MANHATTAN – The Godfather takes on Shakespeare this summer when Al Pacino stars as Shylock in “The Merchant of Venice” for the upcoming season of Shakespeare in the Park.
Pacino, who was born in East Harlem, will return to the role for the Public Theater’s 2010 season of Shakespeare in Central Park, the Associated Press reported.
The Hollywood actor previously played Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, for the 2004 Michael Radford-directed film of “The Merchant of Venice.”
The play will be directed by Daniel Sullivan and alternate performances with “The Winter’s Tale,” directed by Michael Greif.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jesse L. Martin and Lily Rabe will also star in this summer’s Shakespeare in the Park.
Shakespeare in the Park runs June 9-Aug. 1. Last year's season saw Anne Hathaway as Viola in "Twelfth Night."
