Isaiah Johnson Will Perform in Shakespeare Exchange's OTHELLO Tonight

Isaiah Johnson (Broadway: Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino; Peter and the Starcatcher; Off-Bway: Far from Heaven with Kelli O'Hara) steps into the title role of OTHELLO, produced by the New York Shakespeare Exchange and directed by Cristina Lundy. OTHELLO began performances on Tuesday, October 15 for a limited engagement through Saturday, November 2. Performances are at Hudson Guild Theater (441 West 26th Street, between 9th & 10th Avenues; C to 23rd Street). The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7 PM; Wednesday - Saturday at 8 PM. There is an added performance on Sunday, October 27 at 2 PM. The regular ticket price is $18 ($10 for students, 30 minutes prior to performance). For tickets, call Brown Paper Tickets on 1-800-838-3006 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, visit www.ShakespeareExchange.org.

Despite barriers of racism, Othello the Moor has risen to the post of commanding officer and serves with profound integrity. But his honor becomes his vulnerability when he's mercilessly betrayed by his seemingly faithful comrade. In keeping with their mission of viewing Shakespeare through a contemporary lens, NY Shakespeare Exchange (producers of this year's on-going Sonnet Project) sets this OTHELLO in a municipal police precinct where diverse cultures converge; where societal preoccupation with appearances and a deeply entrenched culture of racial profiling victimize the very people charged with upholding the peace. Can a single villainous mind terrorize even the noblest among us?

In addition to Mr. Johnson, the cast features Anna Van Valin (The Degradation Play with Rising Phoenix Rep); Terence MacSweeny; Carey Van Driest (national tour of Annie); David Price (You Can Never Tell at the Pearl); Josh Jeffers (The Life and Death of King John with NYSX); Anna Paratore (Game Play Festival at the Brick); Anthony Manna (Timon of Athens at The Public Theatre, The Hasty Heart (Keen Company); Katherine Puma (Pudd'nhead Wilson); David Lapkin (Measure for Measure at the Pearl); Danny Rivera (member of The Bats at the Flea Theater); John St. Croix (Much Ado About Nothing in Astoria Park); and Matthew Velez.

The design team includes G. Warren Stiles (set design); Daniel Winters (lighting design); and Orli Nativ (costume design). The composer is Shane Parks. Alicia Rodis is the fight choreographer.

Cristina Lundy (director) has worked as a director and assistant director in San Francisco (Exit Theatre), and in NYC (Studio Tisch, Columbia University, T. Schreiber Studios and 3 Roads Productions). For NYSX, Cristina has directed staged readings of Romeo & Juliet; Spring's Awakening; and, many scenes for ShakesBEER, NYC's Original Shakespearean Pub Crawl. She was assistant director on both The Life and Death of King John and Island. Graduate of Trinity College.

New York Shakespeare Exchange (NYSX) offers innovative theatrical programming that explores what happens when contemporary culture is infused with Shakespearean poetry and themes in unexpected ways. Providing fresh points of entry to the work so that modern audiences will be exposed to the intrinsic power of Shakespeare, NYSX's goal is to encourage an enthusiastic appreciation of classical theater and to expand the reach of the art form within new and existing audiences.

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