Lone Star College-University Park Drama Department presents 'Amadeus'

HOUSTON, TX -- The Lone Star College-University Park (LSC-University Park) Drama Department is proud to announce its production of "Amadeus," the landmark, Tony-winning play by Peter Shaffer. Directed by theatre professor William Grayson, this riveting production will be staged over two weekends in April, offering audiences a dramatic exploration of the intense rivalry between Antonio Salieri and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, two of history's most renowned composers.

"Amadeus," which debuted in 1979, is celebrated as Peter Shaffer's magnum opus. The play delves into the dark corners of jealousy and betrayal as it portrays an aging Salieri, consumed by envy, plotting against the meteoric rise of his younger counterpart, Mozart.

“Trying to find the right show for the opening of our new Visual & Performing Arts building was no easy task,” said Grayson. “Ultimately, ‘Amadeus’ made the most sense. It’s a play about the world of art and creation, something that encompasses everything that the new VPA is meant to be a facility for students, faculty, staff, and community to celebrate the things that bring us all together.”

Featuring a talented 18-member cast, LSC-University Park students, including Wilfred Narvaez as Mozart, Eian Garza as Salieri, and Isabella Paz as Constanze, Mozart’s wife, "Amadeus" promises to be a memorable experience. The performance also showcases the contributions of supporting production team members Jasmin Garcia, Brooke Arnold, Logan Cabrera, Christian Lloyd, and Darcy Alleman, ensuring a visually and emotionally captivating performance.

“Our students don't just want to work on shows…they want to work on great shows,” shared Grayson. “Our student designers and actors have gone to great lengths to bring this text to the stage and ensure our audience has a great time. We found that the play’s themes of jealousy, obsolescence, betrayal, and legacy suited their tastes even better than we expected in this piece of historic fiction.”

Eian Garza, who plays Salieri in the production, echoed these sentiments. "Working on Salieri has been an enlightening experience,” he confided. “Getting a chance to play a character that is so immersed in his own ego and insecurities has taught me a lot about performance and myself.”

Marking the theatre department's first immersive theater production in the college's newly inaugurated Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) building, "Amadeus" will be a celebration of artistic innovation and collaboration, and a vivid example of education’s power to ignite creativity.

Performance Dates and Times:

• April 12-14 and April 19-21
• Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
• Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Location: Visual & Performing Arts (VPA) building, Lone Star College-University Park, 930 University Park Campus Dr., Houston, TX 77070.

Ticket Information: Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for students and can be purchased at https://universitypark-lonestar.nbsstore.net/vpac.

The LSC-University Park Drama Department provides students with a comprehensive and dynamic education in the performing arts. Offering a range of productions and educational opportunities, the department fosters creativity, collaboration, and professional development. To learn more about the drama department visit, www.lonestar.edu/drama-dept-universitypark.

LSC-University Park offers more than 70 programs of study, including credit and non-credit courses, workforce training, and continuing education classes. Classes are available during the day, evenings, and weekends in traditional, online, and hybrid formats. For more information or to register online, visit www.lonestar.edu/upstudentsupport, call 281-290-2600, or email UPAdvising@LoneStar.edu.

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