January 7, 2001
Contact: Greg Hubbard, Associate Director
(415) 682-8224 or (408) 586-8831

Calaveras Repertory Theatre presents The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare Justice or mercy? Shylock, the Jew, loans money to the merchant Antonio so his best friend can pursue his true love. When Antonio is forced to default on the loan and Shylock demands his "pound of flesh" in payment, a legal crisis erupts that can only be resolved by the lovely Portia in the guise of a young judge.

Calaveras Rep offers a fresh interpretation of Shakespeare's comic parable of love and prejudice. Director John Ribovich sets the play in 1930's New York in order to explore the comic underpinnings of Shylock's complex character as well as the issues of wealth and privilege that lie at the heart of the play.

CRT's production brings together a remarkable professional cast ( six of the twelve actors are members of Actors' Equity), including Michael Keys Hall (Children of a Lesser God on Broadway) as Antonio, Jennifer Fagundes (A Flea In Her Ear at San Jose Rep) as Portia, and Steven Patterson (Prospero in Calaveras Rep’s The Tempest) as Shylock. The Merchant of Venice continues Calaveras Rep's tradition of challenging professional productions in an intimate setting.

The artistry and originality of CRT's productions make it one of the most exciting new companies around. The San Jose Mercury News describes CRT's productions as"Vibrant" and "highly accessible" Callboard Magazine calls Calaveras Repertory Theatre a "young company possessed of a bright future." The Milpitas Post says that CRT presents plays that are "Original. professional. (and) broadly appealing."

The Merchant of Venice runs February 7 through March 3, 2002. Performances will be at 8:00 PM, Thursdays through Saturdays, 2:00 PM Sundays at Calaveras Repertory Theatre (1331 E. Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas in the Samuel Ayer Education Center). Tickets are $12-$17 adults, $8-$10 student/seniors, and can be reserved in advance by calling (408) 586-8831. They can also be ordered from TicketWeb at (510) 601.8932 or on the Web at www.ticketweb.com. Visit Calaveras Reps' website at www.calaverasrep.org.