10 Fun Factoids About Shakespeare, Venice and The Merchant!

Sir John Gilbert's 1849 painting: The Plays of...

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I know you’re embroiled as much in a Merchant of Venice tickets hunt as you are in the steamy, savage words of the Bard himself, so I’ve prepared a list of 10 interesting little factoids about the sterling production, starring Al Pacino on Broadway. Many people are familiar with the Italian city of Venice, but do they know anything about the place? William Shakespeare is the most famous playwright of all time, but who was he? The Merchant of Venice remains one of the crown jewels of theater, and the expression “a pound of flesh” one of the best known, but from which part of the body was the pound of flesh to come from? As the Merchant of Venice schedule Chicago begins to attract attention, it is fitting that we include a bit of cocktail party conversation material here for those of you lucky enough to have bought Merchant of Venice tickets and seen the play.

Take a gander at our 10 fun facts about Shakespeare, Venice and the Merchant of Venice!

1. Nobody knows the actual date of William Shakespeare’s birthday!

2. The “pound of flesh” demanded by Shylock from Antonio had to be taken from “closest to his heart”

3. Venice is sinking; the city sank almost three inches in the last 100 years.

4. Laurence Olivier played Shylock in the 1973 movie version of “Merchant”.

5. Shakespeare’s father, a money lender, was accused in the Exchequer Court of usury.

6. Many distinguished scholars and authors don’t believe that Shakespeare wrote any of his plays!

7. Venice is known as “the Queen of the Adriatic”.

8. The Merchant of Venice had its first performance in 1596.

9. The amount of money lent by Shylock to Antonio is 3000 gold pieces.

10. William Shakespeare has no descendants!

There are many more interesting little tidbits about Shakespeare and his world. You should go online and check them out. It’s almost as intriguing as his plays! Make sure you have your Merchant of Venice ticket in your hand ASAP, because these Broadway tickets are still selling fast. If you’re in the Midwest, then Merchant of Venice tickets Chicago are also on sale, so buy now and experience the vivid world of Venice in the Middle Ages!

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Merchant of Venice Schedule Swap for Pacino

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If you’re planning on buying Merchant of Venice tickets, then act fast, because it looks like Al Pacino is swapping Venice for France – the Godfather actor is slated to play the role of Henri Matisse, the French artist. Pacino’s sterling performances at the Broadhurst Theatre have been good preparation his his transition to filming the Deepa Mehta-directed “Masterpiece”, the story of the French painter’s relationship with his inspiring nurse, Monique Bourgeois. The film is still being developed, but Pacino is all set to take on the part of the creative modern artist. The astounding success of “Merchant” on Broadway has come as no surprise to those familiar with Pacino’s previous on-screen work, particularly cult classics like Serpico, Scarface, Dog Day Afternoon and The Godfather. He has also appeared in a number of Broadway shows, including Hughie, his Broadway debut Does a Tiger Wear Necktie?, King Richard III and The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel. The Merchant of Venice schedule will soon be switching to Merchant of Venice Chicago tickets, when the play moves to the Bank Of America Theatre (formerly Lasalle Bank Theatre), in the Windy City.

The story of Matisse is a fascinating one, particularly his relationship with nurse Monique Bourgeois. She was 21 years old when she began working part time for the artist in 1942, while Matisse was already in his 70s. The two lost touch during World War Two but were reunited in 1946, by which time Bourgeois was a Dominican nun. The former nurse asked Matisse to aid in in the design and decoration of a new chapel in Vence, a town near Nice. Matisse indeed helped in the project, which became Chapelle du Rosaire, known as “the Matisse Chapel”. Pacino’s brilliant contribution to the Merchant of Venice will have surely boosted receipts when the movie finally opens, but in the meantime you can buy Merchant of Venice tickets and see him live on the New York stage – but hurry, Shylock won’t be here forever!

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Merchant of Venice Chicago Tickets, Now!

