Denzel Washington to return to Broadway in OTHELLO?

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 1/30/24 at 7:38am

Rumors say next spring

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/30/24 at 2:30pm

I'd pay to see that.

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 1/30/24 at 4:47pm

Very exciting, but it's all about the director and, frankly, finding one that isn't going to apologize for the play with a lot of sensitivity measures and going hog-wild with inclusivity casting like the Public's Richard III a few years ago.  Here's hoping it's Bart Sher as his pre-stardom Shakespeare productions were imaginative and electric. 

[TommyWho99]

Posted: 1/30/24 at 7:34pm

It'll probably end up being Kenny Leon.  Not saying that's a bad thing, I really like his version of Much Ado About Nothing.

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/30/24 at 9:50pm

I doubt it would be anyone other than Kenny Leon directing.

This just seems…uninspired to me. Like, we know Denzel is a legendary actor. We know he can do Shakespeare.(His most recent Oscar nom is for Macbeth). We know Othello is a monumental Shakespeare role. We know this is just built to print money.

Can we get these A-List actors in some new works or lesser known works?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/30/24 at 10:32pm

I imagine it’s a bucket list role for him, and he literally said to his agent, “I want to play Othello on Broadway” and ten minutes later it was greenlit.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 1/30/24 at 10:56pm

snooze

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/30/24 at 10:58pm

I guess this means he won’t be the Stage Manager in “Our Town”, a role I’d personally much rather see him do. 

Updated On: 1/30/24 at 10:58 PM

[jagman106]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 12:17am

Nothing about this rumor excites me, especially having seen Denzel in Julius Caesar about 20 years ago. 

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 8:28am

What would get me is if were are looking for actors over 40, can we get Patrick Page as Iago?

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 9:38am

I’ll obviously see this but I feel like I’ve already seen this before despite never happening. 

[Yessica Haircut]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 3:36pm

fashionguru_23 said: "What would get me is if were are looking for actors over 40, can we get Patrick Page as Iago?"

There was some chatter a few years ago of a revival starring Denzel, with the addition of Al Pacino as Iago.

(https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Denzel-Washington-and-Al-Pacino-Headed-for-OTHELLO-20120205)

I can't see Pacino being involved in this production, but Patrick Page is certainly always reliable.

Honestly, though, if it weren't for Kenneth Branagh bringing King Lear to NYC so soon, I would rather see Denzel take on that role instead (he's expressed interest in the past).

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 4:56pm

Yessica Haircut said: "fashionguru_23 said: "What would get me is if were are looking for actors over 40, can we get Patrick Page as Iago?"

There was some chatter a few years ago of a revival starring Denzel, with the addition of Al Pacino as Iago.

(https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Denzel-Washington-and-Al-Pacino-Headed-for-OTHELLO-20120205)

I can't see Pacino being involved in this production, but Patrick Page is certainly always reliable.

Honestly, though, if it weren't for Kenneth Branagh bringingKing Learto NYC so soon, I would rather see Denzel take on that role instead (he's expressed interest in the past)."

 

The article you posted is 12 years old.  Pacino needed an earpiece to be fed his lines AND to have them taped down to set pieces all over the stage just to get through his last 2 shows.

He ain't doing Shakespeare.

[MysteriousLady]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 7:45pm

They should do an updated adaptation ala Fat Ham. Maybe call it OH HELL NO! 

[Ke3]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 11:08pm

Tragedy of Macbeth is one of the best film performances he’s ever given, and that’s saying something. I’d much rather see he and Joel Cohen reteam for a film adaptation.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/1/24 at 9:10am

JSquared2 said: "Yessica Haircut said: "fashionguru_23 said: "What would get me is if were are looking for actors over 40, can we get Patrick Page as Iago?"

There was some chatter a few years ago of a revival starring Denzel, with the addition of Al Pacino as Iago.

(https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Denzel-Washington-and-Al-Pacino-Headed-for-OTHELLO-20120205)

I can't see Pacino being involved in this production, but Patrick Page is certainly always reliable.

Honestly, though, if it weren't for Kenneth Branagh bringingKing Learto NYC so soon, I would rather see Denzel take on that role instead (he's expressed interest in the past)."



The article you posted is 12 years old. Pacino needed an earpiece to be fed his lines AND to have them taped down to set pieces all over the stage just to get through his last 2 shows.

He ain't doing Shakespeare."

Did you read the entire post?  It was stated: I can't see Pacino being in this production. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/1/24 at 10:02am

He and Rudin were talking about doing LEAR at some point, but maybe the thinking is if he does OTHELLO now he's still got 15 years where he could play Lear.

In a hypothetical world where he DOES do Othello, I don't expect his Iago would be anyone close to his name-value. They don't need to spend that kind of money. But +1 for Patrick Page. Or Raul Esparza. Hope it's George Wolfe directing.

[jo]

Posted: 2/1/24 at 10:27am

jagman106 said: "Nothing about this rumor excites me, especially having seen Denzel in Julius Caesar about 20 years ago."

I found his portrayal in Julius Caesar also very disappointing. He did not have the elegance of language that classical actors impress with.  The mature woman seated next to me, who is a regular theatregoer ( for straight plays) expressed her disappointment in even stronger language.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/1/24 at 10:37am

I think Denzel has grown significantly as a stage actor in the years since CAESAR, and also showed his adeptness at Shakespeare on screen with the Coen Macbeth.

Hey speaking of the Coen Macbeth, how about Kathryn Hunter as Iago?!

[Jmuep2]

Posted: 2/2/24 at 5:38pm

Yessica Haircut said: "fashionguru_23 said: "What would get me is if were are looking for actors over 40, can we get Patrick Page as Iago?"

There was some chatter a few years ago of a revival starring Denzel, with the addition of Al Pacino as Iago.

(https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Denzel-Washington-and-Al-Pacino-Headed-for-OTHELLO-20120205)

I can't see Pacino being involved in this production, but Patrick Page is certainly always reliable.

Honestly, though, if it weren't for Kenneth Branagh bringingKing Learto NYC so soon, I would rather see Denzel take on that role instead (he's expressed interest in the past)."

Having seen Branagh's production of Lear, I agree. I would much rather see Washington do it. Or lemme see Patrick Page do it again!

[Sammy232]

Posted: 3/6/24 at 10:15am

https://www.theatermania.com/news/denzel-washington-and-jake-gyllenhaal-to-star-in-othello-on-broadway_1732240/

wowwwwww

[Kad]

Posted: 3/6/24 at 10:17am

Well, this will immediately sell out.

I wish a more surprising and compelling director was at the helm. 
 

Surprising that TheaterMania is breaking the news, though.

Updated On: 3/6/24 at 10:17 AM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 3/6/24 at 10:38am

The massive success of this production will no doubt lead to more megastar-driven plays and play revivals. I certainly wouldn’t mind more play-heavy seasons. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 3/6/24 at 10:44am

I can’t imagine what terrifying ticket prices they’ll cook up for this one.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 3/6/24 at 10:47am

Kad said: "Well, this will immediately sell out.

I wish a more surprising and compelling director was at the helm.


Surprising that TheaterMania is breaking the news, though."

 

NYT broke the news:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/theater/denzel-washington-jake-gyllenhaal-othello-broadway.html

 

Updated On: 3/6/24 at 10:47 AM