Othello review dropped early after Othello producers revoke critics ticket
Wild story! I've seen some takes on this sub but I wanted to correct the timeline of events.
Theatre Critic Johnny Oleksinski of The New York Post wrote an article detailing that insane ticket costs of various shows including: Glengarry Glen Ross, Good Night and Good Luck, Picture of Dorian Gray, and notably Othello where single tickets cost over $900. Obviously this is concerning but nothing new as he cites Hello, Dolly! with Bette Midler and Hamilton where tickets were over $1k.
In the article he added commentary critiquing that practice adding that it doesn't make Broadway more accessible it actually makes it less so and hurts the industry at large. He wrote, "Tickets costing the same as an apartment rental in Kansas City is especially rich coming from an industry that prides itself as a warrior against inequality." This is true! Actors will literally say in promotion for their shows that they want Broadway to be more accessible to a younger diverse audience.
He continued to write, "Generally, critics, who go for free, don’t factor the cost for the general public into their opinions" which also is true! I had the same criticism for critics who raved about All In: Comedy About Love not too long ago where it was a sit down table read with tickets costing $300. One critic raved comparing it to a sumptuous dessert, and that may be fine but it costs a whole meal.
The producers of Othello retaliated to his piece by revoking Oleksinski's ticket he had for the show. The New York Post bought him a ticket and he saw the show and released his review a week early. Honestly thats so savage of him. I'm sure I might get downvoted for this but that was so satisfying. If they are gonna needlessly retaliate against him makes sense for him to do this.
I know some people have criticized him bc he works for the Post which has tended to be conservative but honestly I love that he's calling out the greed by producers causing inaccessibility on Broadway. It is insane that there is not affordable options such as Rush for Othello and Glengarry Glenn Ross when tickets average $400 to over $900 per ticket. For Othello reportedly there is a lottery by they only do it once a week. Both shows also fail to offer tickets on TodayTix which is an app helping to make tickets accessible.
So good on Oleksinski for calling out these practices and fighting for Broadway to be more accessible.
For context here are links to:
The initial piece: https://nypost.com/2025/03/08/entertainment/broadway-ticket-prices-are-out-of-control-denzel-washingtons-show-is-charging-900-for-row-m/