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

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The Merchant of Venice tickets and Merchant of Venice schedule are doing so well on Broadway that the production is now going to move to Chicago and begin a run there, too. “Merchant” on Broadway will become Merchant of Venice Chicago. Tickets are now available for the Chicago Merchant of Venice, and you can check the Merchant of Venice Chicago schedule right here. The Merchant of Venice is one of William Shakespeare’s most famous works, and has everything, from racism and foolishness, to derring-do, romance and violence! The chief theme running through the plot is that of vengeance, and the infamous “pound of flesh” payment demanded by Jewish moneylender, Shylock. Thousands have flocked to New York’s Broadhurst Theatre to see for themselves how the play has aged in the 400-plus years since the Bard sat and wrote it, and the verdict is “excellent!”

News that the Merchant of Venice Chicago tickets are on sale has surely put the inhabitants of the Windy City in a storm of theater ticket hunting. Chicagoans will be delighted to see this powerful drama, as its stars perform on stage live at the Bank Of America Theatre (formerly Lasalle Bank Theatre), in Chicago, Illinois. The thrill of an age-old tale is always appealing, so if you live in either NYC or Chi-town, you should make sure you see this amazing play before it is finally over.

You’ll be shocked, surprised and moved by the story of the foolish young man and his brave wife-to-be, the generous merchant himself, and the harried Shylock. All in all, probably the best ticket you’ll buy in a long time.

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Merchant of Venice Scheduled for Hiatus/Profit!

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It feels good in these troubled times to hear that those Merchant of Venice tickets are selling well enough for the production to now have earned back its original costs of $3.45 million, making “Merchant” a rare Broadway show that is currently making a profit. Al Pacino as Shylock and the fabulous Lily Rabe as Portia are largely responsible for the huge success of the Shakespeare tale, but generally speaking, Merchant of Venice is one of the better Broadway shows in recent years. Merchant of Venice tickets were always destined to do well, methinks!

The production was first staged in summer 2010 by the nonprofit Public Theater in Central Park, for its “Shakespeare in the Park” series, where amazingly Merchant of Venice tickets were free. Director Daniel Sullivan then moved the play to Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre, where it has become one of the major successes on the Great White Way in 2010-2011. Critics and audiences both love “Merchant”, which is also rare these days! The latest news is that “Merchant” is to take a short 3-week hiatus due to Al Pacino having prior commitments on a film. The production made its way to the very top of the highest-grossing Broadway shows in the last quarter of 2010 and is expected to continue its encouraging form until it closes in New York at the end of February. At that point people will be looking for Merchant of Venice tickets Chicago, as the play makes its way to the Windy City for more of same!

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The Merchant of Venice Tickets Hunt Continues

Portia (Kate Dolan)
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As Merchant of Venice tickets sell and the production attracts even more attention on Broadway, much of the talk is about Al Pacino – surprise, surprise – and his red-hot portrayal of the embittered Shylock. Pacino captures perfectly the anger and intensity of the victim of prejudice who finds himself in a position to exact revenge on his longtime tormentor. Pacino’s blazing portrayal of the world’s most famous moneylender creates a great effect, especially with the excellent costumes and starkness of the set. The focus was always going to be Pacino, but as the play follows its arc, we see others, especially the amazing Lily Rabe, who plays Portia with a strength and clarity that has to be seen to be believed. The roles in this splendid version of Merchant of Venice are all so well defined by the actors who play them that it is no surprise Merchant of Venice tickets are among the best sellers as we approach the 2010 holiday season on Broadway.

The Merchant of Venice schedule is set to run until January 9 at the Broadhurst Theatre, with many tickets to performances already sold out. This version offers such versatility it is hard not to want to see it for a second time! There’s humor, romance, betrayal, revenge, but ultimately entertainment is the universal product. It is the comedic aspect that really cements the whole into an immensely watchable play; it cuts the bitterness of racism into easily digestible segments of light relief. The transformation of the sweet Portia into a masculine lawyer pleading persuasively for mercy on Antonio adds to the drama in a way only Lily Rabe could conjure. Despite this magic, Pacino still shines through it all with his dark and defiant Shylock.

Merchant of Venice tickets will be sold out well before we hit the final furlong on this spectacular Broadway run, and the complex but easy to follow “Merchant” will surely go down as one of the best things seen on the Great White Way in a long time. Buy Merchant of Venice theater tickets and wallow in the disgraces and laughter of another age!

