FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2011
Media Contact: Sarah Pressler
240.644.1387
press@roundhousetheatre.org
Round House Theatre presents Music, Madness, and Mozart in
A M A D E U S
By Peter Shaffer
Directed by Mark Ramont
May 11 – June 5, 2011 at Round House Theatre Bethesda
240.644.1100 or www.roundhousetheatre.org
Tickets from $10 to $60
$10 & $15 tickets available at each performance for patrons age 30 & under
May 31 is “$10 Tuesday,” with $10 tickets for all ages
(BETHESDA, MD) Round House Theatre concludes its 2010/11 season with Amadeus, Peter Shaffer’s award-winning tale of music, madness, and Mozart, in a new production directed by Mark Ramont.
Amadeus runs May 11 through June 5, 2011 at Round House Theatre Bethesda, 4545 East-West Highway. Tickets are $10 – $60 and may be purchased by calling 240.644.1100, online at roundhousetheatre.org, or at the Round House box office in Bethesda. Groups of 10 or more should call 240.644.1387.
When your hard-earned fame has been surpassed by a brilliantly gifted, potty-mouthed golden boy, what else can you do but smile to his face while secretly plotting his downfall? Amadeus, winner of seven Tony Awards ‑ including Best Play ‑ and the Academy Award® for Best Picture, depicts the flamboyant genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as seen through the eyes of his desperately jealous contemporary, composer Antonio Salieri.
Edward Gero (Nixon’s Nixon) returns to Round House as Salieri, with Sasha Olinick (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Around the World in 80 Days) as Mozart, Laura C. Harris (26 Miles) as Constanze, and Floyd King as Joseph II.
This towering story of greed, obsession, and guilt was hailed by the Saturday Review as “gripping and fascinating” with “delicious wit.” The Washington Post said this brilliant play is “a rich theatrical experience you’re likely to repeat for many a year.”
Amadeus is recommended for age 13 & up.
Amadeus is sponsored in part through generous support from Esthy & Jim Adler, Larry & Marion Lewin, and Judy & Leo Zickler.
The Playwright
Peter Shaffer (Playwright) was born May 15, 1926 in Liverpool, England and educated at St. Paul’s School, London, and Trinity College, Cambridge. Before finding his career in the theatre, he worked at such diverse jobs as a coal miner during World War II, assistant in the New York Public Library, and editor for the symphonic department of an English publishing firm. In 1954 he completed his first play The Salt Land, which was produced on television by the BBC in 1955. Five Finger Exercise, which opened in 1958 in London under the direction of John Gielgud, established Shaffer’s reputation as a playwright and won the Evening Standard Drama Award. It opened in New York in 1959 and won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. This was followed in 1963 by the double bill of The Private Ear and The Public Eye, with Maggie Smith playing the female in both. In October of 1965 The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Mr. Shaffer’s drama about the fall of the Inca Empire, opened on Broadway and the following year saw his farce set entirely in the dark, Black Comedy, which played on a double bill with another one-act, White Lies. Shaffer’s next play, The Battle of Shrivings, opened in London in 1970. Equus opened on Broadway in 1974, and won the 1975 Tony Award and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. The story of a boy who is being treated by a psychiatrist because he blinded six horses at the stable where he worked, Equus ran for over 1000 performances. Shaffer’s next play, Amadeus, was inspired by the rivalry between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. It won the 1981 Tony Award and also played over 1000 performances. The playwright won an Academy Award for his screenplay adaptation of this work. Shaffer’s next play was Yonadab, a piece set in the time of King David. Shaffer’s Lettice and Lovage marked his seventh play to be produced on Broadway. He earned a fourth Tony nomination for Best Play and Maggie Smith won the Tony for best actress in the production.
The Cast
The cast includes Steven Carpenter, Edward Gero, Laura C. Harris, JJ Kaczynski, Floyd King, Caroline Mahoney, Sabrina Mandell, Scott McCormick, Toby Mulford, Sasha Olinick, KenYatta Rogers, and Jefferson A. Russell.
