The Merchant of Venice Photos - Off-Broadway

This autumn a duo of immersive productions transport audiences to the Middle East in a brand new found space at Acklam Market

Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent. Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.

Chester Theatre Company will open its 25th Anniversary Season with J.T. Rogers' haunting mystery MADAGASCAR. The production, which runs from June 25th through July 6th at the Chester Town Hall in Chester, MA, will feature CTC favorites Debra Jo Rupp (A Body of Water) and Kim Stauffer (Crime and Punishment).

On Monday, April 21 Shrunken Shakespeare Company held their 2014 Fundraiser Gala at New York's TGB Theatre. The gala featured actor Paul Sorvino's 'Lear' Adaptation. Scroll down to see some photos from the event!

Tony nominee Neil LaBute's world premiere adaptation of August Strindberg's Miss Julie, starring Tony nominee Lily Rabe (American Horror Story, Merchant of Venice), Broadway actress Laura Heisler (Lucille Lortel and Drama League nominee) and Logan Marshall-Green (Julie Taymor's Across the Universe) opens in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse on May 1 and runs through June 2, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) will present post-show discussions following select performances of the Public Lab production, TITUS ANDRONICUS, directed by Michael Sexton. The Public Lab Thursday Night Speaker Series for TITUS ANDRONICUS will be held following the Thursday, December 8 and Thursday, December 15 performances and consist of engaging conversations with notable panelists. Tickets are $15 for all performances and include free admission to the post-show discussions. TITUS ANDRONICUS runs through Sunday, December 18. Check out production shots below!

Joining Robert Lindsay (Henry II) and Joanna Lumley (Eleanor of Aquitane) in Trevor Nunn's production of James Goldman's The Lion in Winter are Tom Bateman (Richard), Sonya Cassidy (Alais), Joseph Drake (John), Rory Fleck-Byrne (Philip) and James Norton (Geoffrey). The Lion in Winter, produced by the Theatre Royal Haymarket Company, runs until 28 January 2012, Set and costume designs are by Stephen Brimson Lewis with music by Steven Edis, sound by Paul Groothuis and video design by Ian William Galloway. Checkout production shots from the show below!

Joining Robert Lindsay (Henry II) and Joanna Lumley (Eleanor of Aquitane) in Trevor Nunn's production of James Goldman's The Lion in Winter are Tom Bateman (Richard), Sonya Cassidy (Alais), Joseph Drake (John), Rory Fleck-Byrne (Philip) and James Norton (Geoffrey). The Lion in Winter, produced by the Theatre Royal Haymarket Company, runs from 5 November 2011 - 28 January 2012, with press night on 15 November 2011. Set and costume designs are by Stephen Brimson Lewis with music by Steven Edis, sound by Paul Groothuis and video design by Ian William Galloway.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Interim Executive Director Joey Parnes) will begin previews for KING LEAR, directed by James Macdonald, on Tuesday, October 18. KING LEAR will run through Sunday, November 20 in The Public's Newman Theater with an official press opening on Tuesday, November 8.

Trevor Nunn's production of James Goldman's The Lion in Winter, produced by the Theatre Royal Haymarket Company, runs from 5 November 2011 - 28 January 2012, with press night on 15 November 2011. Set and costume designs are by Stephen Brimson Lewis with music by Steven Edis, sound by Paul Groothuis and video design by Ian William Galloway. Check out photos of the cast in rehearsal below!

The Guthrie Theater today announced star casting for its three fall productions: Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (September 10 - November 5, 2011 on the Wurtele Thrust Stage), Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney's The Burial At Thebes (September 24 - November 6, 2011 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage) and Obie Award-winning playwright Adam Rapp's new play The Edge of Our Bodies (October 22 - November 20, 2011 in the Dowling Studio).

