Theatre Banshee is getting ready for an eight-week run of The Merchant of Venice beginning March 24. In this tangled tale of friendship and romance, a merchant borrows money to help his friend woo a maiden and secures the loan with a pound of his own flesh as collateral. Flagrant racism and anti-Semitism mix uncomfortably with honor, friendship and love in a play that defies categorization. Funny, horrifying, charming and unsettling, The Merchant of Venice has remained one of Shakespeare’s most popular – and controversial- plays for more than four centuries.
Sean Branney directs a cast that includes Mark Anthony Barrow, Paul Bond, Joe Corgan, Andrew Graves, Ira Heinichen, Christine Joëlle, Daniel Kaemon, Maeve Kiely, Kirsten Kollender, Kerr Seth Lordygan, Barry Lynch, Brett Mack, David Reynolds, James Schendel, Tim Stafford, Sarah van der Pol, Ericka Winterrowd, and Time Winters.
The design team includes scenic design by Arthur MacBride, lighting by Bosco Flanagan, costumes by Christy Hauptman and an original score by Reber Clark. Performances run March 24 – May 13 at Theatre Banshee, 3435 W. Magnolia, Burbank. March 22 & 23 are $7 preview performances. For information and tickets call 818-846-5323 or visit www.theatrebanshee.org.
Shakespeare in LA 