Audra McDonald Tells Jake Gyllenhaal She 'Can't Afford' to See Him in 'Othello' on Broadway amid High Ticket Prices
Broadway legend Audra McDonald is back on stage in - but she says she can't afford a ticket to see Jake Gyllenhaal's three blocks away
"Your show opened after mine, so I'm desperate to see it. Also, I can't afford to come to your show," McDonald told Gyllenhaal in a recent one-on-one conversation
Tickets for , which Gyllenhaal costars in with Denzel Washington, currently appear to range anywhere between $221 and $921
Tickets for Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel Washington's current Broadway run are so expensive that even stage veterans like Audra McDonald are struggling to see it.
When McDonald, 54, and Gyllenhaal, 44, recently sat down with Variety for a one-on-one conversation about their current Broadway productions, the Gypsy star noted the high demand to see Gyllenhaal and Washington in the record-breaking new production of Othello.
"Your show opened after mine, so I'm desperate to see it," McDonald, winner of a whopping six career Tony Awards, told Gyllenhaal. "Also, I can't afford to come to your show," she told the actor, as they ruminated on the complex figures they play in Othello and Gypsy. (Gyllenhaal portrays the antagonist Iago in Othello opposite Washington's title character; McDonald plays Rose in Gypsy, the latest revival in the iconic musical's history.)
Since opening on March 23, the limited run of Othello broke box office records and an official ticketing website for the play indicates available seats currently range anywhere from $221 to $921.
Related: Audra McDonald Once 'Snapped' When a Cellphone Rang During Performance: 'I Scared the S--- Out of the Audience'
Washington, who holds two Academy Awards to his name in addition to a 2010 Tony Award for his performance in the play Fences, previously noted there are variations to Othello's pricing when he spoke with Entertainment Tonight at the Entertainment Community Fund Gala on Monday, April 21.
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
'[They're selling] as low as $50. People don't talk about that,' he said during that interview. Elsewhere, the star expressed gratitude for the positive reaction Othello's Broadway revival has received.
Related: Jake Gyllenhaal Jokes That It's 'Terrifying' to Get Ripped Again for Shirtless Scenes in Road House Sequel
'I've been blessed beyond measure for a long time,' he told the outlet. 'I'm not bragging, but I've been a part of sold-out shows before. God has blessed me with a great ability, and I'm humbled by the reaction and the response that we're getting, and I'm humbled by the opportunity to… use my celebrity to help others. That's what it's about.'
Tickets for Othello can be found here; McDonald's Gypsy is playing at N.Y.C.'s Majestic Theatre now.
Read the original article on People
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chile's Antonia Zegers, Star of Pablo Larrain's ‘The Club,' Boards Peruvian helmer Joanna Lombardi's ‘The Comeback'(EXCLUSIVE)
Chilean actress Antonia Zegers, whose notable credits include several of Pablo Larrain's films, including 'Tony Manero,' 'The Club,' 'No,' and his Pinochet-as-Dracula pic, 'The Count,' has boarded the upcoming drama 'The Comeback' ('El Regreso') by Peru's Joanna Lombardi. Zegers, who also toplined Lucia Puenzo's lauded series 'The Pack' ('La Jauria') serves as a juror at the Ibero-American Fiction section of the ongoing 40th Guadalajara Film Festival (FICG), wrapping on June 14. More from Variety Netflix, Incentives and Location Perks Spur Growth in Mexico's Film and TV Industry Boxing, Uprisings, LGBTQ+ and Coming-of-Age Stories Power Guadalajara Co-Production Meetings Lineup Climate Change Hell, Military Coups, Big Industry Pollution, Fractured Families: Guadalajara Gives a Bracing Latin American Take on World Collapse 'What first drew me in was the chance to work with Joanna – there's a quiet strength in her, a way of seeing the world that speaks to me. I trust that together, we'll create something truly special,' she told Variety. Lombardi is a former creative executive for Movistar in Latin America and leading Peruvian shingle Tondero Films. Her directorial feature debut 'Casadentro' won Montreal Festival's Golden Zenit as well as the international critics Fipresci award. She also directed Peru's first Netflix Original 'How to Get Over a Breakup' ('Soltera codiciada'). Set against the little-known Aug. 28 festivities in the coastal border town of Tacna in Peru, 'The Comeback' follows Martha, a once-famous actress in crisis, who returns to Tacna to sell her family home and use the proceeds to fund a play that she hopes could revive her career. As the city celebrates Aug. 28th, which marks the anniversary of Tacna's return to Peru after its war with Chile, her plans are upended by her sister's sudden illness, forcing Martha to stay in the place she hoped to leave behind. 'This film is about memory, but it is also about identity as Martha left home at 18 for Chile, which upset her family. She was seen as a Peruvian in Chile but when she returns, she is seen as Chilean because she has picked up a Chilean accent,' said Lombardi who has put together a crack – mostly female – team that includes Inti Briones ('To Kill a Man,' 'Jayro Bustamante's 'Rita') as her DP, Chile's Soledad Salfate ('A Fantastic Woman') as her editor and Luciano Supervielle ('The Freshly Cut Grass') as her music composer. Chile's Florencia Larrea ('My Tender Matador') and Uruguay's Agustina Chiarino of Bocacha Films ('Agárrame fuerte'), both key drivers of Latin American cinema, have also boarded as co-producers. They are seeking a European producing partner. 