Photo Coverage: 'THE MERCHANT OF VENICE' Opens at the Delacorte

Last night, June 21, The Public Theater hosted its annual gala, this year honoring sponsors Bank of America and Bernard Gersten.  THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, running in repertory with THE WINTER'S TALE, gave a special performance as part of the gala event. BroadwayWorld celebrated with The Public's friends and supporters and brings you curtain call coverage of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE below.

Gala attendees included longtime Public advocates Meryl Streep, Susan Sarandon, Sam Waterston, James Gandolfini, Vanessa Williams, Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Zach Braff, Lucy Liu, Neil Patrick Harris, Kathleen Turner, Kate Walsh, Lea Michele, Jonathan Groff, Amanda Seyfried, Dominic Cooper, Willem Dafoe, Amanda Peet, Jane Krakowski, Josh Lucas, Aidan Quinn, Edie Falco, Nora Ephron, Kyle McLachlan, Gloria Reuben, Audra McDonald, Sarah Paulson, RosAnna Scotto, Bill Irwin and Linda Emond, in addition to Rena DeSisto, Global Arts and Culture Executive, Bank of America; Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer, Lincoln Center Theater; Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; and Public Theater Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Daniel Sullivan, began performances for Shakespeare in the Park on Saturday, June 12. The Public Theater began Shakespeare in the Park performances of A Winter's Tale, directed by Michael Greif on June 9. Both shows will play in repertory through Sunday, August 1 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.