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Merchant of Venice Opening Reviews

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 07:  Al Pacino and Lily Ra...
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Public Theater production The Merchant of Venice has announced its press opening, asking for reviews be held back until Tuesday November 16. The actual Merchant of Venice press opening will occur on Saturday, November 13. Elf the Musical, one of the holiday season’s biggest sellers, opens the following day, and this is the reason the producers of “Merchant” have requested a postponement in the reviews airing. Merchant of Venice tickets are still selling strongly, and the Shakespearean tale of antisemitism, romance and revenge looks set for a very successful run at the Broadhurst Theatre.

The press opening had already been set back a week, after Portia actress Lily Rabe’s mother (actress Jill Clayburgh) passed away. Rabe is now back in the fold and the Merchant of Venice schedule is on track once more, and those involved in the production have spoken fondly of Rabe’s mother’s part in the field of acting.

Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis said, “Jill Clayburgh was one of America’s great actors. We honor her, we celebrate her life, and we are proud that her daughter Lily Rabe is part of our Merchant family. We applaud her courage during this difficult time.

“We thank the New York press for helping us to reschedule our press opening, and we respectfully ask that our new press opening date in no way limit or restrict the coverage of Elf, our fellow Broadway show opening this Sunday.”

This professional sentiment by Merchant of Venice producers reveals the camaraderie and mutual respect Broadway productions properly feel for each other, in good times as well as bad. Pacino as Shylock remains the main draw for the production, in which Rabe has shone and earned herself plenty of accolades. The underlying subject of antisemitism as explored by Shakespeare continues to fascinate audiences, and the famous expression “a pound of flesh” once again makes the rounds.

Merchant of Venice tickets are proving their worth as the season hits its peak, and the play is earning its reputation as one of the Bard’s most gripping. The story of the Venetian merchant Antonio and his entanglement in another’s affairs still has audiences swooning with emotion. Catch The Merchant of Venice soon, and find out why all those theater tickets are selling so well. Merchant of Venice tickets aren’t easy to find s showtimes approach so make sure you have yours well in hand before setting off for Broadway!

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The Brilliant Merchant of Venice Team

Bassanio (John Farmanesh-Bocca) and Portia (Ju...
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The creative team and cast of The Merchant of Venice are a powerhouse of talent both on stage and off. Aside from Al Pacino, the main reason being given for the popularity of Merchant of Venice tickets, there are numerous other giants of theatre in attendance on the production. The Public Theater’s latest gem will also offer discounted rush tickets, when theatergoers will be invited to enter their names in a ticket lottery for a limited number of mezzanine seats to the esteemed play. The offer follows the success of “Merchant” in the Shakespeare in the Park series this past summer.

“This summer, we were able to give away tens of thousands of seats to this extraordinary production of The Merchant of Venice. We can’t do that on Broadway, but I’m delighted we’ve found a way to allow a few passionate theater lovers to get tickets at an extraordinary discount. Shakespeare belongs to everyone,” Oskar Eustis, the artistic director of The Public Theater said. Pacino’s Shylock is now legendary in theater circles, but there are others who deserve a mention. Lily Rabe is a wondrous Portia, working her way through numerous costumes throughout the various scenes, plus Byron Jennings who plays as fine an Antonio as any seen before. David Harbour is the young and reckless Bassanio, the true cause of the all troubles that occur and the man who falls for Portia. Byron Jennings as Antonio and Heather Lind as Jessica complete the romantic foursome, while Seth Numrich is a fantastic Lorenzo. Mark Wendland is the scene designer, and he comes with the production from the original Shakespeare in the Park run of the summer. Others to come in from the cold (now it’s almost November) include costume designer Jess Goldstein, Kenneth Posner on lighting, with Acme Sound Partners handling the sound.

The timeless tale, of love and revenge, betrayal and prejudice, is destined to live on through human history. The story really begins when Jewish moneylender Shylock agrees to give a loan to Venetian merchant Antonio, who borrows the money for his irresponsible friend, Bassanio to travel to win the heart of the lovely Portia. It’s a tangled web, and you will be wrapped up in it and delighted, when you buy Merchant of Venice tickets. Immerse yourself in the dialogue and setting of this drama. Enjoy the twists and the humor, but most of all cherish the moment – it is live theater, at its very best. The Merchant of Venice schedule is right here, so take a look and book yourself a seat at one of the biggest events to hit Broadway in years.

