Sella as Antonio Salieri; Robbie Collier Sublett as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; and Elizabeth Ledo as Constanze. Lance Baker as Joseph II; Phillip James Brannon as Venticello; Danielle Brothers as Teresa Salieri; Chris Cantelmi as Salieri's Valet; Jeremy Clark as Salieri's Cook; Jurgen Hooper as Ensemble; Mackenzie Kyle as Ensemble; David Lively as Count Orsini-Rosenberg; Roger Mueller as Count Von Strack; John Reeger as Baron Van Swieten/Ensemble; Dan Sanders-Joyce as Venticello; Kari Sorenson as Katherina Cavalieri; Blaine Swen as Ensemble; and Ron Turner as Kappelmeister Bonno.

For more information please visit www.chicagoshakes.com