April 11, 2025
Kandi Burruss is reaping large success as co-producer of the Denzel Washington-led Broadway manufacturing of “Othello.”
Kandi Burruss is busy turning her goals into actuality and proudly representing the tradition as a co-producer of the highest-grossing play in Broadway historical past.
The versatile singer/songwriter holds a co-producer credit score for Broadway’s Othello, starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal. As a co-producer alongside her husband, Todd Tucker, working underneath lead producer Brian Anthony Moreland and director Kenny Leon, Burruss was intentional in guaranteeing the play aligned along with her bigger imaginative and prescient.
“Within the alternatives that I get, I’m at all times attempting to raise and make manner for extra [opportunities] for individuals like myself. For Black individuals, individuals of colour and ladies,” she advised Waymaker Journal.
“We had individuals coming to New York to see a present [who’d never been to Broadway before] … We’re not simply ready for the individuals who already go to exhibits. We’re making our exhibits the vacation spot.”
Since its debut final month, Othello has set the file because the highest-grossing play in Broadway historical past, grossing $2.8 million in its opening week. With a uncommon Broadway efficiency by Denzel Washington, Othello has garnered immense help from the theater world. Ticket costs are hovering, reaching as much as $921, because the present obtained the very best earnings ever for a play in its first seven days on Broadway.
“This isn’t one other Shakespearean manufacturing,” Burress stated. “It’s starring Denzel Washington. It’s set in 2028. The garments are fashionable. The supply feels actual and passionate. You possibly can see your self in it — though they’re nonetheless utilizing Shakespeare’s phrases.”
Othello stars Washington within the title position, with Gyllenhaal enjoying the manipulative Iago and Molly Osborne as Othello’s spouse, Desdemona. The present isn’t Burruss’ first Broadway enterprise. Alongside along with her husband, she co-produced their first play, Ideas of a Coloured Man, in 2021.
They adopted that with a revival of The Piano Lesson (starring Denzel Washington’s son, John David Washington) and the 2024 return of The Wiz to Broadway. By their collaboration with John David Washington, Burruss was in a position to join with Denzel, finally resulting in their partnership with Othello.
“We’d see Denzel round that point, and that’s when Brian and Denzel initiated the dialog,” Burruss advised Folks.
With 4 performs underneath her belt, together with one which broke Broadway field workplace information, Burruss—who already boasts a Grammy—is now setting her sights on her first-ever Tony Award.
“I’m praying. However you realize, I pray each time,” she stated. “Each time you must go into it feeling like, ‘That is the one,’ you realize? I’m going to talk it into existence.”
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