Othello on Broadway, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel Washington, has just opened on March 23rd, but the highly-anticipated retelling is already breaking records.
The 2025 debut has been named the highest-grossing Broadway play in history, garnering a staggering $2.8 million in one week. (Considering some seats are going for a whopping $921, we can’t necessarily say this is a surprise.) This dethrones Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which pulled in a bit more than $2.7 million in December 2023, according to Deadline.
According to The New York Times, Othello’s first 14 rows in the center orchestra are hovering around the $900 mark. Additionally, the fact that a star-studded lineup has hit the stage, producers are looking to capitalize on the actors rather than the production, which helps with these staggering numbers. Director Jamie Lloyd told the outlet, “These actors do bring brand-new audiences to the theater, and of course, that’s what you always want.”
It’s safe to say that the buzz has certainly garnered attention on and off the Great White Way: Former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden were among the opening night attendees on March 23rd, alongside Cynthia Nixon, Jennifer Lopez, Anna Wintour, and Jamie Lee Curtiss, to name just a few. The play itself reimagines the story we’ve all read in high school and sets the stage in 2028: Washington assumes the role of Othello, the noble Moor of Venice, while Gyllenhaal portrays Iago, his deceiving lieutenant.
Should you be willing to shell out the big bucks, tickets for Othello range from $276.11 to $995, according to Broadway.com, and the futuristic retelling will be playing at the Barrymore Theater until June 8th, 2025. Keep in mind, you’ll be asked to hand over your cell before the performance begins.
If you’re thinking about your next star-studded stage debut, the inimitable George Clooney will hit Broadway this spring in Goodnight, And Good Luck, which will also stars Broad City creator, Ilana Glazer. Have a look at all of the Broadway shows currently playing, as well as great Off-Broadway performances.
Barrymore Theater: 243 W 47th St
From March 23rd to June 8th, 2025
From $276