ATTEND OUR NEW READING SERIES: LITERARY SUPPLEMENT

In addition to our full productions, TFANA will present a special Reading Series, on four selected Monday nights during the repertory run of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE and THE JEW OF MALTA. Curated by TFANA’s Literary Advisor, Michael Feingold, the series will explore later dramatic versions of the conflict between the outsider and society, written in the shadow of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE or in direct response to it.

Arnold Wesker’s SHYLOCK- FEBRUARY 5, 2007
A bold, epic-scale play by one of the leading writers of England’s post-1956 Royal Court movement, SHYLOCK is nothing less than an attempt to provide an alternative way of telling Shakespeare’s story, this time setting the conflict between Shylock and Antonio in the context not only of a larger society where Jews and Christians interact, but in the context of the philosophic and economic conflicts that molded Shakespeare’s time.

A. R. Gurney, Jr’s OVERTIME- FEBRUARY 12, 2007
In contrast to Wesker, Gurney’s frothy, sardonic sequel to THE MERCHANT OF VENICE begins with the end of Shakespeare’s last act, as Portia and her guests celebrate their victory at her estate. Sliding Shakespeare’s characters into the American ethnic conflicts of our own multicultural time, Gurney wittily teases new ideas out of the familiar characters by taking their story several startling steps further.

Henry Bernstein’s ISRAEL (1908)- FEBRUARY 26, 2007
Produced while the Dreyfus case still divided Paris, this stunning 1908 melodrama by one of the most acclaimed French playwrights of his day produced near-riotous controversy with its tale of right-wing Christian extremists whose campaign to drive a prominent Jew out of polite society, as a prelude to a politcal takeover, has shockingly unexpected consequences.

John Galsworthy’s LOYALTIES- MARCH 5, 2007
Acclaimed at its 1921 premiere, this classic suspense drama by the author of THE FORSYTE SAGA hinges on delicate issues of money, ethnicity, truth, and social acceptance, which combine to move toward tragedy when a wealthy young Jewish house guest at an aristocratic country house finds a large sum of money missing from his room – and has the effrontery to accuse a fellow guest.

All staged readings will be held at The Duke on 42nd Street (229 West 42nd Street), and will begin promptly at 7:30pm. Seating is by general admission, but call the TFANA office to make a reservation at 212 229 2819 x10 (Mon-Fri, 1-5pm).