Washington
Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal on their record-breaking
With stars like Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, maybe it’s no wonder “Othello” just became the highest-grossing Broadway play ever, pulling in $2.8 million in a single week.
Washington said, “It’s the most excited I’ve been this century. Seriously. I haven’t been this excited about anything I’ve done as I am about this.”
That’s saying something coming from Washington. Known for roles in films like “Glory” and “Training Day” (both of which won him Oscars), he’s been called the greatest actor of the 21st century. But be careful before you call him a “Hollywood actor.”
“What’s the definition of a Hollywood actor?” he said. “Myself, I’m from Mt. Vernon, so I’m a ‘Mt. Vernon actor.’ I don’t know what ‘Hollywood’ means.”
“Somebody who’s famous on film? A film actor, great success on film?”
“I’m a stage actor who does film; it’s not the other way around,” Washington said. “I did stage first. I learned how to act on stage, not on film. Movies are a filmmaker’s medium. You shoot it, and then you’re gone and they cut together and add music and do all of that. Theater is an actor’s medium. The curtain goes up, nobody can help you.”
“Othello” is the Tony-winner’s sixth Broadway show. He plays the title character, Othello, the military commander stirred into a murderous rage after his ensign, Iago, convinces him his wife, Desdemona, has been unfaithful.
Jake Gyllenhaal plays the deceitful Iago, who seeks revenge on his longtime comrade and commander because he was passed over for a promotion.
Shakespeare wrote “Othello” around 1604. But this production sets the play in “the near future,” adding modern themes like soldiers suffering from PTSD.
Washington said, “People, you know, they ordinarily think, ‘Oh yeah, it’s about jealousy. And he betrays him.’ No, it’s about two soldiers who trust each other with their lives.”
“Well, then…” Gyllenhaal laughed.
“Yeah, what are you so pissed off about? What did I do to you?” Washington laughed.
“What you know, you know!” Gyllenhaal replied. “But I mean, that what is shared is theirs, you know? And what is shared beyond something that they would share with others. That’s what makes their bond so strong.”
At 44 years old, Gyllenhaal is widely celebrated for the emotional range and intensity he brings to roles, in films such as “Brokeback Mountain,” “Zodiac” and “Nightcrawler.” And like Washington, he is a theater veteran, with “Othello” marking his fourth appearance on Broadway. But this is his first time performing Shakespeare (almost). “You know what I realized? I did do ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ in high school,” he said. “And I realized that this morning.”
“You forgot?” an astonished Washington laughed.
“Probably the audience and I would probably like to forget!”
We visited Gyllenhaal before a performance this past week at the Barrymore Theatre. Standing on stage, the actor said, “It’s my favorite place to be.”
He explained his character feeds off the audience: “[Iago] does have a lot of moments [where] he has interactions with the audience, they kind of become his partner in it, and every night it is different. And that’s what I love so much about it.”
Washington, now 70, is no stranger to Shakespeare. On stage he’s played Richard III and Julius Caesar, and he has starred in movie versions of “Much Ado About Nothing” and an adaptation of “Macbeth.” He first played Othello as a student at Fordham University in New York City.
Asked how he relates to the play and its language differently from when he was 22, Washington replied, “I know a lot less now. I thought I knew everything then! I didn’t really like the part, ’cause I wasn’t wise enough to understand it. Now I understand it’s really about a bond, you know, that these characters have. He loves not wisely, but too well.”
“Othello” has been staged on Broadway more than 20 times. For most of those performances, Othello was played by a white actor in blackface. That changed in 1943, when Paul Robeson gave a legendary performance in the role. The last actor to play him on Broadway was James Earl Jones, in 1982.
“James Earl Jones was my northern star when I was in college,” said Washington. “He was who I wanted to be. I didn’t get to see his Othello, but I know it wasn’t as good as my 22-year-old interpretation! But you know, it’s my turn.”
And what a turn it’s been. The show is already a box office hit. But record-breaking sales have driven prices sky-high; prime seats go for nearly $1,000, drawing some criticism.
But audiences are showing up, and by the sound of it are enjoying themselves – as are the stars.
Gyllenhaal said, “You get to a point where you’re like, ‘Oh, I’ve worked my whole career for this, for this moment.’”
“That’s what it feels like for me, too,” said Washington. “I worked my whole career for this moment. This is a 48-year journey for me. It’s fascinating to have been too young for the part, and some may say now too old. But 48 years of experience, so 48 years of pain and pleasure and life has informed my approach to playing the role.”
Gyllenhaal added, “I feel tremendous gratitude. And he makes me feel it when I walk in that rehearsal room every day.”
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Watch an extended interview with Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal (Video)
For more info:
Story produced by Wonbo Woo and Sara Kugel. Editor: Remington Korper.
Protester scales Washington DC bridge, stays for days
A demonstrator protesting the war in Iran and the use of artificial intelligence climbed Frederick Douglass Bridge, and stayed for days.
Despite saying he would “soon” come down, a protester has remained on top of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in Washington, DC since May 1, impacting traffic and extending a dayslong standoff with police.
Guido Reichstadter climbed the 168-foot bridge Friday, then draped a black banner and set up a tent while making the bridge his home for the past four days.
