Langs Returns to Direct The Merchant of Venice at Seattle Shakespeare Company Mar 13 - Apr 5

The markets are trading high and Antonio and his buddies are living the high life on extended credit. But there are storms on the horizon and signs that the market is starting to crumble. Sound familiar? Associate Artist John Langs returns to Seattle Shakespeare Company to stage The Merchant of Venice at the Center House Theatre. With a low-priced preview on March 12, The Merchant of Venice opens on Friday, March 13 and will run through April 5.

Support for Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of The Merchant of Venice is provided by the law firm of Fox, Bowman, Duarte, the Washington State Arts Commission, and 94.9 KUOW.

In The Merchant of Venice, hot markets make Venice a glamorous and high-living city. Fortunes are made in an instant and lost in a heartbeat. After striking a lethal bargain with the moneylender Shylock, Antonio faces the knife when his income from his ships suddenly evaporates. He must now rely upon a resourceful heiress-turned-lawyer, Portia, to prevent the deadly disaster. In a thrilling courtroom conclusion, the disguised young woman swings into action in one of Shakespeare's most popular and controversial plays.

Director John Langs recently staged The Century Theatre Company's production of The Adding Machine. At Seattle Shakespeare Company, he has helmed popular productions of King Lear and Romeo and Juliet. In The Merchant of Venice Langs will direct his wife Klea Scott in the role of Portia. Ms. Scott was a regular on the Canadian television series Intelligence and on Fox TV's Millennium.

The cast of The Merchant of Venice features Allan Armstrong (Tubal/ Duke of Venice), Will Beinbrink (Bassanio), Mark Chamberlin (Antonio), Mats Ecklund (Balthazar/Bailiff/Stefano), David Goldstein (Salarino), Troy Fischnaller (Gratiano/Morroco), Kelly Kitchens (Nerissa), Shawn Law (Launcelot), Charles Leggett (Shylock), Melanie Moser (Jessica), Kay Nahm (Lady in Waiting to Portia/Performer), Michael Place (Lorenzo), Dale Ross (Lady in Waiting to Portia/Performer), Klea Scott (Portia), Matt Shimkus (Salerio/Jailor), and Brian Claudio Smith (Solanio/Aragon)

Set design for The Merchant of Venice is by Jennifer Zeyl with costume design by Pete Rush, lighting design by Geoff Korf and original music by John Osebold.

Performances of The Merchant of Venice are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 2:00 pm (March 21 and 28) and Sundays at 2:00 pm. There will be Sunday evening performances at 7:30pm on March 22 and 29.

Special "Shakespeariences" will be offered in conjunction with The Merchant of Venice including: "Jumpstart into The Merchant of Venice" a facilitated introduction to the play (March 19 at 6PM - $10) and post play discussions on selected performances.

Tickets to performances of The Merchant of Venice are now on sale and range from $30-$36 for adults and $22-$25 for seniors and students. A Pay-What-You-Will preview is on March 11 at 7:30 PM. Discounted tickets are available for groups of ten or more.

For ticket reservations, call the Seattle Shakespeare Company box office (206) 733-8222 or go online at www.seattleshakespeare.org. Regular box office hours are Tuesday through Friday 1:00-6:00 PM. During performance weeks, in addition to regular hours, the box office opens Saturdays 1:00-6:00 PM and Sundays 12noon to 4:00 PM. Seattle Shakespeare Company performs at the Center House Theatre at Seattle Center.