( ENSPIRE Entertainment ) Broadway Production Teams with Boys & Girls Clubs of America & NYC Department of Education for Youth Outreach Initiative
ENSPIRE Contributor: Katherine Moy
In a significant outreach effort, the new Broadway production of Othello starring two-time Academy Award® winner Denzel Washington and Tony Award nominee and Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal has announced partnerships with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the New York City Department of Education to provide 2,000 local students with the opportunity to experience the Shakespearean classic at the Barrymore Theatre. Lead producer Brian Anthony Moreland revealed that anonymous donors have provided generous grants to underwrite tickets for students across New York and New Jersey. For many participants, this will mark their first Broadway experience.
“Othello is a story that explores the many facets of love, but it is also a testament to resilience and power,” Moreland said. “We want them to walk away knowing that Broadway belongs to them just as much as anyone else.”
The production, directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon, opened recently on Sunday at the Barrymore Theatre to positive reviews. Washington and Gyllenhaal serve the roles of Molly Osborne as ‘Desdemona,’ Tony Award® winner Andrew Burnap as ‘Cassio,’ Anthony Michael Lopez as ‘Roderigo,’ Daniel Pearce as ‘Brabantio,’ and Kimber Elayne Sprawl as ‘Emilia.’ The cast also features Neal Bledsoe as ‘The Duke of Venice,’ Julee Cerda as ‘Bianca,’ Ezra Knight as ‘Montano,’ Gene Gillette as ‘Gratiano,’ Rob Heaps as ‘Lodovico,’ ensemble members William Connell, Ty Fanning, Ben Graney, Abiola Obatolu, Daniel Reece, Christina Sajous, Sarah Thorn, and Greg Wood.
This spring, experience Shakespeare’s epic tale like never before. Washington, who serves as National Spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Club of America, plays the title of Othello, while Gyllenhaal portrays the manipulative Iago.
The award-winning creative team will feature two-time Tony Award winner and two-time Emmy Award® winner Derek McLane (scenic design), Tony Award winner Dede Ayite (costume design), eight-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz (lighting design), two-time Tony Award nominee and OBIE Award® winner Justin Ellington (sound design), Academy Award winner and Emmy Award winner Mia Neal (hair and wig design), Claire Warden (intimacy director), Narda E. Alcorn (production stage manager), ARC / Duncan Stewart, CSA & Jarrett Reiche (casting director), Ioana Alfonso (associate director), Dawn-Elin Fraser (voice coach), and James Shapiro (Shakespeare consultant). 101 Productions, Ltd. serves as the general manager with production management by Neil Mazzella/Hudson Theatricals.
Othello is lead produced by Brian Anthony Moreland and co-produced by Kandi Burruss & Todd Tucker, Score 3 Partners, Richard Batchelder, Lloyd Tichio Productions, Dominick Laruffa, Jr., Ken Davenport, Adam Zotovich, Lassen D’arrigo, Lamar Richardson, Lu-Shawn M. Thompson, Cohen Willman Productions, 11:11 Experience, 42nd.Club, The Araca Group, Craig Balsam, Davale & Khadeen Ellis, Goehring Turchin Alperson, Branden Grimmett, Marguerite Steed Hoffman, John Gore Organization, Kierstead Laurence Smigel Rutter, Willette & Manny Klausner, Scott H. Mauro, Stephanie P. McClelland, Carl Moellenberg, Slater Bernon Butterfield, Cynthia Stroum, Renard Mcgill Productions / Chimney Town, Ricardo Marques / Lana Williams Woods, Daryl Roth / Tom Tuft, Christen James, Dan Stone, Brian Devito, Timothy Laczynski, and The Shubert Organization.
Frank Sanchez, National Vice President of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, emphasized the impact of such experiences: “Seeing Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal on stage will make it even more special and meaningful. Experiences like this allow Club teens to dream big and know that anything is possible.”
The partnership between Broadway’s Othello and these youth organizations aligns perfectly with the long-standing missions of both institutions. For over 160 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America has served as a second home for generations of families, providing safe spaces where young people can develop into productive, caring citizens through mentorship and innovative programming.
Similarly, the New York City Department of Education–the nation’s most extensive public school system–has demonstrated a commitment to arts education through various initiatives, including ArtsCount, which tracks student participation in arts education according to city and state standards.
This collaboration exposes students to world-class theater and reinforces the importance of arts accessibility in education and youth development. For those inspired by this initiative, Othello continues its limited run at the Barrymore Theatre through June 8, with tickets on sale at www.telecharge.com, by phone at 212-239-6200, or at the theater’s box office. For more information, visit www.othellobway.com or follow its Instagram.
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