The Merchant of Venice annouces opening night

The Public Theater, Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel have announced that the Broadway transfer of Daniel Sullivan's production of The Merchant of Venice will open at the Broadhurst Theatre on 7 Nov 2010.

As previously announced Al Pacino will reprise his performance as 'Shylock' for 78 performances only, beginning 19 Oct 2010 through to 9 Jan 2011.

The Merchant of Venice began performances in Central Park as part of The Public Theater's 2010 Shakespeare in the Park repertory season, where it played from 12 Jun - 1 Aug 2010.

The show opened at the Delacorte to some excellent reviews: "A marvelous new production. This is a Merchant for the age of Wall Street bubble boomers, a haunting indictment of a money-drunk society." (Ben Brantley, New York Times); "Not only is this the best Merchant of Venice I've ever reviewed, but it's one of the finest Shakespeare productions I've ever seen, period." (Terry Teachout, Wall Street Journal) and "Daniel Sullivan's smart, sober and thrillingly acted production has a passionate leading man in Al Pacino." (Davie Cote, NY1).

The story of The Merchant of Venice centres on 'Portia,' a young heriress, who finds herself in a life or death confrontation in a climactic courtroom trial with 'Shylock,' a jewish money-lender.

The Public will transfer The Merchant of Venice to Broadway with co-producers Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel who are also partnering with The Public on the upcoming Broadway transfer of 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.' Richards and Frankel partnered with The Public on the Tony Award-winning revival of 'Hair' on Broadway, London's West End and the upcoming national tour of 'Hair' beginning in October in Washington, DC.

Al Pacino (Shylock) will reprise his critically acclaimed role of 'Shylock' following an eight week run at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park this summer. On Broadway, he won Tony Awards for his performances in 'Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?' and 'The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel' and appeared in 'Camino Real,' 'Richard III,' 'American Buffalo,' 'Chinese Coffee,' 'Hughie' (which he also directed), and two productions of 'Salome' (1992 and 2003). Previously at The Public Theater, he played 'Marcus Antonius' in Stuart Vaughan's production of 'Julius Caesar' (1988). He has appeared in more than 35 films, receiving Academy Award nominations for his performances in "The Godfather," "Serpico," "The Godfather: Part II," "Dog Day Afternoon," "...And Justice For All," "Dick Tracy" and "Glengarry Glen Ross."

Daniel Sullivan's (Director) Broadway credits include 'Time Stands Still,' 'Accent on Youth,' 'The Homecoming,' 'Prelude to a Kiss,' 'Rabbit Hole,' 'After the Night and the Music,' Julius Caesar, Brooklyn Boy, Sight Unseen, The Retreat From Moscow, Morning's at Seven, 'Proof' (Tony Award), 'Major Barbara,' the 2000 production of 'A Moon for the Misbegotten,' 'Ah, Wilderness!,' 'An American Daughter,' 'The Sisters Rosensweig,' 'Conversations With My Father,' 'The Heidi Chronicles' and 'I'm Not Rappaport.' He directed 'The Merchant of Venice' at the Delacorte Theater this summer and directed the 2009 Shakespeare in the Park production of 'Twelfth Night' and the 2007 production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' Sullivan's other Public Theater credits include 'Stuff Happens' (2006), and 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' (1994).