Othello: The Remix
by JQ, GQ

Name: Othello: The Remix
Brand: JQ
SKU: 9780822237044
Rating: 3.5 (6 reviews)

Off-Broadway Off-West End

Othello: The Remix Book Cover — Othello: The Remix Cover

Highlights

Male

90 mins Present Day Role(s) for Black Actor(s) All Men Bare Stage/Simple Set Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes

Synopsis

Othello is spun out and lyrically rewritten over original beats in this high-energy spin on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy.

Transporting the high drama from Venice to the modern day, where genre-defining MC Othello struggles against an uprising from jealous underground rapper Iago, the Q Brothers Collective have created a new Othello that doubles down on its inimitable rhythm.

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Press Reviews

"While [the Q Brothers'] version conforms broadly to the original, it is continually infused with impish humor; it’s as much a spoof of Othello as it is a serious attempt to translate the play into a contemporary musical idiom...The music...pulses with life, and the cascading rhymes of the lyrics are often inspired...it’s a tickling refreshment to leave a production of this dark tale with a smile on your face, or an urge to head to the nearest nightclub."
— The New York Times

"Who knew Othello could be so funny? The Q Brothers have transformed the bloody tragedy into a rip-roaring, rapped one-act rich with dizzying rhymes...clever and exhilarating..."
— Time Out New York

"Full of clever updates and snarky rhymes...Othello: The Remix is never less than inventive and even instructive in finding cognates for Shakespeare’s poetry. His heroic metaphors drawn from now-obscure knowledge seem reinvigorated when translated into terms as familiar to us as heraldry and the hunt were to Elizabethans."
— New York Magazine

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
OTHELLO MaleOthello is a modern day hip hop mogul. He is a gifted rapper and self-made entrepreneur who escaped the pitfalls of the tough neighborhood he was raised in. He is now the most respected rapper in the music industry, with over ten million records sold. (Archetype: Jay-Z/The Game)	male	—	MaleOthello is a modern day hip hop mogul. He is a gifted rapper and self-made entrepreneur who escaped the pitfalls of the tough neighborhood he was raised in. He is now the most respected rapper in the music industry, with over ten million records sold. (Archetype: Jay-Z/The Game)
DESDEMONA FemaleDesdemona is a disembodied voice. A powerful soul singer, her musical hooks help to elevate Othello’s sound from hardcore rap to mainstream hits. During dialogue sections, she communicates with sound but no words. (Archetype: Adele/Christina Aguilera)	female	—	FemaleDesdemona is a disembodied voice. A powerful soul singer, her musical hooks help to elevate Othello’s sound from hardcore rap to mainstream hits. During dialogue sections, she communicates with sound but no words. (Archetype: Adele/Christina Aguilera)
IAGO MaleIago is an underground rapper who has been in Othello’s crew since its inception. He is the best lyricist of the bunch, and a hip hop purist who is disgusted by the way rap is turning into mainstream pop music. (Archetype: Eminem/Nas)	male	—	MaleIago is an underground rapper who has been in Othello’s crew since its inception. He is the best lyricist of the bunch, and a hip hop purist who is disgusted by the way rap is turning into mainstream pop music. (Archetype: Eminem/Nas)
CASSIO MaleCassio is the newest member of Othello’s crew. He is a great dancer who raps about dancing and flirting with the ladies. For him, entertainment is paramount. Rap comes second. (Archetype: Will Smith/Mase)	male	—	MaleCassio is the newest member of Othello’s crew. He is a great dancer who raps about dancing and flirting with the ladies. For him, entertainment is paramount. Rap comes second. (Archetype: Will Smith/Mase)
EMILIA FemaleEmilia is Iago’s wife and close friend of Desdemona. She is always trying to get Iago’s affection and attention, but to no avail. She is supportive of his career and only receives verbal abuse in return.	female	—	FemaleEmilia is Iago’s wife and close friend of Desdemona. She is always trying to get Iago’s affection and attention, but to no avail. She is supportive of his career and only receives verbal abuse in return.
RODERIGO MaleRoderigo is a nerdy lighting technician who travels with the crew on tour. He is secretly in love with Desdemona, who doesn’t even know he exists. He loves sci-fi and fantasy movies/books and video games. He speaks with a lateral lisp.	male	—	MaleRoderigo is a nerdy lighting technician who travels with the crew on tour. He is secretly in love with Desdemona, who doesn’t even know he exists. He loves sci-fi and fantasy movies/books and video games. He speaks with a lateral lisp.
BIANCA FemaleBianca is Cassio’s groupie girlfriend. She follows him everywhere the crew tours. She’s a fiery and feisty boricua. She wants nothing but Cassio all the time.	female	—	FemaleBianca is Cassio’s groupie girlfriend. She follows him everywhere the crew tours. She’s a fiery and feisty boricua. She wants nothing but Cassio all the time.
LOCO VITO MaleLoco Vito is the head of First Folio Records, the label to which Othello and his crew are signed. He is a West Coast Chicano gangster who loves tennis.	male	—	MaleLoco Vito is the head of First Folio Records, the label to which Othello and his crew are signed. He is a West Coast Chicano gangster who loves tennis.
BRABANTIO MaleBrabantio is Desdemona’s father. He is a stuffy and conservative Senator and does not approve of her relationship with Othello.	female	—	MaleBrabantio is Desdemona’s father. He is a stuffy and conservative Senator and does not approve of her relationship with Othello.
POS Othello, Backup Girl #1	female	—	Othello, Backup Girl #1
GQ Iago, Brabantio, Backup Girl #3	female	—	Iago, Brabantio, Backup Girl #3
JAX Cassio, Emilia	—	—	Cassio, Emilia
JQ Roderigo, Bianca, Loco Vito, Backup Girl #2, Radio DJA	female	—	Roderigo, Bianca, Loco Vito, Backup Girl #2, Radio DJA
DJ spins the music for the whole play.	—	—	spins the music for the whole play.