Demand to see Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal play Shakespeare has set a record in a year when big stars have been driving up the prices of Broadway plays.

The previous record-holder was Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which grossed $2,718,488 for the week ending December 31, 2023.

In addition to a lengthy film career, Washington has previously starred on Broadway in A Raisin in the Sun and Fences, opposite Viola Davis, Julius Cesar, Checkmates and most recently, the 2018 revival of Iceman Cometh, in a large cast that also included Austin Butler.

The play broke multiple box office records at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, surpassing those set by plays across nine performances and by musicals by more than $1 million. It was helped by an eye-popping average ticket price of $361.90. The next highest average ticket price on Broadway last week was for The Outsiders at $155.

Denzel Washington is transforming Broadway's landscape with his commanding performance as Shakespeare's tragic hero in the current revival of Othello. The

Othello,' starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, hasn't officially opened on Broadway yet, but the show's earnings for its preview performances have already broken a record.

Like many of Hollywood’s great talents, Denzel Washington is not a one-trick pony. You might know him for his larger-than-life presence in blockbusters like The Equalizer films and Training Day. However,

Othello, now in previews at the Barrymore Theatre, starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, has broken the record for top-grossing play in Broadway history with a gross of $2,818,297.00 for eight performances.