After Backlash Over The Wildly Expensive “Othello” Tickets, Denzel Washington Called Out The Thing That People Are Overlooking — And I’m Intrigued To Hear Your Thoughts On This

As you’ll astir apt know, Denzel Washington is backmost connected Broadway, starring arsenic the titular quality successful Shakespeare’s Othello alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.

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Marking the archetypal clip the Shakespeare classical has been connected Broadway successful implicit 40 years, the Othello revival has been getting a batch of attraction since it opened astatine the Barrymore Theatre past month. But, speech from its personage stars, the astir important talking constituent of the caller accumulation has undoubtedly been the hefty summons prices.

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Right now, the champion seats for Othello are selling for $921, with prices starting astatine $216. The accumulation broke container bureau past successful March, becoming the highest-grossing Broadway play ever, bringing successful $2.8 cardinal earlier its opening night.

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There has been a lot of discussion online astir the outgo of the tickets, and amid the backlash, the play’s director, Kenny Leon, spoke retired to support the summons prices by comparing them to what radical mightiness wage to spot Beyoncé oregon beryllium courtside astatine a Lakers game.

Now, a period into Othello’s constricted run, Denzel has weighed successful connected the treatment astir the summons prices. Speaking connected the reddish carpet astatine the Entertainment Community Fund Gala connected Monday, the Oscar victor was asked astir “tickets going for upwards of $900,” which prompted him to item what helium feels is being overlooked successful the discourse.

“But arsenic debased arsenic $50, [too],” helium said with a large grin. “People don’t speech astir that. You heard what I conscionable said, right?” Though helium doesn’t spell into much item astir this point, Denzel was seemingly referring to the constricted fig of $49 tickets released connected the time of each performance, reserved particularly for students.

In response, the Entertainment Tonight newsman continued to inquire Denzel astir the chaotic “demand” for tickets — and whether the full happening has him feeling similar “Beyoncé and Jay-Z,” arsenic his manager antecedently implied.

“Beyoncé and Jay-Z?! I haven’t rather felt similar that… I can’t sing oregon rap,” helium joked. “I’ve been blessed beyond measurement for a agelong time. I’m not bragging, but I’ve been a portion of sold-out shows before. God has blessed maine with a large ability, and I’m humbled by the absorption and the effect that we’re getting. I’m humbled by the accidental to usage my personage to assistance others. That’s what it’s about.”

Well, I conjecture helium has a point, and it’s decidedly large that the play is accessible for students! But, $49 tickets oregon nary $49 tickets, $921 is inactive a brainsick magnitude to charge, IMO. What bash you deliberation of Denzel’s take? LMK successful the comments.

You tin browse Othello tickets here, and this is wherever you tin ticker Denzel’s afloat ET interview.