Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal Brush Up Their Shakespeare as Rehearsals Begin for Broadway's “Othello” (Exclusive)

Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal took one step closer to Broadway last week, as rehearsals began for the highly anticipated revival of William Shakespeare’s Othello.

The two decorated actors are leading the cast of the production, which comes from Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon.

Performances begin Monday, Feb. 24 at the Barrymore Theatre in New York City ahead of an opening night on Sunday, March 23. The strictly limited 15-week engagement is scheduled to close on Sunday, June 8.

PEOPLE has an exclusive look behind the scenes of the milestone first day of rehearsal on Tuesday, Jan. 21, with photographs snapped by Julieta Cervantes.

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The pictures captured Washington, who plays the title role, sharing a laugh alongside Molly Osborne, the actress cast in the role of Othello's wife, Desdemona. Gyllenhaal, who plays Othello's foil Iago, was snapped separately, sitting beside ensemble actor Greg Wood.

There's also a shot of lead producer Brian Anthony Moreland speaking with Leon and the cast, as well as a picture of Tony winner Andrew Burnap, who plays Cassio, checking out a model of the Tony and Emmy winner scenic designer Derek McLane's set.

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Othello hasn't been on Broadway in over 40 years. The last revival, in 1982, starred James Earl Jones as Othello, Christopher Plummer as Iago and Dianne Wiest as Desdemona.

Shakespeare’s tragedy was penned around 1603, under its full name: The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. The play follows Moorish commanding warrior general Othello as he is manipulated by his ambitious lieutenant, Iago, into suspecting his wife Desdemona of infidelity.

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Joining Washington, Gyllenhaal, Osborne and Burnap in principal roles are Anthony Michael Lopez (as Roderigo), Daniel Pearce (as Brabantio), Kimber Elayne Sprawl (as Emilia), Neal Bledsoe (as The Duke of Venice), Julee Cerda (as Bianca), Ezra Knight (as Montano), Gene Gillette (as Gratiano) and Rob Heaps (as Ludovico).

Ensemble members, in addition to Wood, are William Connell, Ty Fanning, Ben Graney, Daniel Reece and Christina Sajous. Abiola Obatolu is the production's swing.

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Washington has cut his teeth with Shakespeare in the past. He starred in N.Y.C. productions of Shakespeare's Coriolanus and The Tragedy of Richard III at The Public Theater in 1979 and 1990 respectively.

The Oscar winner had his Broadway debut in 1988’s Checkmates before going on to star as Troy Maxson in the 2001 revival of August Wilson’s play Fences, for which he received a Tony Award. The actor also starred in the 2005 Broadway production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.

Gyllenhaal, on the other hand, made his Broadway debut in 2014’s Constellations and later starred in the 2017 revival of Sunday in the Park with George and the 2019 production of Sea Wall/A Life — the latter of which nabbed him a Tony nomination.

Tickets for Othello are now on sale.

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