The Merchant of Venice to extend 3 wks after hiatus

Daniel Sullivan's critically acclaimed production of The Merchant of Venice, starring Al Pacino as 'Shylock' and Lily Rabe as 'Portia,' has announced a three week extension.

Due to a film commitment in Pacino's schedule, The Merchant of Venice will go on hiatus following the performance on 9 Jan 2011 (when it was originally scheduled to close) and will resume performances on 1 Feb 2011 for an additional three week run through to 20 Feb 2011 at the Broadhurst Theatre .

The Merchant of Venice opened at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre on 7 Nov 2010 to mostly excellent reviews: Absolutely splendid production (NY Times); Fast-paced, engaging, accessible (NY Post); Theatrical fireworks explode (Back Stage); "An uncommonly satisfying production (Hollywood Reporter).

Al Pacino (Shylock), Lily Rabe (Portia), Byron Jennings (Antonio), Jesse L. Martin (Gratiano), Gerry Bamman (Duke of Venice), Heather Lind (Jessica), Matthew Rauch (Solanio) and Richard Topol (Tubal) reprise their roles from the Shakespeare in the Park production, which played from 12 Jun - 1 Aug 2010 at Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

New cast members in the Broadway company include Marsha Stephanie Blake (Nerissa), Christopher Fitzgerald (Launcelot Gobbo), David Harbour (Bassanio), 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 Michael Hammond, Jade Hawk, Bethany Heinrich, Curt Hostetter, Tia James, Kelsey Kurz, Brian Keith Macdonald, Dorien Makhloghi, Kim Martin-Cotten and Baylen Thomas.

The design team for The Merchant of Venice features scenic design by Mark Wendland, costume design by Jess Goldstein, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and sound design by Acme Sound Partners.

The show opened at the Delacorte to some excellent reviews: "A marvelous new production. This is a Merchant 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 current 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.