"I'm giving back to others... That's what's important to me — giving, not the hype about what I'm doing."
As you’ll probably know, Denzel Washington is back on Broadway, starring as the titular character in Shakespeare’s Othello alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.
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Marking the first time the Shakespeare classic has been on Broadway in over 40 years, the Othello revival has been getting a lot of attention since it opened at the Barrymore Theatre last month. But, aside from its celebrity stars, the most significant talking point of the new production has undoubtedly been the hefty ticket prices.
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Right now, the best seats for Othello are selling for $921, with prices starting at $216. The production broke box office history in March, becoming the highest-grossing Broadway play ever, bringing in $2.8 million before its opening night.
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There has been a lot of discussion online about the cost of the tickets, and amid the backlash, the play’s director, Kenny Leon, spoke out to defend the ticket prices by comparing them to what people might pay to see Beyoncé or sit courtside at a Lakers game.
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“I love LeBron James. When we go to a basketball game, you get a floor seat. So to me, with a commercial industry, people are paying what they think it’s worth,” he said in March.
“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," he continued. "I have 1,000 people in there, and it’s so diverse.”
Now, a month into Othello’s limited run, Denzel has weighed in on the discussion about the ticket prices. Speaking on the red carpet at the Entertainment Community Fund Gala on Monday, the Oscar winner was asked about “tickets going for upwards of $900,” which prompted him to highlight what he feels is being overlooked in the discourse.
Entertainment Tonight / Via etonline.com
“But as low as $50, [too],” he said with a big grin. “People don’t talk about that. You heard what I just said, right?” Though he doesn’t go into more detail about this point, Denzel was seemingly referring to the limited number of $49 tickets released on the day of each performance, reserved especially for students.
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In response, the Entertainment Tonight reporter continued to ask Denzel about the wild “demand” for tickets — and whether the whole thing has him feeling like “Beyoncé and Jay-Z,” as his director previously implied.
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“Beyoncé and Jay-Z?! I haven’t quite felt like that… I can’t sing or rap,” he joked. “I’ve been blessed beyond measure for a long time. 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. I’m humbled by the opportunity to use my celebrity to help others. That’s what it’s about.”
Entertainment Tonight / Via etonline.com
"I'm in the service business. 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," he continued. "That's what's important to me — giving, not the hype about what I'm doing."
Well, I guess he has a point, and it’s definitely great that the play is accessible for students! But, $49 tickets or no $49 tickets, $921 is still a crazy amount to charge, IMO. What do you think of Denzel’s take? LMK in the comments.
You can browseOthello tickets here, and this is where you can watch Denzel’s full ET interview.
