Steppenwolf's "Amadeus" will have the joy of listening to Mozart

Great works of art about historical figures often overshadow the actual people behind the mythology. When it comes to biographical details, only ardent history buffs can readily separate England’s King Richard III from Shakespeare’s scheming villain, or distinguish between America’s first treasury secretary and the firebrand protagonist of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton.” Similarly, Peter Shaffer’s 1979 play “Amadeus” and Miloš Forman’s 1984 film adaptation have indelibly shaped public memory of 18th century composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri — who, in Shaffer’s fictional account, are respectively portrayed as an infantile genius and his embittered rival.

In a new production opening at Steppenwolf Theatre in November, ensemble member Ian Barford (an original cast member