Max Wright News

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.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Daniel Sullivan, will begin performances for Shakespeare in the Park on Saturday, June 12. The Public Theater begins Shakespeare in the Park performances tonight, June 9, with the first preview of THE WINTER'S TALE, directed by Michael Greif (yesterday's scheduled opening was cancelled due to the rain). Both shows will play in repertory through Sunday, August 1 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. BroadwayWorld brings you the latest batch of MERCHANT production shots below!

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin Shakespeare in the Park performances on Wednesday, June 9 with the first preview of THE WINTER'S TALE, directed by Michael Greif. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Daniel Sullivan, will begin performances on Saturday, June 12. Both shows will play in repertory through Sunday, August 1 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

The Public Theater presents THE WINTERS TALE as part of this summer's Shakespeare in the Park series at the Delacorte Theatre. The show will run June 9- August 1.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin Shakespeare in the Park performances on Wednesday, June 9 with the first preview of THE WINTER'S TALE, directed by Michael Greif. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Daniel Sullivan, will begin performances on Saturday, June 12. Both shows will play in repertory through Sunday, August 1 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting today for the 2010 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring THE WINTER'S TALE, directed by Michael Greif and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Daniel Sullivan, running in repertory June 9-August 1 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Tickets are free and distributed the day of the performance.

The Public Theater will present THE WINTERS TALE as part of this summer's Shakespeare in the Park series at the Delacorte Theatre. Rehearsals began today for THE WINTER'S TALE and BroadwayWorld has the production photos!

The Public Theater will present THE MERCHANT OF VENICE starring Al Pacino in rep with THE WINTERS TALE as part of this summer's Shakespeare in the Park series at the Delacorte Theatre. Rehearsals began today for THE MERCHANT OF VENICE and BroadwayWorld has the first production photos!

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that Broadway Producer Jeffrey Richards will be producing a Broadway transfer of The Public's Merchant of Venice, which will play Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte this summer starring Al Pacino. Richards has suffered a mostly disappointing 2010 so far, being the leading force behind this season's All About Me and Enron, both of which only lasted a mere few weeks on Broadway. Richards and his producing partner, Jerry Frankel are, however, also behind the successful Race, which has already recouped on Broadway.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who will be appearing in both THE MERCHANT OF VENICE and THE WINTER'S TALE at Shakespeare in the Park shows this summer at the Delacorte Theatre sat down alongside costar Lily Rabe to discuss the shows and their experiences working on them.

The Public Theater has announced additional casting for the 2010 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring THE WINTER'S TALE, directed by Michael Greif, and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Daniel Sullivan, in repertory June 9-August 1.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced early casting for the 2010 Shakespeare in the Park summer season. Daniel Sullivan will direct THE MERCHANT OF VENICE in rotating rep with THE WINTER'S TALE, directed by Michael Greif. The repertory company will feature Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Solanio/Young Shepherd); Jesse L. Martin (Gratiano/Polixenes); Al Pacino (Shylock); Lily Rabe (Portia/First Gentlewoman); Ruben Santiago-Hudson as (Prince of Morocco/Leontes); and Max Wright (Old Gobbo/Old Shepherd).

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), has announced that Jonathan Moscone of the California Shakespeare Theater is the first recipient of the Zelda Fichandler Award, which recognizes an outstanding director or choreographer who is transforming the regional arts landscape through his singular creativity and artistry in theatre.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), announces the establishment of The Zelda Fichandler Award to recognize an outstanding director or choreographer who is making a unique and exceptional contribution through his or her work in regional theatre.

As spring approaches, Central Square Theater will treat audiences to a festival of new works presented throughout the month of March! From global warming to faith, space exploration to a homecoming, PLAY it Forward! will bring to life a diverse offering of stories through two Catalyst Collaborative @ MIT readings, two readings from New Plays At The Nora, a reading for the city-wide ?ZinnFest,? as well as ?Page to Stage: A Young Playwrights? Celebration.? Festival events will take place at Central Square Theater and The Broad Institute in Cambridge between March 2 - 24, 2009.