Shylock (musical)
Encyclopedia
Shylock is a musical based on Shakespeare's A Merchant of Venice, adapted and composed by Ed Dixon
debuted at the York Theatre
in 1987 with Dixon in the title role. The performance garnered him a Drama Desk nomination
for Best Actor in a Musical. The cast included Lisa Vroman
, Charles Pistone, Dennis Parlato, Ann Brown and Joel Fredricks. Kathline Rubbico was musical director with sets and costumes by James Morgan and lighting by Marcia Madiera. Lloyd Battista was the director. According to Dixon, Shylock was an attempt to sympathetically explain the motivations of the eponymous character
.
Howard Kissel of the Daily News said, "Musically, Dixon who also plays the title, has given Shylock great nobility. The musical lines are elegant, and Dixon’s voice is powerful. Dixon’s music is lovely, particularly in the ensemble writing. The supporting cast sings with great skill. Dennis Parlato is especially moving as the imprisoned Antonio."
Ed Dixon
Ed Dixon is an American character actor, playwright and composer, who has appeared in numerous Broadway shows, including No, No, Nanette, King of Schnorrers, The Three Musketeers, Les Misérables, Cyrano, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Iceman Cometh, The Best Man, How the Grinch Stole Christmas ,...
debuted at the York Theatre
York Theatre
The York Theatre is an Off-Broadway theatre at 619 Lexington Avenue at the corner of 54th Street in the East Midtown section of Manhattan, New York City. It is dedicated to the production of new musicals and concert productions of forgotten musicals from the past. Each season consists of three or...
in 1987 with Dixon in the title role. The performance garnered him a Drama Desk nomination
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
for Best Actor in a Musical. The cast included Lisa Vroman
Lisa Vroman
Lisa Vroman is an American lyric soprano and stage actress. She graduated from South Jefferson Central School in New York State in 1975, the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam in 1979, and she did her graduate work at Carnegie Mellon University....
, Charles Pistone, Dennis Parlato, Ann Brown and Joel Fredricks. Kathline Rubbico was musical director with sets and costumes by James Morgan and lighting by Marcia Madiera. Lloyd Battista was the director. According to Dixon, Shylock was an attempt to sympathetically explain the motivations of the eponymous character
Shylock
Shylock is a fictional character in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.-In the play:In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is a Jewish moneylender who lends money to his Christian rival, Antonio, setting the security at a pound of Antonio's flesh...
.
Howard Kissel of the Daily News said, "Musically, Dixon who also plays the title, has given Shylock great nobility. The musical lines are elegant, and Dixon’s voice is powerful. Dixon’s music is lovely, particularly in the ensemble writing. The supporting cast sings with great skill. Dennis Parlato is especially moving as the imprisoned Antonio."