The curtain had barely come down on last fall's Henderson Community Theatre production and the audience hadn't yet cleared the lobby when program coordinator Sharon Burton handed Paul Metzger another script.
It was for the spring production of "Amadeus," which will be performed tonight and Saturday nights at the Henderson Fine Arts Center, and Burton already had a role in mind for the teacher/band director.
"We think you'd be good for it," she told him.
His is the role of Antonio Salieri, an 18th-century court composer who is depicted in Peter Shaffer's Tony Award-winning play as once being a fan of the gifted Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart but who, upon meeting him, becomes disenchanted with his boorish behavior and jealous of his musical genius.
Metzger jumped at the chance to play this part.
"I love Mozart's music," he said, adding that it's a routine thing to teach his middle school students about the composer and his music and he has frequently shown the 1984 Best Picture Oscar-winner that's based on the play.
He's listened to Mozart's symphonies, to his operas and certainly to what is considered to be one of Mozart's greatest works, "Requiem Mass in D minor," which is part of the play's plot.
That very night, Metzger said, he started working on the role.
And it's probably a good thing, because it's a very demanding one that he now handles with ease.
"I looked at the script and realized he's there from the very beginning. He lives on stage," Metzger said, noting that it prompted his wife to remind him "you're not an actor. You're a band director."
But his real-life profession has, actually, helped prepare him to step into Salieri's shoes.
"He has emotions that I understand," Metzger said, noting that there have been times over the years when he's been envious of other band directors, their performances and their opportunities.
He said he can also relate to it on a spiritual level, regarding the concept of people trying to "cut deals with God when they don't get what they want."
"Here's a play about a man's futile effort to get back at God for something that was never his in the first place," said Metzger, explaining that the depth of that characterization has given him a chance to stretch himself as an actor.
"We couldn't do this play without somebody like Paul," said Burton, the play's director. "For someone who is a teacher and band director, he takes directions well. (One night) I suggested some line delivery changes and, presto, (the next night) there it was. That was a beautiful thing."
In fact, she said, everybody is stretching for this play partially because it's a period piece. The cast and crew have risen to the occasion.
"(Costume manager) Stacey Howell is sleeping at the sewing machine these days," Burton said, adding that hair stylist Leigh Ann Howard "has let creativity reign with the hair and wig designs" and Fine Arts Center Technical Director Steve McCarty decided to build a (mock) pianoforte to complete the tastefully simple set. The music and lighting cues are numerous, presenting another challenge.
"I think all of us are attracted to this play because of its theme, which is a love of art, whether it be music or anything else," she added. "All in all, pretty cool."
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"Amadeus" will be performed at 7:30 tonight and Saturday.
Tickets, $10, can be charged by phone by calling 831-9800. The ticket office will accept only cash or checks for tickets sold at the door.
Diane Earle, Kentucky Wesleyan College professor of music, will lead a discussion on "Mozart's World" at 7 p.m. in the Stagg Room.
In addition to Metzger as Antonio Salieri the cast includes: Alex Nantz as Wolfgang Mozart; Katie Morton as Constanze Weber; Frank Furbush and Gretchen Ross as the Venticelli; Micah Cain as Emperor Joseph; Rick Chandler as Count Orsini-Rosenberg; Kurt Denton as Baron van Swieten; Edward Layne as Count von Strack; Tyler Burnette as the pastry cook; Matt Stinson as the valet; Megan Mortis as Katherina Cavalieri; Wendy McPherson as Teresa Salieri; Tom Mioduszewski as Giuseppe Bonno; and Chris Wright and Corey Laster as servants.