The Theatre World Awards presentation were held at Jujamcyn's August Wilson Theatre, 245 West 52nd Street (home of Jersey Boys), in an invitation-only ceremony yesterday, June 7, 2011 from 2:00 to 3:45 p.m. Peter Filichia hosted, Barry Keating directed, Mary K. Botosan and Erin Oestreich were the event's producers. There was also a tribute to John Willis, founder of the Theatre World Awards, who died last summer. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the evening and brings you photo coverage of the arrivals below!

The Theatre World Awards for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut performances during the 2010-2011 theatrical season were presented by former Theatre World Award winners, including:Tammy Blanchard (Gypsy, 2003), Gabriel Byrne (A Moon for the Misbegotten, 2000), Zoe Caldwell (Slapstick Tragedy, 1966), Billy Crudup (Arcadia, 1995), Blythe Danner (The Miser, 1969), Edie Falco (Side Man, 1998), Tovah Feldshuh (Yentl, 1976), Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, 2007), RoseMary Harris (The Climate of Eden, 1953), and Andrea McArdle (Annie, 1977). There will also be performances by former Theatre World Award winners, including: Karen Akers (Nine, 1982), Ernestine Jackson (Raisin, 1974), and John Lloyd Young (Jersey Boys, 2006).

The 2010-11 Theatre World Award winners were: Ellen Barkin, The Normal Heart; Desmin Borges, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity; Halley Feiffer, The House of Blue Leaves; Grace Gummer, Arcadia; Rose Hemingway, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; John Larroquette, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; Heather Lind, The Merchant of Venice; Patina Miller, Sister Act; Arian Moayed, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo; Jim Parsons, The Normal Heart; Zachary Quinto, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes; and Tony Sheldon, Priscilla Queen of the Desert. The first annual Lunt-Fontanne Award for Ensemble Excellence will be presented to the cast of The Motherf**cker With a Hat: Bobby Cannavale, Chris Rock, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Annabella Sciorra, and Yul Vázquez. Also presented at the TWA ceremony was the third annual Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence presented to Seth Numrich of War Horse.

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Producing Director Richard M. Parison, Jr., presents the New England premiere of Matthew Lopez's drama, The Whipping Man.

Signature Theatre presents Doug Wright's I Am My Own Wife, winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®, starring Helen Hayes Award-winner Andrew Long and directed by Alan Paul runs through March 7, 2010 in the company's intimate ARK Theatre. Opening night was January 17.

The Canadian Stage Company wraps its 2008.2009 season with Doubt, a parable, the award-winning play that's taken North America by storm. The production stars Canadian theatre icons Seana McKenna (Canadian Stage's The Clean House, Wit) and David Storch (Canadian Stage's Frost/Nixon and director of Palace of the End), and is helmed by renowned director Marti Maraden (Canadian Stage's Trying). The production runs from through May 30, 2009 (media night: May 7) at the Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front Street East. For tickets and information, contact 416-368-3110 or canstage.com.

Boston theatergoers will have the chance to see what everyone has been talking about when SpeakEasy Stage Company presents the area premiere of David Harrower's compelling drama BLACKBIRD from February 20 - March 21, 2009. Winner of the 2007 Olivier Award for Best New Play, BLACKBIRD tells the story of a meeting between two people, Ray and Una, who fifteen years ago had a passionate affair. Emotions run high as the pair recalls their scandalous relationship and attempt to come to terms with the shattering truth of their abandoned love.

Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls and renowned actor Brian Dennehy bring their artistic partnership to new heights with Eugene O'Neill's haunting drama, Desire Under the Elms?marking their fifth collaboration on O'Neill's work over two decades. Falls' cast includes stage and screen stars Carla Gugino (Entourage, Spy Kids, Sin City) Pablo Schreiber (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Awake and Sing!), Boris McGiver (The Wire) and Daniel Stewart Sherman (Broadway's Cyrano de Bergerac). The centerpiece production of Goodman Theatre's two-month 'A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century,' Desire Under the Elms appears January 17 ? February 22 in the Goodman's 856-seat Albert Ivar Theatre. Tickets are $25 - 82.