Amadeus
Written by Peter Shaffer
Directed by Robert Falls
Main Series
About the show
Vienna: a cacophony of music and intrigue. The emperor’s composer, Antonio Salieri, holds court until the flamboyant entrance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: prodigy and wild child. The two artists begin a vicious and thrilling duet, a rivalry that will define their lives and their legacies for years to come. Winner of 5 Tonys and 8 Academy Awards, Amadeus is the ultimate ode to ambition and musical genius, a brilliant requiem for a villain in history—but a hero in his own story. Vi saluto!
AUDIENCE GUIDE
We invite you to take a look at our Audience Guide—an interactive resource created by Steppenwolf Education & Engagement to deepen your Amadeus experience. In addition to lesson plans and activities for the classroom, you will find articles, artist interviews and so much more!
Watch & Listen
Reviews
"SLICK AND SOPHISTICATED"
- Chicago Tribune
★★★★—"ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT... AMADEUS SINGS IN STELLAR STEPPENWOLF REVIVAL"
- Daily Herald
"rich, robust [and] darkly compelling"
- Chicago Sun-Times
"THIS IS A THEATRICAL SMORGASBORD"
- Splash Magazine
★★★★—"AN UNFORGETTABLE AND BREATHTAKING PRODUCTION"
- Behind the Curtain, WGN Radio
"I CAN’T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I’VE HEARD AN OVATION AS CELEBRATORY AND RAUCOUS"
- Chicago Culture Authority
Community Events
Chicago Opera Theater and Steppenwolf present in collaboration with the The Driehaus Museum:
Rivalry, Myth, and the Legacy of Salieri
Driehaus Museum (50 East Erie Street)
Wednesday, November 19 | 7:00PM
FREE with RSVP
Who was Antonio Salieri – envious schemer, misunderstood genius, or history’s fall guy? Immortalized in Peter Shaffer's Amadeus, Salieri remains one of the most intriguing and misunderstood figures in classical music. This special evening, hosted in the historic Murphy Auditorium of the Driehaus Museum, invites you to step into the drama and discover the man behind the myth.
UNIVERSITY NIGHT
A FREE Event* on Friday, November 21, 2025
6pm Mixer in The Loft | 7:30pm Performance
Arrive early for lite bites and networking with fellow college students before a performance of Amadeus! Join us in "The Loft" on the fourth floor of 1646 N. Halsted at 6pm and stick around for the 7:30pm performance in the Ensemble Theater.
TEEN TAKEOVER
A FREE Event* on Saturday, December 6, 2025
3pm performance | Teen Takeover Event Immediately After
Connect with like-minded teens after a performance of Amadeus! Experience art and activity stations along with a post-show conversation with artists from the show. Enjoy music and snacks throughout the program to keep the vibes going. Click the button below to RSVP and learn more about how to get $5 tickets.
LEARNER CHAT
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
A discussion immediately following the 7:30pm Performance
After Amadeus, stay to experience a moderated discussion between Steppenwolf artistic staff members who helped craft Salieri's world - Director of New Play Development and Dramaturg Jonathan L. Green and Steppenwolf's Literary and Casting Associate Bryar Barborka.