OTHELLO Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 2/23/25 at 12:35am

O, beware, my lord, of jealousy…

For the first time in over 40 years, the legendary Shakespeare tragedy Othello returns to Broadway. One of the hottest tickets of the season, it stars Denzel Washington as the titular Moor of Venice, Jake Gyllenhaal as his manipulative lieutenant Iago, and Molly Osborne as Othello’s wife Desdemona. The cast also includes Andrew Burnap, Anthony Michael Lopez, Daniel Pearce, Kimber Elayne Sprawl, Julee Cerda, Neal Bledsoe, Gene Gillette, Rob Heaps, and Ezra Knight. This reimagined Othello — which is reportedly being set in 2028 — begins previews tomorrow night (February 24) and opens on March 23 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre for a limited run through June 8; Kenny Leon directs.

“Spurned for promotion, Iago’s relentless quest for vengeance against Othello and his wife, Desdemona, plunges them into a shocking web of deception and betrayal.”

Who’s going?

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 2/23/25 at 4:24pm

I'm not independently wealthy, so it's the lottery for me on this one. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/23/25 at 4:43pm

Just saw they’re doing the Yonder pouches for this. Guessing it’s not for nudity but time will tell. 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 2/23/25 at 4:46pm

Not going until the end of the run at the end of May. The use of Yondr seems unnecessary to me here. Because they’re big names? I mean, okay, but it’s not like there’s any nudity. I’ve only seen it used in those situations. Even Cabaret in London just stuck a sticker over the camera part of the phones and trusted their theatergoers.

I worry about the modern setting (haven’t we don’t that with enough Shakespeare and enough classics already?!), but I’m hopeful that they’ll make it meaningful. I’m going for the cast (the whole cast - not solely Washington and Gyllenhaal), so I look forward to seeing what they’ve created.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 2/23/25 at 5:18pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Just saw they’re doing the Yonder pouches for this. Guessing it’s not for nudity but time will tell."

“Hoping it’s for nudity…” would also be appropriate for this cast. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/23/25 at 5:22pm

Look i mean that’s just a given that I agree with you…

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 2/23/25 at 5:27pm

It's being discussed in the other thread, and someone who was at the invited dress described their experience.

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/thread/Denzel-Washington-to-return-to-Broadway-in-OTHELLO/8#5497280

Meanwhile, on Reddit, someone posted they contacted Telecharge and were told it's because Denzel has its in his contract that they be used/no phones, there are no exceptions, and those who can't or won't use the pouches can get a refund (and so many over there are absolutely furious--and apparently sending abusive DMs to the OP who reported it). If true, either Denzel is disrobing (though you'd think there'd be a nudity warning) or just wants to ensure his performance isn't recorded.

Updated On: 2/23/25 at 05:27 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 2/23/25 at 5:36pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Look i mean that’s just a given that I agree with you…"

Never change, Shirtless Jake!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/23/25 at 5:44pm

I'm sure it's so the performance isn't recorded.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/23/25 at 5:45pm

or just wants to ensure his performance isn't recorded.
 

It's that one since it's 13+. There are the usual things for this production: Haze, smoking, loud noises including gun shots, flashing lights, and the list goes on. My friend who attended the live dress last night said they were very, very strict on the no re-entry policy. So, any emergency you have of any kind or if you just gotta pee, you are out of luck to come back to your seat. I assume that's for the safety of the cast/crew. 

[troynow]

Posted: 2/23/25 at 6:21pm

Was there last night. No issues with locking up my cell phone. Show was pretty cool to me. I have never seen Othello. But it was thrilling. It was a final dress rehearsal. They kept saying family viewing but, I think its feeling very OLD SCHOOl...like they will need preview time. And then hit it out of the park.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/23/25 at 6:31pm

Is there anything “special” in it that warrants the phones being locked up?  

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/23/25 at 7:18pm

Interested to see how this is.  We expect Jake and Denzel to be great.  Kenny Leon's direction is the big question.

From "The Broadway Show":

Denzel: "And what Kenny is doing...he keeps calling it the 'near future.'  So it's cell phones, watches and not in a gimmicky way."

We'll ... see ....

Updated On: 2/23/25 at 07:18 PM