MERCHANT OF VENICE Closes Today, 2/20

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.  

Directed by Daniel Sullivan and produced by The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Interim Executive Director Joey Parnes), Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE was one of the most well reviewed shows of the season and was a "Top Ten Pick" by Ben Brantley of The New York Times who called it "the most savory slice of Shakespeare served on Broadway in years, thanks in no small part to its magnificent stars: Al Pacino as Shylock and Lily Rabe as Portia."

The cast features Al Pacino (Shylock), Lily Rabe (Portia), David Harbour (Bassanio), Byron Jennings (Antonio), David AaRon Baker (Gratiano), Gerry Bamman (Duke of Venice), Heather Lind (Jessica), Matthew Rauch (Solanio), Marsha Stephanie Blake (Nerissa), Christopher Fitzgerald (Launcelot Gobbo), Peter Francis James (Salerio), Isaiah Johnson (Prince of Morocco), Herb Foster (Prince of Arragon), Thomas Michael Hammond (Lorenzo) and Richard Topol (Tubal).

The company also features Happy Anderson, George Bartenieff, Liza J. Bennett, Glenn Fleshler, Luke Forbes, Bryce Gill, Jade Hawk, Bethany Heinrich, Curt Hostetter, Tia James, Kelsey Kurz, BrIan Keith Macdonald, Dorien Makhloghi, Kim Martin-Cotten, Brian Sgambati 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 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.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos