Shakespeare's Globe Coming to U.S. Stages, Screens This Year with THE MERCHANT OF VENICE & More

London's critically acclaimed Shakespeare's Globe, under the artistic direction of Emma Rice, will light up US stages and screens this summer and fall, with a three-city limited engagement of The Merchant of Venice, the return of the popular Globe on Screen cinema series and a special two-night concert collaboration with The Los Angeles Philharmonic at the historic Hollywood Bowl.

The Globe's activity throughout the US is part of a series of productions, events and special programming marking the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. In April, the Globe was honored to welcome President Barack Obama, who joined the theatre's celebrations to commemorate this milestone year.

Following, please find information about Shakespeare's Globe stage productions, screenings and special events throughout the US over the next four months.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

The critically acclaimed Shakespeare's Globe production of The Merchant of Venice will play limited engagements in New York, Washington, D.C. and Chicago in July and August. Two-time Olivier- and Tony Award-winner Jonathan Pryce stars as Shylock. The production is directed by Jonathan Munby.

Produced during Dominic Dromgoole's final season as artistic director, the Globe production of The Merchant of Venice premiered on May 1, 2015, receiving four and five-star rave reviews, including praise for Munby's production and for Pryce, making his Globe debut.

The Globe returns to New York following its award-winning stagings of Twelfth Night and Richard III on Broadway. The company makes its Lincoln Center Festival debut with The Merchant of Venice, which will play July 20-24 at the Rose Theatre at Jazz at Lincoln Center, 10 Columbus Circle.

The production will then play July 27-30 at the Eisenhower Theatre at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW in Washington, D.C., and from August 4-14 at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 East Grand Street, Chicago IL., prior to embarking on a tour of China, and a return engagement at Shakespeare's Globe from October 4-15.

The Merchant of Venice features Stefan Adegbola as Launcelot Gobbo, Andy Apollo as Lorenzo, Raj Bajaj as Solanio, Jolyon Coy as Gratiano, Dan Fredenburgh as Bassanio,Michael Hadley as Duke of Venice/Tubal, Colin Haigh as Balthasar, Christopher Logan as Arragon, Dominic Mafham as Antonio, Brian Martin as Nerissa, Rachel Pickupas Portia, Jonathan Pryce as Shylock, Phoebe Pryce as Jessica, with John Hastings and Meghan Tyler in the ensemble. The production features live musicians, includingJeremy Avis (musical director/singer/percussion), Dai Pritchard (Bass Clarinet/Clarinet), Harry Napier (Cello/Voice) and Lea Cornthwaite (Singer/Percussion).

The production is designed by Mike Britton. Composer is Jules Maxwell. Choreographer is Lucy Hind. Fight director is Kate Waters. Lighting designer is Oliver Fenwick. Sound designer is Christopher Shutt.

Portia (Rachel Pickup), a wealthy heiress, is forced to set her suitors a challenge. The winner will win her hand in marriage; the losers will lose her hand and much more. In Venice, the epicenter of consumption, speculation and debt, Bassanio (Dan Fredenburgh) borrows money from his friend Antonio (Dominic Mafham) to finance his attempt. Antonio, in turn, takes out a loan from the moneylender, Shylock (Jonathan Pryce). The loan will be repaid when Antonio's ships return to the city. But if they should fail, and the money cannot be repaid, Antonio shall give to Shylock a pound of his own flesh. And they do fail. And Shylock will have his 'bond'.

The US tour of The Merchant of Venice is supported by ACE Theatrical Group. The Merchant of Venice tour of China is supported by Arts Council England.

Ticket information:

New York: www.lincolncenterfestival.org/2016/the-merchant-of-venice

Washington, D.C.: www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/event/TQTSI

Chicago: www.chicagoshakes.com.

