Al Pacino to adapt Shylock for NYC open-air theater
Al Pacino will bring Shylock to New York audiences next summer in Central Park. Pacino will take part in Public Theater's popular Shakespeare in the Park offering of the classic Merchant of Venice, which he played on screen in 2004.
The role will be the first time in seven years that the 69-year-old Pacino has acted on a New York stage. In 2003, he performed a reading of Salome on Broadway.
He will play Shylock for seven weeks from June 9 through August 1 in the delightful open-air Delacorte Theater.
Shakespeare in the Park, which offers a portion of tickets free of charge, is often a magnet for stars and featured Oscar-nominated Anne Hathaway in Twelfth Night during its past season.
Other stars that have graced the open-air Delacorte Theater include Meryl Streep, Natalie Portman, Patrick Stewart and Kevin Kline.
The plays will also feature Jesse Tyler Ferguson (as Solanio in “Merchant” and Young Shepherd in “The Winter’s Tale”); Jesse L. Martin (Gratiano/Polixenes); Lily Rabe (Portia/First Gentlewoman); Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Prince of Morocco/Leontes); and Max Wright (Old Gobbo/Old Shepherd). Daniel Sullivan will direct “The Merchant of Venice” and Michael Greif will direct “The Winter’s Tale.”