Richard Topol News

The Broadway premiere of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play The Normal Heart officially opens tonight, Wednesday, April 27, at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street). The limited, 12-week engagement, directed by Joel Grey and George C. Wolfe, began performances on Tuesday, April 19.

The Broadway premiere of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play The Normal Heart officially opens tonight, Wednesday, April 27, at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street). The limited, 12-week engagement, directed by Joel Grey and George C. Wolfe, began performances on Tuesday, April 19.

According to the London Times, Elton John and his partner David Furnish are considering bringing THE NORMAL HEART, which opens tonight at the John Golden Theatre, to London's West End.

Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart opens on Broadway tonight, April 27 for a 12-week engagement at the John Golden Theatre. Previews began April 19, 2011.

Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart opens on Broadway on Wednesday, April 27 for a 12-week engagement at the John Golden Theatre. Previews began April 19, 2011. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you the production shots!

Producer Daryl Roth announced today that the premiere Broadway presentation of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart will host a series of post-show talkbacks, beginning Tuesday, May 3.

Producer Daryl Roth announced today that casting has been completed for the premiere presentation of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart, on Broadway. Mark Harelik (Mrs. Warren's Profession), Richard Topol (The Merchant of Venice), and Wayne Wilcox (Coram Boy) join the previously announced Ellen Barkin as Dr. Emma Brookner, Patrick Breen as Mickey Marcus, John Benjamin Hickey as Felix Turner, Luke Macfarlane as Craig Donner/Grady, Joe Mantello as Ned Weeks, Lee Pace as Bruce Niles, and Jim Parsons as Tommy Boatwright. Harelik will play the role of Ben Weeks, Topol will play Hiram Keebler/Examining Doctor, and Wilcox will play David. Joel Grey and George C. Wolfe will direct the presentation, which begins its limited 12-week engagement on Tuesday, April 19 at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street), with an official opening night set for Wednesday, April 27.

The Public Theater's acclaimed production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, starring Al Pacino as Shylock and Lily Rabe as Portia, will conclude its successful Broadway run on Sunday, February 20 at the Broadhurst Theatre. The critically lauded production began at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park last summer and officially opened on Broadway on November 13. It recouped its capitalization after only 10 weeks and will be making its first profit distribution to investors next week. Tickets are on sale now at Tele-Charge at 212-239-6200 or www.telecharge.com.

The Public Theater's acclaimed production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, starring Al Pacino as Shylock and Lily Rabe as Portia, will resume performances on Tuesday, February 1 at the Broadhurst Theatre for a final three week extension through Sunday, February 20.

The Public Theater's acclaimed production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, starring Al Pacino as Shylock and Lily Rabe as Portia, will conclude its successful Broadway run on Sunday, February 20 at the Broadhurst Theatre. The critically lauded production began at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park last summer and officially opened on Broadway on November 13. It recouped its capitalization after only 10 weeks and will be making its first profit distribution to investors next week. Tickets are on sale now at Tele-Charge at 212-239-6200 or www.telecharge.com.

The Public Theater's acclaimed production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, starring Al Pacino as Shylock and Lily Rabe as Portia, will resume performances on Tuesday, February 1 at the Broadhurst Theatre for a final three week extension through Sunday, February 20.

The Public Theater's acclaimed production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, starring Al Pacino as Shylock and Lily Rabe as Portia, will resume performances on Tuesday, February 1 at the Broadhurst Theatre for a final three week extension through Sunday, February 20.

The Acting Company will present a staged reading of George S. Kaufman and Ring Lardner's 1929 hit musical June Moon filled with fun, frolic and hit songs such as Button Up Your Overcoat. Tony-winner John Rando (Urinetown, The Dinner Party, The Wedding Singer) will direct Kaufman's great grandson, James Patrick Cronin (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival and National Comedy Theatre) and a cast of Broadway regulars including six Acting Company Alums at the Mainstage Theater at Playwrights Horizons at 7pm, Monday, January 24. Tickets for the benefit evening are $35 and $60 and include a reception with the cast following the performance.

The Acting Company will present a staged reading of George S. Kaufman and Ring Lardner's 1929 hit musical June Moon filled with fun, frolic and hit songs such as Button Up Your Overcoat. Tony-winner John Rando (Urinetown, The Dinner Party, The Wedding Singer) will direct Kaufman's great grandson, James Patrick Cronin (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival and National Comedy Theatre) and a cast of Broadway regulars including six Acting Company Alums at the Mainstage Theater at Playwrights Horizons at 7pm, Monday, January 24. Tickets for the benefit evening are $35 and $60 and include a reception with the cast following the performance.

According to an article by Baz Bamigboye for UK Daily Mail, stage and screen star Patrick Stewart is set to join the Royal Shakespeare Company production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. Stewart will star as Shylock in the production, which is set to be directed by Rupert Goold. Though an agreement has been made between Stewart and RSC, he has not yet signed the contract. Rehearsals will begin in late March.

The cast of Broadway's MERCHANT OF VENICE has swept the Actors' Equity Awards for classical theatre, which were announced earlier today.

According to an article by Baz Bamigboye for UK Daily Mail, Al Pacinoin currently in talks to bring the Public ­Theater's The ­Merchant Of Venice to the West End.

The New York Times is reporting that talks are underway to potentially extend the run of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE past its originally scheduled January 9 closing date if a deal can be worked out with the show's stars - Al Pacino and Lily Rabe. No specific information is available as to how long of an extension may be possible.

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. 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) reprise their roles in this acclaimed production. New cast members who have joined the Broadway 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 Public Theater holds the press opening for THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Saturday, November 13. So as not to conflict with the Broadway opening of Elf on Sunday, November 14, the producers respectfully request that Merchant reviews be embargoed until Tuesday, November 16.