Broadway is about to witness Othello like never before. Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal are stepping into Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy, bringing their award-winning talents to the stage in a production already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated events of the year.
Directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon, this strictly limited 15-week run will kick off previews on February 24, 2025, at the Barrymore Theatre, with its official opening night set for March 23. If you’ve ever wanted to see Washington command the stage in a Shakespearean role—now’s your chance. But here’s the real kicker: you could score tickets for just $49.
The $49 Digital Lottery – What You Need to Know
If you’ve ever looked at Broadway ticket prices and immediately reconsidered your life choices, this one’s for you. Othello is offering a digital lottery for each performance, giving theatergoers a shot at affordable seats:
- Where to Enter: rush.telecharge.com
- When It Opens: 12 AM ET the day before the performance
- How You’ll Know If You Won: Notifications go out at 10 AM ET, with a second round of winners announced at 3 PM ET
- Ticket Details: $49 per ticket (up to 2 tickets per winner), but be aware—some seats may be partial view and based on availability
The production boasts a star-studded cast alongside its leading men. Molly Osborne takes on the role of Desdemona, with Andrew Burnap (Tony Award winner, The Inheritance) as Cassio, Kimber Elayne Sprawl (Girl from the North Country) as Emilia, Anthony Michael Lopez (Our Town, Camelot) as Roderigo, and Daniel Pearce (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) as Brabantio. Rounding out the ensemble are Neal Bledsoe (The Duke of Venice), Julee Cerda (Bianca), Ezra Knight (Montano), Gene Gillette (Gratiano), and Rob Heaps (Lodovico), with ensemble members William Connell, Ty Fanning, Ben Graney, Abiola Obatolu, Daniel Reece, Christina Sajous, Greg Wood, and Sarah Thorn.
Behind the scenes, an award-winning creative team is bringing this production to life. Derek McLane (Moulin Rouge!) is designing the set, with Dede Ayite (A Soldier’s Play) handling costumes, Natasha Katz (MJ the Musical) on lighting design, Justin Ellington (Pass Over) leading sound design, and Mia Neal (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) crafting hair and wig design. The production will also feature Claire Warden (Slave Play) as intimacy director, Narda E. Alcorn as production stage manager, and casting by ARC / Duncan Stewart, CSA & Jarrett Reiche.
The revival is produced by Brian Anthony Moreland, Kandi Burruss, and Todd Tucker, alongside a lineup of co-producers including Devale Ellis, Lu-Shawn M. Thompson, Lamar Richardson, Branden Grimmett, Christen James, Willette & Manny Klausner, and more. 101 Productions, Ltd. serves as the general manager for the production.
This marks Broadway’s first production of Othello in over 40 years, with the last staging in 1982, featuring James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer. Even more notably, the Barrymore Theatre itself hasn’t hosted Othello in nearly 90 years, making this revival a full-circle moment for Shakespeare’s classic tragedy.
Washington and Leon’s reunion is another highlight of this production. Their last Broadway collaboration, A Raisin in the Sun (2014), earned multiple Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Play and Best Actor for Washington. Given their history of success, this Othello is poised to be a defining moment in both their careers and in Broadway history.
Between the high-caliber cast, the visionary direction, and the opportunity to see this legendary production for just $49, Othello is set to be one of the biggest theater events of the year. The lottery makes it accessible to more theatergoers, so if you’re hoping to experience Shakespeare on Broadway without the Broadway price tag, now’s your chance.
Will you be entering the lottery?