A One-Night All-Queer Reading Of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 12/9

This one-night only reading of Shakespeare's perpetually controversial 'THE MERCHANT OF VENICE' begins with commentary from premiere West Coast Shakespeare scholar Denise Battista.

The stage reading of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE features Nathan Tucker (Shylock), Kendra Arimoto (Portia), Stuart Bousel (Bassanio), Christopher P. Kelly (Antonio), Shaun Landry (Nerissa), Lisa Swanson (Jessica), Tony Sommers (Lorenzo), David Bicha (Gratiano), Carl Lucania (Salanio), Rik Lopes (Salarino), Jason Wong (Prince of Morocco), Sean Fenton (Prince of Aragon), Brian Olkowski (Tubal), Chris Struett (Launcelot) and Ryan Hayes (Narrator).

The stage reading will be followed by an audience discussion led by a panel of writers and artists including Peter S. Beagle, world-renowned Jewish-American author and fantasist, and John Fisher, Artistic Director of Theater Rhinoceros, San Francisco's oldest queer theater company.

There is a strong argument that THE MERCHANT OF VENICE really boils down to a depiction of how a society that relies on the oppression of one group of people will ultimately make monsters not only of that segment, but out of all with which it comes into contact. At a moment in our history when the rights of a minority have once again become a principal point of contention in the larger political arena, it's virtually impossible to miss how Shakespeare's play remains hauntingly relevant.

Showing 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday Dec. 9, 2008 at The Exit Theater 156 Eddy Street (between Mason and Taylor), San Francisco, CA 94102

Donations requested- All proceeds go to funding the legal battle to overturn Proposition 8 in California.

415-994-1367
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