The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson), Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel announced today that the new press opening for THE MERCHANT OF VENICE will be Saturday, November 13. So as not to conflict with the Broadway opening of Elf on Sunday, November 14, the producers respectfully request that Merchant reviews be embargoed until Tuesday, November 16.
The press opening, originally scheduled for Sunday, November 7, was postponed last week after
Lily Rabe, who plays Portia, was out of the show for several performances due to her mother's illness. Ms. Rabe returned to the show on Saturday night and will be performing as scheduled for the rest of the run.
Directed by
Daniel Sullivan, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE will run through Sunday, January 9 at The Broadhurst Theatre (235 W. 44th Street). Tickets are on sale now for this limited engagement at Tele-Charge at 212-239-6200 or www.telecharge.com.
"
Jill Clayburgh was one of America's great actors," said
Public Theater Artistic Director
Oskar Eustis. "We honor her, we celebrate her life, and we are proud that her daughter
Lily Rabe is part of our Merchant family. We applaud her courage during this difficult time."
"We thank the New York press for helping us to reschedule our press opening, and we respectfully ask that our new press opening date in no way limit or restrict the coverage of Elf, our fellow Broadway show opening this Sunday," said The Merchant of Venice Producers.
Al Pacino (Shylock),
Lily Rabe (Portia),
Byron Jennings (Antonio),
Jesse L. Martin (Gratiano),
Gerry Bamman (Duke of Venice),
Heather Lind (Jessica),
Matthew Rauch (Solanio), and
Richard Topol (Tubal) reprise their roles in this acclaimed production.
New cast members who have joined the Broadway company include
Marsha Stephanie Blake (Nerissa),
Christopher Fitzgerald (Launcelot Gobbo),
David Harbour (Bassanio),
Peter Francis James (Salerio),
Isaiah Johnson (Prince of Morocco),
Charles Kimbrough (Prince of Arragon), and
Seth Numrich (Lorenzo).
The company also features
Happy Anderson,
Liza J. Bennett,
Glenn Fleshler,
Luke Forbes,
Herb Foster,
Bryce Gill, Thomas
Michael Hammond,
Jade Hawk,
Bethany Heinrich,
Curt Hostetter,
Tia James,
Kelsey Kurz,
BrIan Keith Macdonald,
Dorien Makhloghi,
Kim Martin-Cotten, and
Baylen Thomas.
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE is one of Shakespeare's most thrilling and controversial plays, rich with love and betrayal, forgiveness and revenge. The Jewish moneylender Shylock makes a loan to Antonio, a Christian merchant. Their loan contract, steeped in prejudice and centered on the play's infamous "pound of flesh," sweeps the two men and everyone in their worlds into chaos. Only the insightful Portia can imagine a way forward, but for her and those she loves, even "the quality of mercy" has its limits.
The design team for THE MERCHANT OF VENICE features scenic design by
Mark Wendland; costume design by
Jess Goldstein; lighting design by
Kenneth Posner; sound design by
ACME Sound Partners; and original music by
Dan Moses Schreier.
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