Associate Professor of Theater Abigail Killeen is currently in Italy for the premiere this week of a production of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, in the city where the play is set.

The production is being staged in Venice by the New York-based Compagnia de’ Colombari, and it’s of particular interest to Killeen: she’s due to play Nerissa in the American transfer of the Compagnia’s production of the play in the fall of 2017.

The production, which was staged in Venice to mark the 500th anniversary of the city’s Jewish ghetto, also attracted the attention of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who’s involvement in the event was covered by The New York Times.