Elements Theatre Company to Live Stream Performance at Walter Auditorium

Elements Theatre Company of Orleans, Mass., a professional, non-profit, resident theater company whose core mission is to educate and illuminate through the arts, brings its 2015 touring program to New York City January 25 through February 11. The company will present Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice in six performances at various venues throughout the city and lead related workshops, talk-backs and panel discussions on our culture's view of "The Other."

The company's production at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center (Bruno Walter Auditorium, Jan. 29, 6-8pm) can be viewed via livestream starting at 5:45pm EST at this link: http://new.livestream.com/elementstheatre/NYPL2015

In the series, titled "A Pound of Flesh: Exploring Qualities of Mercy when Encountering the Other," noted religious leaders, artists and scholars will examine the background and motivation of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice and consider the impact of his persecution on his own choices and on society at large. They will also consider this framework when discussing the greater implications of bigotry and persecution as they relate to prejudice, injustice, and assimilation. One key question is this: can an extreme response to being perceived as "The Other" be prevented by adopting the qualities of mercy in our behavior and culture?

Productions will be held January 27 and 29 at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center; February 4 at the 92nd Street Y; February 6-7 at the New School for Drama; February 9 at the East 13th Street Theatre (home of Classic Stage Company); and February 11 at St. Malachy's: The Actor's Chapel. Guest panelists and speakers are David Kastan, Yale University; John Douglas Thompson, Obie Award-winning actor (Tamburlaine, Othello, The Emperor Jones); Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership; Rabbi Peter Rubinstein, 92Y; Matt Malone, S.J., America Media; David Van Biema, Time magazine; Danielle Dwyer, C.J., Elements Theatre Company; Richard McCoy, Queens College; and Jeff Robbins, former United States Delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

Tickets for the general public range from $10-$40. All programs are free for students. Tickets and a complete, updated calendar of events may be found at http://elements-events.org/merchant-of-venice-winter-tour/calendar/. Tickets and reservations may also be purchased by calling the Elements Box Office at 1-800-319-7809.

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