“Currency”

A series of short films and theatre show that re-envisions Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, placing Shylock at the center as a reflection of the immigrant, working class citizens of our port cities. Using direct address monologues and rap songs, Currency visits the marketplaces of West Oakland, Hong Kong, Managua, Downtown LA, and Venice to connect those “othered” by society with the larger issues of place, race, privilege, ownership, violence and revolution.