Jesse Williams is starring in the TV adaptation of Richard Greenberg’s Tony Award-winning play Take Me Out, about baseball and homophobia.
First seen on Broadway in 2003, Take Me Out follows Darren Lemming (Williams), a mixed-race star center fielder for the fictional Empires. Darren’s decision to come out of the closet sparks controversy and soul searching for American’s favorite pastime, revealing long-held, unspoken prejudices both on and off the field.
Facing some hostile teammates and fraught friendships, Darren is forced to confront the reality of being a gay person of color within the framework of a classic American institution. As the Empires rally toward a championship season, the players and their fans begin to question tradition, their loyalties and the price of victory.
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Williams is attached to star as Darren Lemming in both the rescheduled Broadway revival, which is due out in 2022, and the TV adaptation.
“I’m incredibly honored by the opportunity to expand on such a profound narrative,” said Williams. “The questions and challenges presented by Richard’s material are critical and seemingly boundless; cutting to the core of ‘masculinity marketing.’ What are we really, if our peace is so easily threatened by the peace of others?”
The limited TV series comes from Anonymous Content. Greenberg will pen the TV version while Scott Ellis, who is directing Second Stage’s Broadway revival, will helm the series.
Executive producers include Williams, Greenberg, and Ellis; David Levine and Whitney Dibo will oversee for AC Studios.
Additional casting for the TV version will be announced at a later date.
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Take Me Out, the Broadway version stars Williams opposite Patrick. J. Adams and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Previews for the play will begin March 9, 2022, at the Helen Hayes Theater. The production was initially slated to open in April 2020 but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The play, which premiered at The Public Theater in 2002 before making its way to Broadway, was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize and won the Tony Award for Best Play.
Up next Williams will star in Marked Man and Secret Headquarters.