Othello, now in previews at Broadway‘s Barrymore Theatre and starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal had a weekly gross last week of $2,818,297, making the revival the top-grossing (eight performance) play in Broadway history.
The previous record holder was Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which grossed $2,718,488 for the week ending December 31, 2023.
Othello‘s number also improves on its own previous weekly take, when it took $2,637,158 for its first seven previews for the week ending March 2. The production also carried that week’s top ticket price, by far, at $361.90, more than twice the average price of other big-selling shows. Last week’s average Othello ticket price was $338.09, down a tad from the first week.
Othello, directed by Kenny Leon, opens Sunday, March 23, for a strictly limited engagement through Sunday, June 8 at the Barrymore.
You might not know it from the number of tickets and attention it grabbed, but the sold-out Othello wasn’t the only show in previews on Broadway last week, the week ending March 9. Purpose, the Branden Jacobs-Jenkins play directed by Phylicia Rashad at the Helen Hayes, was filling seats, with attendance at 94% of capacity and a hopeful gross of $328,752. Opening night is March 17.
Buena Vista Social Club is in previews at the Schoenfeld, and grossed a worth-celebrating $773,353; attendance at 93% of capacity. Opens March 19.
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical sold out its seven previews at the Golden for a $606,652 take – and all for a comedy that’s relied heavily on cross-the-ocean word of mouth. Opening night is March 20.
Some other facts and figures worth considering. Othello‘s arrival on the Broadway chart essentially places another $2M+ grosser on the list, where it joins Wicked, the longtime sole bearer of the $2M mantle. Othello‘s gross of $2.8M is noticeably bigger than Wicked’s $2.4M, and Wicked’s $2.4M is very very noticeably bigger than the next runner up: Hamilton, with a gross of $1.7M. Gypsy did $1.2M, The Lion King $1.5M, The Outsiders $1.3M, so no need to let the $2 Million Club members scare anyone – the other big shows are doing just fine.
Maybe, though, reserve at least a little discomfort for what some of these big numbers are doing to ticket prices. Othello‘s average ticket price – not top, just average – was $338.09. You could spend between $156 and $158 per ticket and see the roster’s until-now heaviest guns The Outsiders, Wicked and Hamilton. Overall the average ticket price for the 26 Broadway shows last week was $119.81.
And remember, those are average prices. Premium prices, as premium prices are wont to be, were significantly higher, like The Outsiders offering a top premium ticket for $497 or Hamilton at $325.
Or Othello, at $897.
In all, the 26 productions on Broadway during the week ending March 9, 2025, grossed a total $28,328,355, up about 5% from the previous week and about 15% from this time last year. Total attendance was 236,448, up about 3% from the previous week and 15% year-over-year.
Season to date, Broadway, in the 42nd week of the 2024-25 season, has grossed $1,407,603,728 up about 18% over last year at this time, with total attendance of 11,069,927 up 18%.
All figures courtesy of The Broadway League. For complete box office visit the League’s website.