Actor Jesse Williams is gearing up for his much-awaited Broadway play Take Me Out, based on a Tony Award-winning play of the same name by playwright Robert Greenberg.

According to the New York Theatre Guide, the stage play, which revolves around baseball and homophobia, is scheduled to begin previews on March 09, 2022, and will officially open the following month on April 04, 2022. The Broadway drama is a Second Stage Theater production and will be hosted at the Hayes Theater in New York.

The 40-year-old actor is also a director, producer, and activist, known most notably for his portrayal of Dr. Jackson Avery on the long-running ABC series Grey's Anatomy. He portrayed Dr. Jackson Avery for eleven years, between 2009 and 2021.

Williams to Play a Gay Character

Actor Williams will play the character of a mixed-race baseball star named Darren Lemming in the Broadway revival of Take Me Out. Williams' character is a star center fielder for the Empires, a fictional baseball team in the play. 

In the story, set in the early 2000s, Lemming comes out as gay and tackles homophobia and racism. He further has to go through his hostile teammates and fraught friendships. The plot of the play showcases the challenges faced by the central character, which leads his team to struggle for the championship. 

Earlier in June, Williams made his appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and talked at length about his career and upcoming endeavors. During the conversation, the then-host of the show, Stephen "tWitch" Boss, who was filling in for the absent Ellen DeGeneres, asked him to provide an insight into his forthcoming play.

Williams said that he was "very excited to lead in a Brodway play." Immediately after, host tWitch teased the actor and asked about the part of the play where Williams was going to be "getting naked on stage."

Actor Willimas first reacted with a "what?" His reaction was met with cheers from the watching audience. He then smiled and said, "Yeah, I got the memo." In his explanation of the scene, Williams said,

The character does call for a little bit of nudity. It's terrifying in all the right ways. I am looking to be challenged in new ways, to be scared and excited, and be pushed.

Williams then called his acting job to be "one of the beautiful things I've had for so long" and credited his profession for "the comfort it creates."

"Take Me Out" Is Being Adapted for TV

As reported by Deadline, the popular play, created by Greenberg, is not only coming back to Broadway, but production for a television adaption is underway as well. However, a release date for the television program is unknown as of this writing.

The series will be released as a limited television series and is produced by Anonymous Content. The pilot of the upcoming show will be directed by popular Broadway director Scott Ellis. Ellis has directing credits for shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Modern Family. 

Interestingly, actor Williams will also reprise the role of the lead character Darren Lemming in the TV series.