'The Comeback' is written by Lombardi's mother, author Giovanna Pollarolo, the wife of Peru's legendary filmmaker Francisco Lombardi, who wrote all the screenplays to his films, including his hit Goya-nominated satire 'Captain Pantoja and the Special Service.' 'It will be the first time I collaborate with my mother,' said Lombardi, adding: 'It was her idea to set a story in Tacna, which we later co-developed. Tacna was where my father was born and where I spent all my childhood summers.' For some historical context, Tacna played a pivotal role in The War of the Pacific, in which Peru was defeated by Chile in 1883. Yet Tacna remained under Chilean control until August 28, 1929, nearly 50 years later. Almost a century has passed, but the conflict remains unresolved. Deep-seated resentment toward Chile still lingers among the people of Tacna, a reality that must be addressed for true reconciliation. 'Every August 28, the city comes to a standstill to celebrate but ironically, few Peruvians outside Tacna know or remember why,' she said. 'Sometimes I feel people are split between those who want to remember the past and those who prefer to move forward. I often wonder which is healthier,' she mused. Filming is scheduled to take place in Tacna in August next year. Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Harris Yulin, prolific stage and screen actor of ‘Ghostbusters II' fame, dead at 87
Actor Harris Yulin, an Emmy-nominated actor who appeared in projects including 'Frasier' and 'Ghostbusters II,' has died. He was 87. The news was confirmed by Yulin's manager Sue Leibman, who said in an email to CNN that he passed away June 10 in New York City from a cardiac arrest. Yulin was a decorated theater actor, playing Hamlet three times off-Broadway and appearing in plays on Broadway including 'Hedda Gabler,' 'The Price' and 'The Visit.' He also taught at NYC's prestigious Juilliard School for eight years. Leibman's email said Yulin was working on new projects with actor and longtime collaborator Stacy Keach up until the time of his death. The actor brought his theatrical stage presence into his film work, appearing in 'Looking for Richard' with Al Pacino in 1996. Yulin is perhaps best known to audiences as the angry judge in 1989's 'Ghostbusters II' who unwittingly causes the supernatural goo to boil over and ghosts to wreak havoc in the courtroom. His other notable film roles included parts in 'Scarface,' 'Clear and Present Danger,' 'Training Day' and 'Multiplicity.' On the small screen, Yulin scored an Emmy nomination for his work on 'Frasier' in 1996. He also appeared on 'Veep,' 'The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,' 'And Just Like That…,' 'Billions' and 'Divorce.' Recently, Yulin had a major arc on the hit Netflix series 'Ozark' opposite Jason Bateman and Laura Linney. In the weeks prior to his death, Yulin was preparing to work on a new TV series costarring Linney along with Kevin Kline titled 'American Classic.' The director of that series, Michael Hoffman, called Yulin 'very simply one of the greatest artists I have ever encountered,' according to a statement provided by Leibman. 'And what he was as an actor, he was as a man, the grace, the humility, the generosity. All of us at 'American Classic' have been blessed by our experience with him,' Hoffman added. Yulin is survived by his wife Kristen Lowman, a son-in-law, a nephew and godchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter, actress Claire Lucido, Leibman said.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ananda Lewis, Beloved Host of MTV's ‘TRL' and BET's ‘Teen Summit,' Dies at 52
Ananda Lewis, a prominent MTV VJ from the '90s and early 2000s, has died. Lewis's sister Lakshmi Emory posted the news to Facebook that she had lost her years-long battle with breast cancer. She was 52 years old. 'She's free, and in His heavenly arms,' Emory wrote. 'Lord, rest her soul.' Lewis announced in 2020 that she had been diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer after not getting regular mammograms due to a fear of radiation. In a 2024 CNN interview, she revealed her cancer had progressed to Stage IV after choosing not to have a double mastectomy. Lewis was one of the first big video jockeys on MTV. She began her career by hosting BET's 'Teen Summit' for three seasons before moving over to MTV in 1997 to host 'TRL' and 'Hot Zone.' She got her own show – aptly titled 'The Ananda Lewis Show' – in 2001 that ran until 2002. BET remembered the former host following news of her death. 'As the host of BET's 'Teen Summit,' she didn't just lead conversations—she sparked change, empowering a generation to speak up, love themselves and think deeper,' the post read. It continued: 'Ananda brought brilliance, beauty and authenticity to every space she entered. Her impact lives on through the countless lives she touched, both on and off screen. We honor the life and legacy of Ananda Lewis—an unforgettable voice, trailblazer and truth-teller.' In 2004, Lewis joined 'The Insider' – a nightly show spinoff of 'Entertainment Tonight' – as a correspondent until 2005. She then left the industry altogether to pursue a career in carpentry. She returned to hosting duties in 2019 with TLC's revival of 'While You Were Out.' In an October 2024 interview with 'Good Morning America,' Lewis said she wanted people to remember 'that I loved hard, and lived loud and didn't back away from problems. And loved this life and was OK with letting it go too.' She is survived by her sister, Emory, and her son Langston. The post Ananda Lewis, Beloved Host of MTV's 'TRL' and BET's 'Teen Summit,' Dies at 52 appeared first on TheWrap.