In a twist worthy of Shakespeare himself, the star-powered Broadway revival of Othello—led by Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal—has shattered box office records and recouped its entire $9 million investment in just nine weeks. Yet despite its commercial triumph and sold-out performances, the production was completely snubbed at the 2025 Tony Award nominations.
Directed by Kenny Leon and staged at the Barrymore Theatre, Othello opened on March 23 and quickly became the hottest ticket in town. With orchestra seats reportedly selling for over $900, it has sold out every show of its limited 15-week engagement and become the highest-grossing play revival in Broadway history. It broke the weekly record for top-grossing play on Broadway, further cementing its historic commercial run.
The modern staging of Shakespeare’s tragic tale of jealousy and betrayal features Denzel Washington as the noble yet tormented Othello and Jake Gyllenhaal as the duplicitous Iago. The pairing of two Hollywood heavyweights undoubtedly contributed to the production’s financial success and cultural buzz. However, critical reception was mixed, with some theatre critics questioning the revival’s artistic merits. This lukewarm critical response may help explain the Tony Awards snub, even as fans and industry observers expected nominations based on the star power and ticket sales alone.
In the absence of Othello, the Tony Award race for Best Revival of a Play features another Shakespearean drama—Romeo + Juliet—alongside Eureka Day, Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, and David Henry Hwang’s Yellow Face. Meanwhile, leading the nomination count in other categories are Death Becomes Her, Maybe Happy Ending, and Buena Vista Social Club, each earning 10 nods.
The Tony Award snub raises broader questions about how the awards evaluate commercial versus artistic success. Is a production’s ability to draw audiences and generate record-breaking sales unrecognised if it fails to align with certain critical expectations? Or does the snub reflect the Academy’s desire to reward more innovative or risk-taking interpretations over traditional or celebrity-driven revivals?
Despite the lack of awards recognition, Othello has proven to be a cultural event, blending classical theatre with Hollywood appeal and reigniting widespread interest in Shakespeare on Broadway. It also reminds us that a production’s legacy can extend beyond trophies. For Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, the revival marks another significant entry in their already-celebrated stage careers.
As the limited run concludes, one thing is clear: Othello has impacted Broadway’s financial and cultural landscape. Awards or not, this revival has captivated audiences and redefined what commercial success can look like for a classical play in the modern era.