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Merchant of Venice Tickets Hitting the Heights

Shylock After the Trial, describing Act II, Sc...
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With Al Pacino topping the bill, Merchant of Venice tickets are really moving. The play recently attained a full week and more of eight perfect capacity nights at New York’s Broadhurst Theatre. For a play with little “TV style” comedy or music, that is a huge achievement. The Merchant of Venice schedule is already busy but it is now entering a new phase in the popularity stakes, making a million plus last week, and could be one of the highest-grossing non-musical productions we’ve seen in a very long time. It has been an exciting week for Shakespeare fans with The Public Theater announcing it’s Mobile Unit – a new stage for showcasing Shakespeare featuring top actors and technical people. The Mobile Unit will benefit those living in circumstances that prevent them from seeing world-class theater. This includes homeless people, rehab facilities, at-risk youth, abused women and seniors, and promises to set New York apart as the most innovative and cultured city in the country.

As Merchant of Venice tickets make a big impression on New York, we can expect more great things from The Public Theater. Pacino is the latest bright light to adorn Broadway in a theater season that is decidedly downplayed from last year. 2009 saw various Hollywood stars gracing the stage including Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig in “A Steady Rain”, “God of Carnage” with James Gandolfini and “Hamlet” which starred Jude Law. This year isn’t quite with the glitz, but Merchant of Venice tickets are flying, and the obvious reason is Al Pacino. The fact is, Pacino’s Shylock isn’t even the main character, but his role has always been the focus of critics, reviewers and the like. The immortal line, “a pound of flesh” will be forever in our minds whenever we discuss financial recompense for some deed or other, but it is in The Merchant of Venice where the expression originated. Check the “Merchant” schedule and be sure you don’t miss this massive hit. Where else can you combine glitz with grit, but at the Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino?!

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“Merchant” Poised to Open on Broadway!

Shylock and Jessica. Lost between 1939 and 194...
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The beginning performances of The Merchant of Venice will be starting at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York on Tuesday, October 19 – just days away! Merchant of Venice tickets are still one of the best-selling Broadway tickets of the moment, and that is expected to remain pretty steady. Al Pacino will be continuing his sterling account of Shylock, surrounded by a galaxy of excellent actors. Pacino’s part in the production will stretch to just 78 performances, so buy Merchant of Venice tickets as soon as possible. The Merchant of Venice is still one of William Shakespeare’s most dramatic and storied plays. Its characters present a tapestry of romance, violence, politics and betrayal, and this version is poised to be perhaps its best ever. Scan the Merchant of Venice schedule and come to see Portia, Antonio, Shylock and Bassanio enact this powerful tale from the quill of the Bard.

The Merchant of Venice tickets you will find here will be among the few available for this epic run. As the reviews roll in it becomes obvious that Al Pacino is only one aspect of this play, and that the other actors are all world class. Don’t make it hard for yourself, buy Merchant of Venice tickets and enjoy a sumptuous performance of a world-renowned play by a master!

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Merchant of Venice

Portia and Shylock
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People have been waiting in line for hours to buy Merchant of Venice tickets, cheifly to catch a glimpse of their hero Al Pacino, and according to the reviews, the production is the best ever! Daniel Sullivan has pulled a major coup in landing Pacino for the Shylock role, but many are now saying that the best actor in the play is actually Lily Rabe, who plays Portia. Rabe has been described as “the finest stage actress of her generation” and makes a stunning entrance in a red dress – the first of several costumes she wears to great effect throughout this iconic play. Portia is truly a central character in The Merchant of Venice, and it is she that finds the solution to the legal and financial problems posed at the story’s climax. Rabe delivers a thoroughly believable Portia, thanks to her ability to form a unique micro-atmosphere with every line she utters. This quality is what distinguishes a great actor, and it is this that is making people buy Merchant of Venice tickets as much as anything else.

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