Denzel Washington has a pointed response to $900 ‘Othello' ticket prices
The 70-year-old actor made no apologies for the astronomical ticket prices for 'Othello' on Broadway in an interview with Entertainment Tonight at the Entertainment Community Fund Gala on Monday.
When a reporter mentioned that some seats for the show cost 'upwards of $900,' Washington responded, 'But as low as $50. People don't talk about that.'
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The actor was likely referring to the $49 student rush tickets.
10 Denzel Washington in 'Othello' on Broadway.
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10 Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal in 'Othello' on opening night on March 23.
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'It's gotta make you feel like you're Beyoncé or Jay-Z, with tickets being in demand like that?' the reporter said to the Oscar winner.
After laughing at her question, Washington replied, 'I haven't quite felt like that. I can't sing or rap.'
Washington is starring as the title role in the Shakespearean tragedy alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, who plays Iago. The show sold over $2.8 million in tickets during its first full week of previews at the Barrymore Theater last month, becoming the highest-grossing Broadway play ever at the time.
The record has since been surpassed by the similarly pricey 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' starring George Clooney, which grossed $3.88 million last week.
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10 Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel Washington star in 'Othello.'
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'I've been blessed beyond measure for a long time,' Washington told ET as he elaborated on the production's success. 'I'm not bragging, but I've been a part of sold-out shows before.'
10 Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal during the curtain call of 'Othello' on opening night.
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10 An ad for 'Othello' in front of the Barrymore Theatre.
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10 The Barrymore Theatre in New York City.
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'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 share with celebrity, or to use my celebrity to help others,' he continued. 'That's what it's about.'
The 'Gladiator II' star went on, 'I'm in the service business. You know, you learn the first part of your life, you earn the second part of your life and you return in the third part of your life. I'm in the return phase of life. So I'm returning, I'm giving back to others.'
10 Denzel Washington at the 'Othello' opening night celebration at Tavern on the Green on March 23.
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'Eventually we're all gonna return to the spoil,' Washington added. 'But that's what's important to me. Giving. Not the hype about what I'm doing. That's for other people to talk about.'
The 'Othello' ticket prices were ripped in a March 8 column by Post theater critic Johnny Oleksinski, who later said the people behind the show withdrew his invitation to review it in response.
10 Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal promoting 'Othello.'
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Oleksinski ultimately attended 'Othello' by purchasing a $290 limited-view ticket, paid for by The Post, on the far right orchestra.
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He called the show 'dull' in his two-star notice, though he did compliment Washington's 'formidable' performance.
'Othello' director Kenny Leon previously defended the ticket prices to the Daily Mail last month, comparing seeing the show to watching a Los Angeles Lakers game or a Beyoncé concert.
10 'Othello' stars Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal on stage.
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10 Kenny Leon at opening night of 'Othello' on March 23.
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'So to me, with a commercial industry, people are paying what they think it's worth,' Leon, 69, said. 'A guy showed up the other night and he said, 'I paid $921 for this ticket and you know what? I don't want a cent back. I want to figure out how to come back.''
'That's what I feel proud of every night,' the Tony winner continued. 'I have a 1,000 people in there and it's so diverse. I have young people, I have people that are all economic ranges. We have student tickets for this show. We have digital lotteries everyday.'
'I'm proud of the box office and I'm proud of what's on the stage,' Leon said.
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