Olivia Washington Reflects on the Joy of Sharing the Broadway Spotlight with Her Father, Denzel Washington
For Olivia Washington, stepping onto a Broadway stage was a dream fulfilled—but doing it while her legendary father, Denzel Washington, was also starring just blocks away made it even more special.
In a heartfelt interview, Olivia opened up about the deeply personal meaning behind performing in The Piano Lesson while Denzel starred in The Piano Lesson’s original inspiration, A Raisin in the Sun, years earlier. Now, with both father and daughter lighting up Broadway—Olivia at the Barrymore Theatre and Denzel at the neighboring theatre—the experience has taken on a poetic new layer.
“It was this full-circle moment,” Olivia shared. “My dad has walked these streets, stood on these stages. And now, I’m here too—telling our stories, representing our people, and standing in that same spotlight.”
Denzel, a two-time Academy Award winner and Broadway veteran, has long emphasized the importance of legacy and representation. For Olivia, growing up with that example didn’t create pressure—it gave her purpose.
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“My father never told me what path to take,” she said. “But he showed me how to walk it—with integrity, discipline, and heart.”
Olivia’s performance in The Piano Lesson has earned praise for its emotional depth and graceful power, with critics noting her ability to carry the weight of August Wilson’s storytelling while carving a space of her own.
Audiences have responded just as powerfully. “There’s something deeply moving about seeing a new generation embrace these classic roles,” one theatergoer remarked. “Knowing her father’s history here adds another layer of emotion.”
As for what it means to share Broadway with Denzel, Olivia puts it simply: “It feels like a family reunion with our roots in art and our future on stage.”
And while she continues to forge her own path, Olivia Washington’s rise is clearly part of a legacy that keeps growing—one standing ovation at a time.