THE MERCHANT OF VENICE At The Public Announces Lottery Tickets

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson), Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel announced today that THE MERCHANT OF VENICE will offer a lottery beginning Tuesday, October 19 for a limited number of $31.50 mezzanine tickets for Daniel Sullivan's acclaimed production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, starring Al Pacino as Shylock and Lily Rabe as Portia. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE will begin previews on Tuesday at The Broadhurst Theatre (235 W. 44th Street) and will play 78 performances only through Sunday, January 9, with an official press opening on Sunday, November 7 at 6:45 p.m.

A limited number of tickets in the mezzanine will be sold via lottery beginning Tuesday, October 19. Entries will be accepted at The Broadhurst Theatre beginning one and a half hours prior to each performance. Thirty minutes later, names will be drawn at random for seats in the mezzanine. Only one entry is allowed per person. Cards are checked for duplication prior to drawing. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show a valid photo ID to purchase tickets. Limit one entry per person and two tickets per winner. Subject to availability. The price of lottery tickets is $31.50, including the facilities fee.

"This summer, we were able to give away tens of thousands of seats to this extraordinary production of The Merchant of Venice," said Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. "We can't do that on Broadway, but I'm delighted we've found a way to allow a few passionate theater lovers to get tickets at an extraordinary discount. Shakespeare belongs to everyone."

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.

Following an acclaimed production at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park this past summer, 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) return to reprise their roles on Broadway.

New cast members joining the 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 will also feature 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 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.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE begins performances on Tuesday, October 19 at The Broadhurst Theatre (235 W. 44th Street) and will run through Sunday, January 9. Opening Night is scheduled for Sunday, November 7 at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for this limited engagement at Tele-Charge at 212-239-6200 or www.telecharge.com.

Media Contact: Candi Adams/212-539-8680/ cadams@publictheater.org

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TICKET INFORMATION

The performance schedule for THE MERCHANT OF VENICE is Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m; and Sundays at 2 p.m.

There will be no performances November 14 - 17; Thursday, November 25; December 13-16; Saturday, December 25; Friday, December 31. There will be a 2 p.m. performance on Friday, November 26; a 7 p.m. performance on Monday, December 20; a 2 p.m. performance on Friday, December 24; an 8 p.m. performance on Sunday, December 26; and a 7 p.m. performance on Monday, December 27.

Tickets for THE MERCHANT OF VENICE are $126.50 to $141.50. Tickets are on sale now through Tele-Charge at (212) 293-6200 or www.telecharge.com.

The Broadhurst Theatre is located at 235 W. 44th Street.

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos