Denzel’s ‘Othello’ Breaks Records, Snubbed by Tonys
When Denzel Washington in Othello was announced, theater lovers everywhere buzzed with excitement – and rightly so. Pairing Washington with Jake Gyllenhaal on Broadway in Shakespeare’s moody classic? That’s not just casting; that’s a seismic Broadway moment.
And it paid off – literally. This high-profile Othello Broadway 2025 production not only smashed ticket sales records but also managed to recoup its hefty investment in just over two months.
But, while the box office was booming, the Tony nominations came and went without a single nod for this historic revival. Yes, really – not one. Welcome to the most head-scratching of the Tony Awards snubs 2025.
Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal’s ‘Othello’ Breaks Records
From the moment the curtain rose on March 23 at the Barrymore Theatre, audiences were locked in. Denzel Washington brought a brooding intensity to the title role, while Jake Gyllenhaal’s Iago was smooth, sinister, and, dare we say, a little too convincing.
The show was a limited 15-week engagement, but every performance has been completely sold out. Even balcony seats felt like a hot commodity.
With premium orchestra tickets soaring above $900, this wasn’t just a play. It was an event. In just nine weeks, the production made back its full $9 million capitalization.
That’s no small feat, especially for a Gyllenhaal play revival. In fact, Othello on Broadway in 2025 is now officially the highest-grossing play revival in Broadway history. Box office records were shattered.
Critics Were Mixed, But Audiences Didn’t Care
Not everyone loved the artistic choices. Some critics felt director Kenny Leon's vision played it too safe, focusing more on delivering the lines than delivering fresh insight. One reviewer even called it a production with “gritted-teeth determination,” but not much else.
Still, for theatergoers, the draw of seeing two A-listers bring Shakespeare to life on stage was irresistible. It wasn’t about reinventing the wheel; it was about watching some of the finest talent of our time throw everything they had into a classic tragedy. And, honestly, isn’t that sometimes exactly what you want?
Tony Awards Snubs 2025: The Shock of the Season
With the money rolling in and performances packing the house, it seemed like a no-brainer that this revival would be a serious contender come award season. The Tony Awards snubs of 2025 really shocked people when there was no sign of Washington, Gyllenhaal, or “Othello” anywhere.
Instead, the Best Revival category went in a different direction – another Shakespearean adaptation, “Romeo + Juliet,” plus “Eureka Day,” “Our Town,” and “Yellow Face.” While those are all worthy shows in their own right, the absence of “Othello” raised more than a few eyebrows.
In other categories, more experimental fare cleaned up: “Death Becomes Her” led the pack with its campy charm, “Maybe Happy Ending” brought tenderness and robots, and “Buena Vista Social Club” added music and joy to the mix. Each of these earned ten nods, while “Othello,” despite all its buzz, earned zero.
Denzel Washington Othello: A Hit, With or Without a Trophy
At the end of the day, awards are nice, but sold-out performances and rewriting the record books are arguably even nicer. Denzel Washington in Othello might not have racked up Tony nods, but it’s clear the production struck a major chord with audiences and made a serious impact on the 2025 Broadway season.
And, anyway, when two powerhouses like Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal step onto a stage together, they don’t need statues to prove their success. The applause, the headlines, and the hard numbers say it all.