PORTLAND SHAKESPEARE PROJECT
Michael Mendelson – Artistic Director
Karen Rathje – Managing Director
The Merchant of Venice
by William Shakespeare
In a Modern Verse Translation
by Elise Thoron
July 10 to July 20, 2025
VENUE
Portland Playhouse
602 NE Prescott
Porland, Oregon 97211
Cast
|
|
|
|
Shylock |
Michael Mendelson* |
|
|
|
|
|
Portia |
Annie Leonard |
|
|
|
|
|
Antonio |
Emily Sahler |
|
|
|
|
|
Lancelot |
Dylan Hankins |
|
|
|
|
|
Bassanio |
Brave |
|
|
|
|
|
Garciano, Arragon |
Matt Sunderland |
|
|
|
|
|
Jessica |
Olivia Mathews |
|
|
|
|
|
Morrocco, Duke of Venice |
Henry Noble* |
|
|
|
|
|
Tubal, Gobbe |
Jon Lee |
|
|
|
|
|
Nerissa |
Elizabeth Jackson |
|
|
|
|
|
Ensemble |
Zeb Bodine |
|
|
|
|
|
Ensemble |
Maryellen Wood |
|
|
|
|
|
Ensemble |
Alannah Walker |
*Member, Actors’ Equity Association,
the Union of Professional Actors and
Stage Managers in the United States.
Artistic and Production
Co-Director / Avital Shira
Co-Director / Michael Mendelson
Production Manager / Karen Hill
Stage Manager / Hayley Lamsma
Set and Props Designer / Alex Meyer
Lighting Designer / Thyra Hartshorn
Sound Designer / Kyle Colgan
Costume Designer / Anya Jones
The Merchant of Venice is a comedy/tragedy set in Italy. It is centered around love, money, prejudice, and social injustice.
Shylock asks for a pound of flesh as part of a loan contract; Bassonio agrees to it, and Portia saves the day by disguising her identity and pretending to practice the law.
No one dies, although Shylock loses his money, his property, and his religion.
The Merchant of Venice is a comedy, but it forces us to consider antisemitism and racism then and now.
All that glisters is not gold . . . Don’t miss out on this production!