GLOBE ON SCREEN

The Globe's popular Globe on Screen series returns to the US with screenings of Measure for Measure, The Merchant of Venice and Richard II, which will be shown in movie theatres from August through October 2016 in over 30 cities around the country. The productions were all recorded at the Globe in 2015. For tickets and a list of cities and screening dates, visit: www.globeonscreen.com

Injustice, hypocrisy and the challenge of inflexible virtue combine in Measure for Measure, Shakespeare's most searching exploration of sexual politics and social justice. This acclaimed staging was former artistic director Dominic Dromgoole's final production at the Globe's outdoor theatre. The production is designed by Jonathan Fensom, with music by Claire van Kampen. The cast features Naana Agyei-Ampadu (Juliet), Kurt Egyiawan (Angelo), Trevor Fox (Pompey), Mariah Gale (Isabella), Dennis Herdman (Froth/Friar Thomas),Rosie Hilal (Mariana), James Lailey (Abhorson/Friar Peter), Joel MacCormack (Claudio), Petra Massey (Mistress Overdone), Dean Nolan (Elbow/Barnadine), Brendan O'Hea(Lucio), Paul Rider (Escalus), Dominic Rowan (Duke Vincentio) and Dickon Tyrrell (Provost).

Dazzlingly eloquent and ceremonious, Richard II invests a weak and self-dramatizing man with tragic status and represents Shakespeare's most searching exploration of the meaning of kingship and the rising powers that can destroy it. The production is directed by Simon Goodwin, designed by Paul Wills and composed by Stephen Warbeck. The cast features Thomas Ashdown (Young Richard), Oliver Boot (Mowbray/Carlisle), Graham Butler (Aumerle), William Chubb (Duke of York), Charles Edwards (Richard II), Henry Everett (Salisbury), William Gaunt (John of Gaunt), Jonny Glynn (Northumberland), Greg Haiste (Bushy), Angus Imrie (Bagot), Richard Katz (Exton/Gardener), , Frederick Neilson(Young Richard), , Ekow Quartey (Ross), Anneika Rose (Isabel), David Sturzaker (Bolingbroke), Sasha Waddell (Dutchess of Gloucester), Arthur Wilson (Green), Sarah Woodward(Duchess of York), with Joshua Mason Wood, Kate Malyon and Anthony Pinnick in the ensemble.

In The Merchant of Venice Shakespeare dramatizes the competing claims of tolerance and intolerance, justice and mercy, while in the character of Shylock he created one of the most memorable outsiders in all theatre. The production is directed by Jonathan Munby, designed by Mike Britton, composed by Jules Maxwell, and choreographed by Lucy Hind. The cast features Stefan Adegbola (Lancelot Gobbo), Michael Bertenshaw (Duke of Venice/Tubal), Philip Cox (Balthasar), Scott Karim (Prince of Morocco), Ben Lamb (Lorenzo),Daniel Lapaine (Bassanio), Christopher Logan (Prince of Arragon), Dominic Mafham (Antonio), Brian Martin (Salarino), Dorothea Myer-Bennett (Nerissa), Regé-Jean Page(Solanio), Rachel Pickup (Portia), Jonathan Pryce (Shylock), Phoebe Pryce (Jessica), and David Sturzaker (Gratiano).

SHAKESPEARE AT THE BOWL

Shakespeare's Globe partners with The Los Angeles Philharmonic for "Shakespeare at the Bowl," on Tuesday, August 30 at 8:00 PM and Thursday, September 1 at 8:00 PM at the historic Hollywood Bowl. The evening will feature scenes from Shakespeare's plays, performed by actors from Shakespeare's Globe, and music inspired by the plays. The program will include Korngold's Much Ado About Nothing Suite, Op. 11, Schmitt's Antoine et Cleopatre Suite No. 1, Berlioz's Roméo et Juliette Queen Mab Scherzo, music by Nino Rota for Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film version of Romeo and Juliet, and Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture.

"Shakespeare at the Globe" is adapted by Bill Barclay and directed by Iqbal Khan. The Los Angeles Philharmonic is conducted by Bramwell Tovey.

For tickets and more information, please visit: http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/shakespeare-bowl/2016-08-30

Photo by Manuel Harlan