Second Stage Theater presents a revival of the Tony Award-winning ‘Best Play’ Take Me Out, written by Richard Greenberg and directed by Scott Ellis. Tickets will be on sale soon.
Revolving around a mixed-race baseball star named Darren Lemming, who comes out as gay and is confronted off the field by deep-rooted, homophobic and racist prejudices, Take Me Out is as relevant today as it was at the time of its original premiere in 2002.
Take Me Out was first staged at the Donmar Warehouse in London and subsequently at the Public Theater in New York as a co-production between the two companies. It would transfer to Broadway in February 2003, with Daniel Sunjata reprising the role of Darren Lemming, and would go on to win three Tony Awards that season, including ‘Best Play.’
This first-ever Broadway revival marks the Broadway debut for Jesse Williams, who takes on the pivotal role of Darren. Perhaps best known for his long-time TV role as Dr. Jackson Avery on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," this important stage role may well be the biggest challenge of Williams’ career to date.
Also making his Broadway debut is “Suits” standout Patrick J. Adams, who has been cast as Kippy Sunderstrom in the new production. They are joined by an actor who, in contrast, is no stranger to the New York stage. Five-time Emmy-nominated star of “Modern Family,” Jesse Tyler Ferguson takes on the role of Mason Marzac.
Offering an explosive take on homophobia, racism, class and masculinity in the world of sports, Take Me Out takes a massive swing and knocks it out of the park both as a crucial social commentary and a riveting piece of theatre.
(Photo by Catherine Wessel)
Take Me Out celebrates the personal and professional intricacies of America’s favorite pastime. When Darren Lemming, the star center fielder for the Empires, comes out of the closet, the reception off the field reveals a barrage of long-held unspoken prejudices. Facing some hostile teammates and fraught friendships, Darren is forced to contend with the challenges of being a gay person of color within the confines of a classic American institution. As the Empires struggle to rally toward a championship season, the players and their fans begin to question tradition, their loyalties, and the price of victory.
Second Stage Theater announced that the scheduled production of Take Me Out will open on Broadway in spring 2021. The production, which was set to open in April 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 shutdown of Broadway theaters. The revival of the Tony-winning Richard Greenberg play will now start performances the week of March 22, 2021 at the Helen Hayes Theater, with an official opening date of April 22, 2021.