AMADEUS at Southwest Shakespeare Company

Southwest Shakespeare Company will be producing Amadeus, November 14- 29, 2026 at the Farnsworth Studio at Mesa Arts Center.

In Amadeus, the aging composer Salieri recounts his obsessive jealousy of Mozart, whose divine musical genius torments him despite Mozart’s childish behavior. This spellbinding production delves into this tumultuous relationship, set against the backdrop of 18th-century Vienna. Amadeus examines envy, mediocrity versus brilliance, divine inspiration, and the pursuit of immortality through music, while surrounding the audience with Mozart’s extraordinary music and a darkly compelling rivalry. The play delivers inspiration, comical irreverence, and brutal intensity.

“The exciting rivalry at the heart of this play is gripping,” says Keath Hall, Southwest Shakespeare Company Artistic Director. “Shaffer spins a relevant tale of Mozart’s stardom and its painful fall. The artistic talent we have gathered for this production is awe inspiring.”

Public performances of the show will be presented at 7:30pm on November 14, 20, 21, 22 and 28 and at 2pm and on November 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29.

Amadeus will be directed by the steady hand of Ron May, Artistic Director of Stray Cat Theatre, whose work is known for raw emotional connection, boundary breaking and highly complex subject matter. The director shares, “Amadeus has been a bucket list show since I was first introduced to it back when I acted in my high school’s production, and while I recall it fondly, I can promise this production won’t resemble that one at all.”

The production features local acting talents, designers and technicians, featuring Roosevelt Watts as Salieri and Seth Tucker as Mozart. May remarked, “In an age of social media where comparison olympics run rampant as we watch the curated successes of so many, at its heart, Amadeus is a primal example of that battle between the gift of extraordinary talent and the desperate desire to deserve it. We have been gifted with actors who deeply understand both characters. Tucker’s Mozart is more than a childish, bombastic prodigy, and Watts’ Salieri is more than a petty, jealous rival. This depth makes the fundamental battle that much more devastating.” Filling out the rest of the cast: Raijene Ayme, Estrella Parra, Nina Miller, Logan Louis-Selmo Beers, Kevin Herrmann, Raina Trujillo, Zeke Collins, Neaja Thomas, and a valley favorite Jon Gentry - who takes on a hat trick of roles as the three individual men that make up the Emperor’s Royal Court.

Set Design: Tiana Torrilhon-Wood Light Design: Stacey Walston Sound Design: Peter Bish Props: Shelly Trujillo Costumes: Katherine Stewart Wigs & Makeup: Bryanna Patrick Blanco

Show tickets range from $25-$70.00 with discounts for Seniors, Students and Educators. The Mesa Arts Center is located in Downtown Mesa, Arizona at 1 East Main Street, Mesa, AZ 85201. Tickets, more information and details are available at SWSHAKESPEARE.ORG.