Byron Jennings News

Telechage.com is now listing Arcadia, a revival of Tom Stoppard's play, will return to New York this spring for a limited engagement in an acclaimed new production directed by five-time Tony Award nominee David Leveaux.

2010 was quite a year for Broadway with some spectacular opening nights. We'll be sharing highlights from the year in photos, videos, interviews and more throughout this final week of the year. First off is a look at some of the star and excitement filled opening night curtain calls of 2010. Photos by Walter McBride / WM Photos / Corbis

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.

Yesterday, December 12, New York Stage and Film presented their Annual Winter Gala. Top theatrical talent paid tribute to honorees Laura Linney (Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning actress) and Jordan Roth (President of Jujamcyn Theaters) at The Plaza Hotel including Steven Pasquale, Rebecca Naomi Jones and John Gallagher, Jr., and cast members from Spring Awakening, Hair and American Idiot. John Benjamin Hickey and Michael Mayer served as presenters. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

Producer Ellen Berman (Enchanted April) presents a reading of the new play, Operation Epsilon by Alan Brody (The Housewives of Manheim) with direction by Tony Award-winning director/producer Andy Sandberg (Hair, The Last Smoker in America).

Producer Ellen Berman (Enchanted April) will present a reading of the new play, Operation Epsilon by Alan Brody (The Housewives of Manheim) with direction by Tony Award-winning director/producer Andy Sandberg (Hair, The Last Smoker in America).

While there's certainly plenty to enjoy in the new musical version of Pedro Almodóvar's 1988 film, Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown - David Yazbek's jaunty Latin-based score, the winning performances of a star-studded cast (three Tony winners and four other nominees) and the kinetic flashiness of Bartlett Sher's kicky production - the show is also a prime example of how the sum of the pieces can add up to more than the whole when the missing ingredient is a strong book.  Not that the talented Jeffrey Lane doesn't make a game try at it.  Sticking closely to the source, his work is frequently clever and he and Yazbek concoct some quirkily fun musical scenes, but the odds are working against him in this one.

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.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson), Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel announced today that the new press opening for THE MERCHANT OF VENICE will be 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.

The Public Theater, with Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel present THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, starring Al Pacino as Shylock and Lily Rabe as Portia at the Broadhurst Theatre this fall. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE will play 78 performances only through Sunday, January 9. See below for a look at MERCHANT on stage!

It was an emotional evening last night as THE MERCHANT OF VENICE celebrated its official opening night on Broadway. On Friday, the show announced that it would push back it's official press opening to accommodate its star, Lily Rabe whose mother, actress sadly Jill Clayburgh passed away at 66 on November 5. Rabe returned to the show on Saturday night. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the after party and brings you photo coverage below.

It was an emotional evening last night as THE MERCHANT OF VENICE celebrated its official opening night on Broadway. On Friday, the show announced that it would push back it's official press opening to accommodate its star, Lily Rabe whose mother, actress sadly Jill Clayburgh passed away at 66 on November 5. Rabe returned to the show on Saturday night.

BroadwayWorld has learned that Lily Rabe returned to THE MERCHANT OF VENICE last night, and will appear tonight for the show's opening night performance. The show had to push back it's official press opening to accommodate its star, Lily Rabe whose mother, actress Jill Clayburgh passed away at 66 on November 5.

BroadwayWorld has learned that THE MERCHANT OF VENICE has had to push back it's official press opening to accommodate its star, Lily Rabe, who must miss the next several performances for family reasons. Opening night had been set for this Sunday, November 7. A rep for the production states that they are now aiming for a November 15 opening night instead and will be confirming sometime next week.

The Public Theater, with Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel present THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, starring Al Pacino as Shylock and Lily Rabe as Portia at the Broadhurst Theatre this fall. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE will play 78 performances only through Sunday, January 9, with an official press opening on Sunday, November 7. See below for a first look at the show's official photo gallery!

Directed by Tony Award winner John Doyle (Sweeney Todd, Company), WINGS began previews at Second Stage Theatre (305 West 43rd street) on Tuesday, October 5. The production officially opened on Sunday, October 24.