Movies

Denzel Washington Defends $900 Broadway Tickets Amid Beyoncé Comparisons

BBG News

In a recent statement, Denzel Washington has expressed no qualms regarding the high ticket prices for his performance as Othello on Broadway – these figures, it seems, do not bother him in the slightest.

Audience members hoping to watch the Academy Award-winning actor, along with his co-star Jake Gyllenhaal in a production of Shakespeare’s tragedy, have experienced a significant surprise upon discovering ticket prices reaching up to $900.

In an interview with DailyMail.com a month ago, Kenny Leon, who is the director of Othello, made a comparison between the high ticket prices and that of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour, suggesting they were similarly expensive.

Instead of being deterred by the expensive ticket prices, the veteran actor, who is 70 years old and known for both stage and screen performances, pointed out that some fortunate theatergoers at the Barrymore Theatre had a chance to obtain significantly reduced-priced tickets.

[The items are being sold for] as cheap as $50, but it’s not something people usually discuss,” Washington mentioned during a conversation with Entertainment Weekly.

On the other hand, while these tickets are affordable compared to typical Broadway prices, they are not readily obtainable for many theater enthusiasts.

As stated on the Othello production’s official site, your sole option to secure tickets priced at $49 per ticket (with all fees factored in) is by participating in a digital lottery system that becomes active at 12 a.m. Eastern Time on the day prior to the scheduled performance.

Winners will be notified and offered a chance to buy heavily discounted tickets at 10 a.m., the day prior.

However, it’s not precisely known how many lottery winners there are for each episode, and those planning a trip to New York City with dreams of watching Washington and Gyllenhaal perform Shakespeare might prefer not to gamble on the experience.

On the day itself, students holding valid identification cards can avail themselves of discounted tickets, although the number available might be restricted.

If you need to cancel your tickets, you might find an alternative that’s less costly, although it will still be significantly pricier than the original $50 tickets. However, remember that these tickets could still seem like a bargain when compared to the $900 tickets.

By Tuesday evening, the majority of remaining Othello shows are either fully booked or offer just a handful of remaining tickets.

It seems that the most affordable standard tickets are priced around $600, but some tickets can go up to a whopping $921.

Or:

The least expensive regular tickets seem to be over $600, whereas tickets of higher price reach as high as $921.

Or:

Standard tickets are available for over $600, and the cost can even escalate up to a maximum of $921 for more premium options.

Based on data from the Broadway League’s 2023-2024 demographic study, the typical Broadway ticket costs around $125.27. However, when additional charges are included, the actual average price climbs up to approximately $154.70.

Recently, some critics have been sharply criticizing the high prices for a series of Broadway shows that are backed by celebrities.

Or:

Lately, critics have been strongly condemning the excessive costs associated with the latest Broadway productions that are fronted by celebrities.

Or:

Critics have recently been vocal about the overpriced tickets for the recent celebrity-backed shows on Broadway.

Or:

In recent times, critics have been vocalizing their disapproval of the sky-high ticket prices for the new Broadway productions that are backed by celebrities.

More recently, George Clooney stepped into the limelight by making his first appearance on Broadway in the play “Good Night, And Good Luck,” a stage adaptation of the movie with the same title, where he previously served as director and took on a secondary role.

Previously, Denzel Washington’s co-star, Jake, achieved success on Broadway by spearheading the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s timeless musical “Sunday in the Park with George.” The production garnered acclaim due to robust ticket sales and expensive tickets.

Initially, it was stated that each Othello ticket cost around $338. However, it seems that such high prices are no longer available, leaving only a handful of very affordable lottery tickets behind. These inexpensive options might create a misleading impression of the actual ticket prices as they tend to lower the overall average price.

During the same interview, the actor who played the lead in Gladiator II, and who had concerns about his Broadway comeback due to a recent injury, jokingly dismissed any likenesses to Beyoncé because of the exorbitant prices for the play’s tickets.

‘I haven’t quite felt like that. I can’t sing or rap,’ he said with a laugh.

Moreover, Denzel was not shy about showing appreciation for the outstanding success that the staging of Othello achieved.

He expressed gratitude for the positive reception and support, as well as the chance to leverage his fame for charitable purposes. In essence, he’s here to make a difference.

In March, Kenny Leon, the director of Othello, justified the high ticket costs for the play to DailyMail.com.

He stated that families would likely indulge when they witnessed Denzel and Jake, likening it to a family purchasing concert tickets for Beyoncé’s tour or securing courtside seats to watch LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. However, not everyone who attends an Lakers game can afford such expensive premium spots.

‘In essence, in a commercial setting, individuals pay whatever they perceive as the item’s value. For instance, a man came by recently and said, “I spent $921 on this ticket, and guess what? I don’t want a penny refunded. Instead, I want to find ways to return,” he asserted.’

Each evening, what fills me with pride is the sight I behold. It’s a crowd of a thousand individuals, and it’s incredibly diverse, Leon added. You’ll find young people there, as well as folks from various economic backgrounds. For this performance, we offer student discounts. Every day, we also conduct digital lotteries.

‘I’m proud of the box office and I’m proud of what’s on the stage.’

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2025-04-23 04:35

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