On May 7, former Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff attended Othello on Broadway at the Barrymore Theatre. Afterwards, they came backstage and spoke to the cast—including Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal—and lead producer Brian Anthony Moreland. See video from the visit above, where Harris discussed the pivotal experience she had in a theatre when she was young.
In recent months, Harris has been seen at a number of Broadway shows, including Gypsy starring Audra McDonald and A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical. She's not the only politician to visit Othello; former President Joe Biden attended the show's opening night and even posed with a Playbill.
Othello is currently running through June 8. Last week, after not receiving any Tony Award nominations, the production announced that it had recouped its initial investment in just over a month. That is a very rare feat for a Broadway show in modern times, though perhaps not surprising considering the show's notoriously high ticket prices.
READ: How to Get Tickets to Broadway's Othello That Aren't $900
The Kenny Leon-helmed production, led by Washington in the title role and Gyllenhaal as Iago, has played to sold-out audiences on the strength of their celebrity alone. Last month, it broke the weekly record for top-grossing week for a play in Broadway history.
In the production, Washington and Gyllenhaal are joined by Molly Osborne as Desdemona, Andrew Burnapas Cassio, Anthony Michael Lopez as Roderigo, Daniel Pearce as Brabantio, Kimber Elayne Sprawl as Emilia, Neal Bledsoe as The Duke of Venice, Julee Cerda as Bianca, Ezra Knight as Montano, Gene Gillette as Gratiano, and Rob Heaps as Ludovico. The ensemble comprises William Connell, Ty Fanning, Ben Graney, Daniel Reece, Christina Sajous, Sarah Thorn, and Greg Wood, with swing Abiola Obatolurounding out the company. Casting is by Duncan Stewart and Jarrett Reiche of ARC.
Shakespeare is, of course, never far from Broadway, though this revival is the first Broadway staging 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 from adversary Iago, aimed at turning him against his new wife, Desdemona.
The production features scenic design by two-time Tony winner Derek McLane, costume design by Tony winner Dede Ayite, lighting design by eight-time Tony winner Natasha Katz, sound design by Obie Award winner Justin Ellington, hair and wig design by Emmy winner Mia Neal, intimacy direction by Claire Warden, and production stage management by Narda E. Alcorn.
The production's lead producer is Moreland. He's previously received four Tony Award nominations, for The Piano Lesson, American Buffalo, The Sound Inside, and Sea Wall/A Life (co-starring Gyllenhaal).
Visit OthelloBway.com.
Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal in Othello
Molly Osborne and Denzel Washington in Othello
Jake Gyllenhaal in Othello
Molly Osborne and Kimber Elayne Sprawl in Othello
Andrew Burnap and company of Othello
Denzel Washington in Othello
Molly Osborne and Denzel Washington in Othello
Julee Cerda and Andrew Burnap in Othello
Rob Heaps, Neal Bledsoe, Christina Sajous and Greg Wood in Othello
Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel Washington in Othello
Denzel Washington in Othello
Anthony Michael Lopez and Jake Gyllenhaal in Othello
Andrew Burnap and company of Othello
Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel Washington in Othello
Company of Othello
Daniel Pearce in Othello
