Twenty years after the events in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, the Jewish moneylender Shylock has moved to the isle of Rhodes, which is under the rule of the Christian Knights Hospitaller. The forces of Suleiman the Great are amassing to conquer the isle,and Shylock is accused of conspiring with the Musselman. While Shylock claims he has abandoned his former ways, he is nevertheless imprisoned, abused, and tortured. Not even sympathetic Christians can save him. Shylock must engineer his own escape before he descends back to the man after a pound a flesh.

The Studio's FIRST LOOK program is an opportunity for our audiences to participate in the development of new, imaginative theater — to interact with our playwrights, directors and actors to help us perfect a story before it is brought to the stage for a paying audience.

This series of live play readings is a standout favorite of our members and their friends from the general public. Participation is absolutely free to all who would like to join us. 

Be sure to stick around after the reading for a discussion with the playwright, director, actors and the audience. Your feedback is an important part of the play development process and will be greatly appreciated.