“Othello” starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal finds its home on Broadway

Broadway News

Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal-led Othello Finds a home on Broadway

Kenny Leon will direct a new production of the Shakespeare tragedy.

The previously announced Broadway revival of Othellostarring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, has announced dates and a cinema release.

Directed by Kenny Leon, with Washington playing the title role and Gyllenhaal playing Iago, performances of the Shakespearean tragedy will begin on February 24, 2025, with the premiere scheduled for March 23. The production will be performed at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre and will run for 15 weeks until June 8.

The production is Washington’s first return to the stage since he starred in a 2018 revival of The Iceman comesThe revival also brings him back together with Leon after they worked together on Fences (for which Washington received a Tony Award) and in 2014 A raisin in the sun. Gyllenhaal made his Broadway debut in 2015 in Constellationslater revived for a revival of Sunday in the park with George and 2019 Sea Wall/A Life (also produced by Moreland), the latter of which earned him a Tony nomination.

Joining Washington and Gyllenhaal in the role of Desdemona will be Molly Osborne, an up-and-coming star of the West End stage whose roles include Tzeitel in Menier Chocolate Factory’s Fiddler on the Roof and Chana in Menier's IndecentOn screen, Osborne is in PBS' Call the midwife and in Amazon Prime's upcoming Anansi Boys. Further castings will be announced soon.

Tickets go on sale for American Express cardholders on September 6 at 10:00 a.m. ET. A fan presale (available after registering at OthelloBway.com) will follow on September 12 at 10:00 a.m. ET, with general sales beginning on September 13 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Shakespeare is never far from Broadway, of course, although this upcoming revival will be the first Broadway production of the tragedy since a 1982 revival starring James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer. The classic play follows its title character, a Moorish military commander, who falls victim to a psychological campaign by his adversary Iago to turn him against his new wife, Desdemona.

Set design is by two-time Tony Award winner Derek McLane, costumes by Dede Ayite, lighting design by eight-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz, sound design by Obie Award winner Justin Ellington, hair and wig design by Emmy Award winner Mia Neal, intimacy direction by Claire Warden, and production stage direction by Narda E. Alcorn.

The production is executive produced by Brian Anthony Moreland, who is joined by a wide list of co-producers, including Kandi Burress, Todd Tucker, Devale Ellis, Adam Zotovich, Richard Batchelder, Ken Davenport, Lassen D'Arrigo, Score 3 Partners, Lu-Shawn M. Thompson, Lamar Richardson, Cohen Willman Productions, 11:11 Experience, 42nd.club, Hunter Arnold, Craig Balsam, Slater Bernon Butterfield, Goehring Turchin Alperson, Great Shakes Productions, Branden Grimmett, Marguerite Steed Hoffman, Christen James, The John Gore Organization, Willette & Manny Klausner, Scott H. Mauro, Stephanie P. McClelland, Carl Moellenberg, Renard McGill, Dan Stone, Cynthia Stroum, The Araca Group, Daryl Roth, Tom Tuft, Lloyd Tichio Productions and The Shubert Organization.

The revival will probably be the most famous production that producer Moreland has produced in the Main Stem. He was the producer of the last revival of The Magicianalso with Burress and Tucker. He previously received four Tony Award nominations, for The piano lesson, American Buffalo, The sound insideAnd Sea Wall/A Life.

Duncan Stewart of ARC Casting will be in charge of casting the production. 101 Productions will be in charge of management.

Visit OthelloBway.com.