VIDEO: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg To Preside Over Mock Trial As Part of Venice's The Shylock Project

With 2016 being the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death, festivals and special events are being held all over the world to commemorate the life and career of the English language's most famous playwright.

2016 also marks the 500th Anniversary of the creation of Venice's Jewish ghetto, and to commemorate both events, Compagnia de' Colombari and Ca'Foscari University of Venice are collaborating on a world theatre event this July, "The Shylock Project," which will include five performances of Shakespeare's THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, which is set in the Italian city, and introduces the controversial Jewish character, Shylock.

As the play climaxes in a courtroom scene, arguing the theatre's most famous case of contract law, a one-night event held on July 27th will present a mock trial of the case presented by Shakespeare, presided by Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the United States Supreme Court. A cast of international lawyers will argue the legal implications presented by The Bard.

Shakespeare's case involves the anti-Semitic Antonio, a successful merchant with no ready cash at hand, who, when he requires an immediate loan, turns to Jewish moneylender Shylock. Because of Antonio's past offences, Shylock agrees to provide what he needs only if Antonio will pay up with a pound of his own flesh if he does not repay on the agreed-upon date. Though his payment was late, Antonio soon offers twice the sum of the original loan, but Shylock wants his flesh.

Staged in Venice's Jewish Ghetto, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE is directed by Karin Coonrod and will star Emmy-winner Reg E. Cathay as Antonio.

Five different actors will play Shylock in five different scenes. "His outsider immigrant humanity has shaped a world presence bigger than the confines of the play," explains Coonrod. "So what better way to truly investigate the character of Shylock, rather than a mere interpretation of Shylock, than by allowing all of us entrance into him: a young Zoroastrian man, an older Croatian man, an English woman, a middle-aged Venetian man and a middle-aged Jewish American man. We tested this last year in the workshop and it was thrilling...the times when they came together to speak were unforgettable."

Visit themerchantinvenice.org.