Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel Washington’s Broadway play is so expensive that even Tony award-winning vets can’t afford to see it.
Broadway legend Audra McDonald — who’s a six-time Tony winner — recently spoke of the pricey tickets to “Othello” while discussing the Broadway play with Gyllenhaal to Variety in an interview published on Wednesday, April 23.
McDonald is currently starring as Rose on the stage in “Gypsy,” a new revival of the historic musical. Gyllenhaal plays Lago, opposite Washington’s title character in the Shakespearean tragedy.
“Your show opened after mine, so I’m desperate to see it,” McDonald told Gyllenhaal — noting there’s one problem and that’s the ticket price.
“Also, I can’t afford to come to your show,” she shared.
Gyllenhaal did not touch on her comment during the interview; instead, he immediately answered a question that she had asked after her remark.
Ticket prices for “Othello” have been at the center of controversy since the limited-run play’s opening on March 23, with an official website listing seats for as high as $921.
Washington recently commented on the backlash, making no apologies for the high price.
“[They’re selling] as low as $50. People don’t talk about that,” the Oscar winner told Entertainment Tonight at the Entertainment Community Fund Gala on Monday, April 21.
However, Washington was likely referring to $49 student rush tickets.
“It’s gotta make you feel like you’re Beyoncé or Jay-Z, with tickets being in demand like that?” the reporter asked the star, who responded, “I haven’t quite felt like that. I can’t sing or rap.”
“Othello” became the highest-grossing Broadway play when it sold over $2.8 million in tickets during its first full week of previews — but Washington isn’t letting that get to his head, especially now that George Clooney’s “Good Night, and Good Luck” took the title after bringing in over $3.9 million.
“I’ve been blessed beyond measure for a long time,” he told the outlet. “I’m not bragging, but I’ve been a part of sold-out shows before.”
Washington added, “God has blessed me with a great ability, and I’m humbled by the reaction and the response that we’re getting, and I’m humbled by the opportunity to… use my celebrity to help others. That’s what it’s about.”
noti.group’s theater critic Johnny Oleksinski gripped about “Othello” ticket prices in a March 8 column, calling it “a war on your wallet.”
Oleksinski later shared that those behind the play withdrew his official invitation to review it after his fiery words; however, The Post ultimately bought a $290 limited-view ticket for him to go.
Oleksinski’s views didn’t change after watching Gyllenhaal and Washington on the stage. He labeled the show “dull” and gave it two stars.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
