Sufi or not Sufi? Was Shakespeare a Muslim?: There's an old joke about William Shakespeare being an Arab - how else, it explains, can you account for the name, Sheikh Zubair. Certainly the playwright's preoccupation with despotic leaders, times of civil unrest and bloodshed fit in perfectly with the tempestuous nature of contemporary Arab politics.

With 2004 marking the 400th Anniversary of the Bard's famous Moor, Othello, the Globe Theatre in London has organized an extensive season, titled simply 'Shakespeare and Islam.' Renowned authors, scholars and creative artists are contributing to a unique program of events from October to December, with gatherings ranging from talks, masterclasses and readings of rarely performed texts, all designed to engage with a cross-cultural audience.

Stars out for Merchant of Venice Premiere

Stars of stage and screen arrived for the London premiere of The Merchant of Venice on Monday evening.

The Shakespeare adaptation, directed by Michael Radford, stars Al Pacino, Joseph Fiennes and Jeremy Irons, with Lynn Collins as Portia.
Prince Charles attended the event in his role as president of the Prince's Trust youth charity.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

ILLYRIA, A NEW MUSICAL BASED ON SHAKESPEARE'S
TWELFTH NIGHT, MAKES ITS REGIONAL THEATRE PREMIERE
AT THE SHAKESPEARE THEATRE OF NEW JERSEY

MADISON, NJ - "Let the merriment and the mirth prevail!" From November 30 through December 26, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents the regional theatre premiere of Illyria, an exuberant new musical adapted from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night by Peter Mills and Cara Reichel, with book, music and lyrics by Peter Mills.

Girl, disguised as boy, steals the hearts of both the lord and the lady in this festive comedy of unrequited loves and mistaken identities, directed by audience favorite Paul Mullins. Bursting with beautiful ballads and rollicking refrains, Illyria is a theatrical gem for all ages.

Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays at the company's Main Stage in Madison. Tickets for Illyria are $36 to $58, with discounts available for groups of 10 or more. For tickets, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

Itching to recharge those acting batteries that come part and parcel with the intimacy of a live audience, Denzel Washington has signed on to portray Brutus in a forthcoming Broadway production of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.”
The play is set to begin rehearsals in late January, while previews are tentatively scheduled to begin at the Belasco Theater in early March, with an opening in April.
 

Et tu, Denzel? Oscar Winner Washington to Star as Brutus in Broadway Julius Caesar

Two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington is set to star as one of the most noted of political and personal betrayers, Brutus, in a new staging of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar coming to Broadway in March.

Shakespeare's Globe reveals 2005 season