Meet the cast of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice which tells the story of a businesswoman, hated for being Jewish, who tries to break into the clique of rich men who run Venice. A wealthy merchant seeks to buy the love of a young man. A sheltered heiress attempts to escape her dead father’s will. One of Shakespeare’s most controversial and misunderstood plays, this production of The Merchant of Venice tackles, head-on, the topics of anti-Semitism, misogyny and homophobia in society.
The Merchant of Venice features a powerful cast of Texas Theatre and Dance students, including Ryan Cruz (Antonio), Brian Nguyen (Salarino), Camryn Basile (Salania), Jesse Perez (Bassanio), Sultan Abboushi (Lorenzo), Aaron Moore (Gratiano), Bella Medina (Portia), Savanna Cole (Nerissa), Henry Wheatley-Rutner (Producer, The Duke of Venice), Jacob Garza (Balthazar, Guard), Austin Alvarez (Stephano), Miles LeBlanc (Prince of Morocco, Prince of Arragon, Guard), Dorian Delafuente (Tubal), Zachary Henry (Launcelot) and Cassidy Kaye (Jessica), as well as guest artist Burgess Byrd* (Shylock) and ensemble members Ben Hard, Ricky Miller, Carrington Quezada and Miranda Perkins.
The production’s creative team includes Chun-Kang Chen (Draper), Aaron Curry (Lighting Designer), Jesse Easdon (Projection Designer), Tucker Goodman (Scenic Designer), Joseph Harrington (Draper), Isaac Iskra (Movement Director), Kelsey Linberg (Dramaturg), Adam Miller-Batteau (Fight and Intimacy Director), Cecelia Raker (Dramaturg), Robert Ramirez (Voice and Text Coach), Jessi Rose (Costume Designer), Adam L. Sussman (Director), Skyler Taten (Stage Manager) David Tolin (Technical Director) and Michael Zapruder (Sound Designer and Composer).
The Merchant of Venice
November 14-December 2, 2018
Oscar G. Brockett Theatre
* The Actor appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers int he United States.
