‘Othello’ Recoups Broadway Investment Despite Tony Awards Shut-Out

Othello might have been shut out from today’s Tony Award nominations, but this news probably takes away a bit of the sting: The Broadway revival starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal and directed by Kenny Leon has officially recouped its investment.

Producers announced the financial milestone shortly after the Tony nominations were announced, though did not disclose the investment amount.

The production has been playing to sold-out audiences since its first preview at the Barrymore Theatre on Monday, February 24. Last month, it broke the weekly record for top-grossing play in Broadway history with a $2,824,493 take. That record was broken later in the month by Good Night, And Good Luck (also a no-show in its top possible category of Best Play, though star George Clooney got a coveted acting nod) when it grossed $3,305,240 at the Winter Garden.

Both productions have subsequently grossed in excess of $3 million a week, and producers of Othello are calling it “the highest grossing play revival in world history.” Very likely, considering it and Good Night are among the most expensive to attend, with average Broadway ticket prices for each show routinely topping $300, sometimes by a considerable amount, especially for Othello which frequently hits the $370-$380 turf. Premium seats are even costlier, of course, with both shows topping $800 per seat, and in Othello’s case frequently coming close to the $900 mark.

Both Othello and Good Night are strictly limited engagements, closing June 8, probably not coincidentally the day of the Tony Awards. Clooney’s show is likely to recoup before then too if it hasn’t already; its producers have not yet made that announcement.

Othello is lead produced by Brian Anthony Moreland and co-produced by Kandi Burruss & Todd Tucker, Score 3 Partners, Richard Batchelder, Lloyd Tichio Productions, Dominick Laruffa, Jr., Ken Davenport, Adam Zotovich, Lassen D’arrigo, Lamar Richardson, Lu-Shawn M. Thompson, Cohen Willman Productions, 11:11 Experience, 42nd.Club, The Araca Group, Craig Balsam, Davale & Khadeen Ellis, Goehring Turchin Alperson, Branden Grimmett, Marguerite Steed Hoffman, John Gore Organization, Kierstead Laurence Smigel Rutter, Willette & Manny Klausner, Scott H. Mauro, Stephanie P. McClelland, Carl Moellenberg, Slater Bernon Butterfield, Cynthia Stroum, Renard Mcgill Productions / Chimney Town, Ricardo Marques / Lana Williams Woods, Daryl Roth / Tom Tuft, Christen James, Dan Stone, Brian Devito, Timothy Laczynski, and The Shubert Organization.