Theater News

Merchant of Venice, Starring Al Pacino, Adds Three Weeks to Broadway Run

Lily Rabe and Al Pacino
in The Merchant of Venice
(© Joan Marcus)
Lily Rabe and Al Pacino
in The Merchant of Venice
(© Joan Marcus)

The Broadway production of The Merchant of Venice, starring Al Pacino as Shylock, has announced a final extension. The production, at the Broadhurst Theatre, will go on hiatus on January 9 (due to a film commitment for Pacino), and then resume performances February 1 for an additional three-week run, closing on February 20.

In Shakespeare’s play, 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.

The production, which is directed by Daniel Sullivan, also stars Lily Rabe (Portia), David Harbour (Bassanio), Byron Jennings (Antonio), Jesse L. Martin (Gratiano), Christopher Fitzgerald (Launcelot Gobbo), Gerry Bamman (Duke of Venice), Heather Lind (Jessica), Matthew Rauch (Solanio), Richard Topol (Tubal), Marsha Stephanie Blake (Nerissa), Peter Francis James (Salerio), Isaiah Johnson (Prince of Morocco), Charles Kimbrough (Prince of Arragon), and Seth Numrich (Lorenzo).

The company also features Happy Anderson, Liza J. Bennett, Glenn Fleshler, Luke Forbes, Herb Foster, Bryce Gill, Thomas M. Hammond, Jade Hawk, Bethany Heinrich, Curt Hostetter, Tia James, Kelsey Kurz, Brian Macdonald, Dorien Makhloghi, Kim Martin-Cotten, and Baylen Thomas.

The design team includes Mark Wendland (sets), Jess Goldstein (costumes), Kenneth Posner (lighting), Acme Sound Partners (sound), and Dan Moses Schreier (original music).

For TheaterMania’s review of the production, click here.

For more information, click here.