The Floor of Heaven: Scenes from a Merchant and Songs of his Venice

Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is poised between two Empires – The Sceptered Isle and La Serenissima. In honor of the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare and the 500th anniversary of the birth of the Venetian ghetto, The Floor of Heaven interweaves moments from Shakespeare’s complex and revolutionary text with the play’s original music and songs from the English-Venetian soundscape that Shakespeare’s characters would have played and heard. Featuring music of Campion, Dowland, Pilkington, Monteverdi, and Salomone Rossi.

Acclaimed musicians soprano Jessica Gould, countertenor Nicholas Tamagna, and lutenist Christopher Morrongiello, educated at Oxford and the Royal Academy of Music, collaborate with a cast of noted actors, and directors Erica Gould and Deborah Houston to create a dynamic reflection on Shylock’s Venice. Script adaptation by Erica Gould.  Featuring Ayo Haynes, Gabriel Sloyer, David Arrow, and Ezra Knight as Shylock.

Location: The Bernie Wohl Theater of Goddard Riverside

647 Columbus Avenue between 91^st and 92^nd Streets

Tickets $20/$35/$50/$100