Breaking out of the mold of expectations creates the challenge some artists need to breathe. Take Daniel Radcliffe – aka “Harry Potter” – in his critically-acclaimed turn as Alan Strang in the London revival of Equus, a 1975 Tony award winner by Peter Shaffer.

This summer, Steve Burns – the “Steve” from Blues Clues, a Nickelodeon show that revolutionized TV programming for a generation of youngsters – returns to the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival at DeSales University to portray Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Amadeus, the Tony award winning play by Peter Shaffer.

“While we as audience members often find a certain comfort in defining actors by a role, because then we know what to expect, for the actor as an artist, a defining role can create some limitations,” says Patrick Mulcahy, PSF’s producing artistic director. “My kids loved Blues Clues. At PSF, we also knew Steve’s work prior to Blues Clues: we saw his extraordinary range as young artist, and we are delighted to give our audience an opportunity to see someone whose work they know perform something completely different.”

“Steve was born to play this role,” says Dennis Razze, PSF’s associate artistic director who is directing the play. “He brings a great intelligence and a highly developed sense of music to his portrayal of one of the greatest composers of all time.” (Razze previously directed Burns in PSF’s 1994 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Burns played Francis Flute, who plays Thisbe in the play-within-a play in Act V.)

Weaving real events from Mozart’s life and death into a fantastical tale of unbridled envy, Shaffer’s character destroys “the delicate porcelain Mozart” and reveals what his real-life letters reveal: “he had an extraordinarily infantile sense of humour. In a sense, he protected himself from maturity by indulging in his childishness.”1

Connecting to the inner child is something Burns is something of an expert at. “There is an innocence and a certain childish joy to the role, despite Mozart’s often crude behavior,” Burns says. “There also seems to be a sense of terrible power driving Mozart, a power that he channels but does not necessarily control. I see this as a chance to play someone who is truly inspired, in the purist sense of the word.

“I am the furthest thing from a musical genius, but I can honestly say I’ve met one or two in the past couple of years in my travels as a musician,” says Burns. “What is most shocking about such gifted musical talent is how it seems nearly incidental, like breathing or making peanut butter sandwiches. The compositions are amazing and yet, effortless.”

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s upcoming summer season also features Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale (June 13 – July 1) and The Taming of the Shrew (July 18 – August 5), Charles Ludlam’s The Mystery of Irma Vep (July 11 – August 5) and Winnie the Pooh (June 2 – August 4).

Amadeus By Peter Shaffer Director: Dennis Razze Sets: Will Neuert Costumes: Lisa Zinni Lights: Eric Haugen Sound: Matthew Given Opens: June 22 at 8pm Closes: July 8 at 2pm Runs Tuesdays at 7pm; Wednesdays through Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm [no 2pm Saturday, June 23]; Sundays at 2pm Family night: Sunday, June 24 at 7:30pm

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, a professional theatre company in residence at DeSales University, is recognized as one of the top 20 Shakespeare festivals nationwide by Jim Volz, editor of quarto, the newsletter of the Shakespeare Theatre Association of America (STAA). The official Shakespeare Festival of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, PSF attracts audiences of 25,000 – 30,000 from 22 states each year.

A variety of flexible season ticket packages are available, including Four-Show, Pick 3 and Flex Packs, with subscription prices starting at $75. Single tickets are now on sale, with prices ranging from $27 to $45. Discounts are available for seniors, students and groups. Family nights are held on select Sunday evenings at 7:30pm, and offer up to two tickets at $5 each for every two purchased at the adult price.

For ticket information, contact PSF at 610-282-WILL [9455] or order securely online at www.pashakespeare.org.

1. Sir Peter Hall, writing in the introduction to 2003 script.