First there was method acting (sometimes it wins you an Emmy, sometimes it bristles your costars, sometimes it does both). Then a novel phenomenon called method dressing took red carpets by storm (remember Zendayas perfectly executed tennis-themed looks for her Challengers press tour?) Next up: The method dressing room.Othello star Jake Gyllenhaals backstage home-away-from-home in Broadways Barrymore theater is an extension of the Shakespearean world hes been steeped in while developing his version of Iago, the duplicitous ensign to the titular Venetian army general played by Denzel Washington. The revival is a modern take on The Bards centuries-old tragedy with relatively spare set design, so Gyllenhaals dressing room presented an opportunity to bring the narrative to life with more evocative decor.A rug and drapery by Nordic knots soften the dressing rooms chess table vignette.Photo: Gieves AndersonA Wretched Flowers lamp swathed in anodized stainless-steel chainmail commands attention on the vanity table; Brentwood barrel armchairs by Josef Hoffman for J & J Kohn; Ginori coffee cups from the brands Oriente Italiano collection. Two pieces by London-based artist Joel Tomlin were selected for the touch of charming, domestic, homey familiarity they introduced to the room, says Atelier LK designer Ruby Kean.Photo: Gieves AndersonI was told that its the dressing room that Marlon Brando was in for A Streetcar Named Desire. It has hundreds of layers of paint from every performer that has had or shared that room, and so it holds within it a deep, rich history that I am honored to be a part of and to add to, even if its temporary, Gyllenhaal tells AD. The BAFTA winner has a soft spot for design, evidenced by his role as an ambassador for the luxury Italian porcelain purveyor Ginori 1735, so, naturally, he was inclined toward an elevated approach for the short-term dwelling.To make the most of his time in such hallowed quarters, Gyllenhaal brought in designers Ruby Kean and Lisa Jones of Atelier LK, a firm operating out of New York and London. Kean says the trio agreed upon a vision for the room that was narrative-driven, but also something that would be very comfortable for him that he could really retreat into, given the demanding, high-pressure environment of a Broadway production. Another consensus was highlighting local creatives with their decorative choices. Gyllenhaals love for artisan craftsmanship, as well as emerging designers in New York, was quite a key thing for Ruby and I to explore, Jones says.A spiky Crown of Thorns lamp by Wretched Flowers creates an intriguing contrast beside delicate blooms in a Sophie Lou Jacobsen vase. I would never claim to try and be a dramaturge here, but I do think the materials that [Jones and Kean] pickedboth soft and tough, the danger, and the comfortall these juxtapositions are very, very right for the themes of Othello, Gyllenhaal says.Photo: Gieves AndersonA handmade chess set by NYC-based designer Minjae Kim serves as a stylish callout to the calculated gameplay characteristic of Iago, whose plotline is defined by his meticulous orchestration of Othellos downfall. Pulled up to the board are a pair of chairs also by Kimone light, one darkthat echo the aesthetic of the chessboard itself while aligning with the themes of racial dichotomy underpinning the tale.I would never claim to try and be a dramaturge here, but I do think the materials that they pickedboth soft and tough, the danger, and the comfortall these juxtapositions are very, very right for the themes of Othello.Jake GyllenhaalSubtlety, though, was key. Kean explains the team was cognizant of staying grounded and mindful about capturing the world of Othello in a way that didnt feel too overly literal. Accessories woven throughout the dressing room reference the play in a more understated manner, but conjuring the appropriately dark and dramatic vibe to match Othello led to an emphasis on sourcing the right lighting. Two ochre sconces of Venetian Murano glass (made by New York designer Dana Arbib), Sophie Lou Jacobsens Tulipa pendant in a moody tobacco shade, and a prickly Crown of Thorns lamp by Wretched Flowers offer Gyllenhaal the ability to be flexible with the lighting, per Kean. Its warm yet elegant. Its comforting, but it has a sense of formality to it, and I love that theyve really tried to make it feel like the spaces Ive been to in Venice, Gyllenhaal says of the sultry lighting.Gyllenhaal and the Atelier LK team relished the opportunity to take on the dressing room project, but at the end of the day its a utilitarian space. The actors absolute must-haves? A place to change, a place to sleep, and a place to make coffeethose are my requirements. The Tony nominees La Marzocco keeps him caffeinated.Photo: Gieves AndersonMinjae Kims Sapele God chair (left) and Kissing chair match the white-and-black pairing of a chessboard. Glass candlesticks from Dana Arbib; floating shelf by Atelier LK.Photo: Gieves AndersonThe more nuanced nods to the Italian locale in which the play opens are balanced with a statement-making, theatrical approach to the rooms walls, which set the scene via Rafa Prieto x Wallpaper Projects photographs of Venice blown up large. The dressing room is a very small and intimate space, and we really wanted it to take on the charm and romanticism of the play, Kean says. Two immersive images taken in the city lend themselves to distinctively separate moods in their respective vignettes. A shot of a salmon-hued faade along Salizada dei Spechieri tonally encourages people to gather, feel energized, to learn linesmaking more of an uplifting, lighter space, Jones says. A more low-key ambiance takes shape in the rooms back area. Jones explains that a wall wrapped in the image of a caf table with a dim, low-down view of the canal was chosen with the intent of helping Gyllenhaal unwind, relax, take a moment to rest, and to feel a little bit more like a downtime space.Atop a carved-leg side table by Soren Ferguson sits a bowl of figs, another Othello easter egg that nods to an Act I line from Iago. (Virtue? A fig!) Curtain tassel by Jessica Light; fiberglass and wood floor lamp by Minjae Kim.Photo: Gieves AndersonOf course, there hasnt been much downtime of late. Denzels made his way up there a couple of times, but just through the nature of him being the general, I tend to go to his room. The rest of the cast comes in and out. At this point, were all so focused. Its quite a piece to try and do service to, so were all onstage all the time rehearsing when were not in the play, Gyllenhaal says. When time comes and were in our run and we get to come in at 5:00 or 6:00 for an 8:00 p.m. show, I hope well hang out there a lot more.Othello starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal officially opened March 23 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre and runs through June 8.