District Merchants
Folger Theatre produced Aaron Posner's District Merchants, directed by Michael John Garces, music by Christylez Bacon, from May 31 to July 3, 2016.
Synopsis
Love and litigation, deep passions, and predatory lending are taken to a new level in this uneasy comedy, which wades fearlessly into the endless complexities and contradictions of life in America. Set among the Black and Jewish populations of an imagined time and place-—simultaneously Shakespearean, post-Civil War Washington, DC, and today-—District Merchants is a remarkable tale of money, merchandise, and mercy brought to the stage by four-time Helen Hayes Award-winner Aaron Posner.
Production
Entertainment unions represented in Folger Theatre productions include The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (**), United Scenic Artists (***), and the Actors' Equity Association (*), which includes members of the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers.
Cast
- Matthew Boston*: Shylock
- Maren Bush*: Portia
- Akeem Davis*: Lancelot
- Celeste Jones*: Nessa
- Seth Rue*: Benjamin Bassanio
- Dani Stoller*: Jessica
- William Vaughan: Lorenzo
- Craig Wallace: Antoine
Understudies
- Jenna Berk: Jessica
- Adante Carter*: Benjamin Bassanio/Lancelot
- Ross Destiche: Lorenzo
- Melissa Graces: Portia
- Jeff Keogh: Shylock
- Lilian Oben: Nessa
- Jefferson Russell* : Antoine
Creative team
- Aaron Posner, Playwright
- Michael John Garces**, Director
- Christylez Bacon, Music
- Tony Cisek*, Scenic Design
- Meghan Raham, Costume Design
- Geoff Korf*, Lighting Design
- James Bigbee Garver, Sound Design
- Michele Osherow, Resident Dramaturg
- Ayanna Thompson, Co-Dramaturg
- Daryl Eisenberg, CSA, New York Casting
- Roy A. Gross**, Production Stage Manager
- Elisabeth Ribar**, Assistant Stage Manager
Production team
- Teresa Wood, Casting Assistant
- Lila Rachel Becker, Assistant Director
- Elizabeth Brodie, Production Assistant
- Tony Koehler, Props Master
- Paige Hathaway, Assistant Scenic Designer
- Bella Faccia, Inc., Scenic Construction
- Anne Nesmith, Wig Designer
- Cidney Forkpah, Wardrobe Head
- Mariah Hale, Ansaldo Costumes, Adalia Tonneyck, Costume Construction
- Kyle Soble, Assistant Lighting Designer
- James Neylon, Master Electrician
- Amanda Kircher, Assistant Master Electrician
- Brandon Roe, Sound Associate
- Jon Farber and Sasha Pensanti, Assistants for Daryl Eisenberg Casting
- WiT Media, Advertising Agency
- Teresa Wood, Production Photography
- Brittany Diliberto, Pre-Production Photography
- Lee Fanning, Mark Fastoso, and APTV, Promotional Video
- WAPAVA, Archival Video
- C2, Open Captioning
Folger Theatre
- Janet Alexander Griffin, Artistic Producer
- Beth Emelson, Associate Artistic Producer
- David Polk, General Manager
- Charles Flye, Theatre Production Manager
- Rebekah Sheffer, Assistant Technical Director
- Katherine Pitt, Humanities Programs Assistant
Other media
Watch the trailer for this production of District Merchants."
Reviews
Image gallery
Dani Stoller (Jessica) and William Vaughan (Lorenzo), District Merchants, directed by Michael John Garces, Folger Theatre, 2016. Teresa Wood.
Maren Bush (Portia), District Merchants, directed by Michael John Garces, Folger Theatre, 2016. Teresa Wood.
Dani Stoller (Jessica), Seth Rue (Benjamin Bassanio, Akeem Davis (Lancelot), Celeste Jones (Nessa), and William Vaughan (Lorenzo), District Merchants, directed by Michael John Garces, Folger Theatre, 2016. Teresa Wood.
