Playing Shylock

After a production of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is canceled mid-performance because of public outcries about antisemitism, the actor playing Shylock (Rubinek, as a version of himself) asks how we are to share our common humanity when we are not able to share our stories with each other. The production, fresh off an extended successful run in Canada, delivers a candid and passionate appeal about identity, public discourse, and the theater.

In a commanding return to the stage, Rubinek delivers yet another unforgettable performance, adding to a distinguished career that has spanned more than four decades across film, television, and theater. Known for his critically acclaimed roles in series such as Frasier, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Hunters, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Schitt’s Creek, as well as iconic films including Wall Street, Against All Odds, Unforgiven, True Romance, The Family Man, and the Coen Brothers’ The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Rubinek’s work continues to captivate audiences and critics alike.