The Artistic Team
The artistic team includes director Mark Ramont, scenic designer James Kronzer, costume designer Bill Black, lighting designer Matthew Richards, sound designer Matthew M. Nielson, properties designer Andrea Moore, wig designer Heather Fleming, dialect coach Leigh Wilson Smiley, stage manager Jennifer Schwartz, assistant director Nick Jonczak, and second assistant director Adin Walker.
Amadeus Performance Calendar, Tickets, & Events
Amadeus runs May 11 through June 5, 2011 at Round House Theatre Bethesda, 4545 East-West Highway (one block from the intersection of Wisconsin Ave. and East-West Highway).
Round House Theatre is located one block from the Bethesda station on Metro’s Red Line.
For tickets, call 240.644.1100, click roundhousetheatre.org, or visit Round House’s box office in Bethesda. Tickets range in price from $10 to $60.
Tuesday and Wednesday performances begin at 7:30 p.m, Thursday through Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m.; matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday begin at 3 p.m.
Wednesday, May 11 7:30pm
Thursday, May 12 8pm
Friday, May 13 8pm
Saturday, May 14 3pm & 8pm
Sunday, May 15 3pm
Wednesday, May 18 7:30pm
Thursday, May 19 8pm
Friday, May 20 8pm
Saturday, May 21 3pm & 8pm
Sunday, May 22 3pm
Wednesday, May 25 7:30pm
Thursday, May 26 8pm
Friday, May 27 8pm
Saturday, May 28 3pm & 8pm
Sunday, May 29 3pm
Tuesday, May 31 7:30pm
Wednesday, June 1 7:30pm
Thursday, June 2 8pm
Friday, June 3 8pm
Saturday, June 4 3pm & 8pm
Sunday, June 5 3pm
Specially priced tickets for age 30 and under are available at each performance: $10 Wednesday through Friday, $15 Saturday and Sunday – call 240.644.1100. Proof of age required.
$10 Tuesday: May 31 at 7:30pm
Side Orchestra and Side Balcony seats on this date are available to all patrons at the discounted price of $10 – call 240.644.1100 or order at www.roundhousetheatre.org/. “$10 Tuesday” is made possible through the support of the Bernard Family Foundation.
Round House offers discounts on tickets to patrons 65 and older for center orchestra or center balcony seating. Call 240.644.1100 for information.
Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more: call 240.644.1387.
Open Rehearsal: Wednesday, April 27 at 5:30pm
This inside look at an Amadeus rehearsal will include a brief presentation on the set and costume designs, an hour watching the rehearsal, and a question and answer period. Tickets to the Open Rehearsal are free but advance reservations are required. Email RSVP@roundhousetheatre.org by 5pm on Apr. 26 to reserve space. Limit of 2 tickets per RSVP. Patrons will receive an email confirmation. Space is limited to 20 people. Attendees should be there no later than 5:15pm. No photos or recording devices. At the Round House Theatre Rehearsal Studio, Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring. Metro: Silver Spring (approx. 4 blocks).
Pay-What-You-Can: Wednesday, May 11 at 7:30pm & Saturday, May 14 at 3pm
PWYC tickets go on sale in person one hour prior to curtain. Cash and exact change only, limit of 2 tickets per person.
Designer Discussion: Wednesday, May 11 at 6:45pm
With the costume, set, lighting, and sound designers.
Director Discussion: Friday, May 13 at 7:15pm
With director Mark Ramont.
Audio-described performance: Saturday, May 21 at 3pm
Parents’ Matinee: Sunday, May 22 at 3pm
Patrons can drop off children (ages 3-12, must be potty trained) to an RHT teaching artist while they’re seeing the show at this designated Sunday matinee. The kids enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of theatre games and arts activities. Childcare reservations are required in advance by 5 p.m. on May 18 by calling 240.644.1100.
Post-Show Talkbacks: Sunday, May 22 and Sunday, May 29
Sign-interpreted performance: Saturday, May 28 at 3pm
Reservations for sign interpreting services must be made by May 18.
On the RHT Blog
Round House’s blog features interviews with director Mark Ramont and actor Edward Gero. www.roundhousetheatre.org/blog/
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