Here’s what to know about Reichstadter’s protest and how it is affecting locals in the nation’s capital.
Why is there a man on top of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge?
After Reichstadter climbed the bridge Friday, he identified himself as a protester, writing on X that he was “calling on the people of the United States to bring an immediate end to the Trump regime’s illegal war on Iran and the removal of the regime power through mass nonviolent direct action and non-cooperation.”
He has posted on X throughout his protest, reminding his followers of his cause as he thwarts attempts from the DC police to bring him down.
“The Trump regime occupying the office of the US executive is prosecuting a criminal war of aggression against the nation of Iran, enabled by the refusal of Congress to assert its constitutional power, and by the continued submission of the majority of the US population to this intolerable state of affairs without effective civil resistance,” he wrote on X, saying it’s the public’s responsibility to nonviolently put an end to Trump’s presidency.
Reichstadter said May 4 he hasn’t eaten for days, but previously told NewsNation he went on a 30-day hunger strike while protesting AI outside the Anthropic headquarters.
He has run out of water, however.
“I’ve got the stamina to stay up here a bit longer,” he told WTOP Monday.
What impact is the protest having in Washington, DC?
Reichstadter’s protest has caused lanes to shut down on the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, but lanes had reopened for traffic late Monday morning.
Tuesday morning, all lanes were open for traffic, but the pedestrian walkway was closed, according to the Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination (MATOC) Program.
If he stays on top of the bridge into Tuesday night, it’s unclear how his protest could impact people traveling nearby to the Washington Nationals game.
“My efforts here have had impacts on the local community and its people, and it is my desire not to harm but to work in communication, to lift up and to contribute what strength I can to the ongoing struggle for rights and freedom which this community has been engaged in for years,” Reichstadter said Sunday.
Police said Monday that their negotiators will remain on the scene.
Mike Stunson is the DC Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 21: Voi Tunuufi #52 of the Washington Huskies gestures during the third quarter of the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Husky Stadium on September 21, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. The Huskies defeated the Wild (Alika Jenner / Getty Images)
Former University of Washington defensive lineman Voi Tunuufi has died at the age of 23, the school announced on Monday night.
“Our hearts are with the Tunuufi family, his loved ones, and every brother who wore the W beside him. Forever in The Pack,” the school posted in an announcement on Twitter.
According to Andy Yamashita of The Seattle Times, Tunuufi’s sister, Sanita, said that he died in a car accident.
Tunuufi appeared in 52 games for the Huskies over four seasons from 2021-24, which included Washington’s run to the National Championship against Michigan in 2023. Tunuufi had 86 total tackles with 12.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two passes defended during his career.
The Source: Information in this story came from the University of Washington and The Seattle Times.
MORE HUSKIES NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
UW wide receiver, WA native Denzel Boston drafted 39th by Cleveland Browns
Ex-football player accused of posing as former UW QB Michael Penix, other NFL pros in $20M fraud case
Washington signs Tina Langley to extension as women’s basketball coach
Huskies AD Pat Chun talks coaching expectations in 2026
Washington’s upset bid of 3-seed TCU falls short in 62-59 loss in overtime
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Washington
YOU’RE INVITED! Exclusive Sneak Peek of the New Burn Building at the Washington County Public Safety Training – Washington County
Join us for a first look at this state-of-the-art training facility, designed to enhance firefighter and first responder preparedness through realistic, hands-on, live-fire training scenarios. This new addition will be placed in service by the end of June; and, it represents a major step forward in strengthening emergency response capabilities across Washington County and the region.
Training programs offered at the PSTC continue to emphasize the importance of joint training among fire, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), law enforcement, and emergency management partners. Facilities like the burn building allow multiple agencies to train together in realistic environments, improving coordination, communication, and overall response during critical incidents.
This event will also highlight the future vision of the training center, including plans for construction of a tactical village. The proposed tactical village will further expand multi-agency training opportunities and provide realistic environments for real-life, public safety scenario-based exercises.Guests will be treated to a sneak peek demonstration. The demonstration will showcase the capabilities and training value of the new burn building, as well provide a glimpse into future plans for the PSTC.
We hope you’ll join us as we showcase this exciting milestone. Come help us celebrate the continued growth of public safety training in Washington County.
Address: 18350 Public Safety Pl, Hagerstown, MD 21740
Date: May 19, 2026
Time: 2:00 p.m.
-
Montana6 minutes agoMontana State Prison Expansion Advances as State Officials Tour New Housing Unit – Correctional News
-
Nebraska12 minutes ago
Nebraska rewards men’s basketball assistants for its best season in history with contract extensions
-
New Hampshire24 minutes agoYour weekly guide to taking action in New Hampshire May 6-10, 2026 –
-
New Jersey30 minutes agoWild video shows beaver attacking boy, 8, fishing in New Jersey lake
-
New Mexico36 minutes agoNew Mexico primary election early voting begins May 5
-
North Dakota48 minutes agoHHS recognizes May as Foster Care Awareness Month, highlights role of community in supporting children and families
-
Ohio54 minutes ago
Ohio Northern University evacuates following bomb threat
-
Oklahoma60 minutes agoHow to watch LA Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder: TV, live stream info for tonight’s NBA playoff game
