UP ON THE MARQUEE: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE!

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) join the previously announced Al Pacino (Shylock) in reprising their roles from the critically acclaimed Shakespeare in the Park production this past summer.

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 M. Hammond, Jade Hawk, Bethany Heinrich, Curt Hostetter, Tia James, Kelsey Kurz, BrIan MacDonald, Dorien Makhloghi, Kim Martin-Cotten, and Baylen Thomas.

The design team for THE MERCHANT OF VENICE will feature 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.

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 Public Theater is transferring THE MERCHANT OF VENICE to Broadway with co-producers Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel who are also partnering with The Public on the upcoming Broadway transfer of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Richards and Frankel partnered with The Public on the Tony Award-winning revival of Hair on Broadway, London's West End and the upcoming national tour of Hair beginning in October in Washington, DC.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE begins performances on Tuesday, October 19 and continues through Sunday, January 9 with an official press opening on Sunday, November 7 at 6:45 pm. The performance schedule 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 $136.50. 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.