19 Male Baseball Hero Who Came Out as Gay or Bisexual

gay baseball broadway

Send Stage Theater’s planned productn of Richard Greenberg’s Tony Award-wng play about a gay baseball player and the reactn to him g out, Take Me Out, which had been postponed due to the current Broadway spensn, will e to Broadway next year wh performanc begng the week of March 22nd 2021 at Send Stage’s Hay Theater (240 Wt 44th Street,…

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STT ELLIS TALKS ABOUT THE BROADWAY GAY-THEMED BASEBALL PLAY 'TAKE ME OUT'

* gay baseball broadway *

In the drama, which — be forewarned — has a lot of full-ontal male nudy, the center fielr Darren Lemmg (Jse Williams) of a fictnal team lled the Empir abptly out as gay to his fellow players and the prs.

But when a bigot pcher, Shane Mungt (Michael Oberholtzer), jos the Empir and starts spewg racist and anti-gay slurs on TV, the locker room mood cmbl. Mason, nicknamed “Mars”, meanwhile, is Darren’s gay bs manager, who tak a sudn tert baseball when his client out.

'GREY'S ANATOMY' STAR JSE WILLIAMS MAK A SE FOR WHY STRAIGHT ACTORS N PLAY GAY ROL HIS BROADWAY BUT, 'TAKE ME OUT'

Broadway's 'Take Me Out' director Stt Ellis talks how he readied his st for Richard Greenberg's play about a gay Black baseball player. * gay baseball broadway *

If baseball ma beg gay more difficult for Darren, the game is Mars’ long-awaed liberatn.

AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTCric’s PickRichard Greenberg’s 2002 play about baseball and homophobia gets a fe revival starrg Jse Williams and Jse Tyler Klwich/The New York TimPublished April 4, 2022Updated Oct. For nothg is Darren Lemmg, the fictnal center fielr of a team lled the Empir, also at the center of “Take Me Out, ” Richard Greenberg’s gay fantasia on the natnal to be a “five-tool player of such credible grace he ma you spect there was a sixth tool, ” Lemmg surpass even Derek Jeter — on whom he is to some gree moled — versatily, steads and the kd of arrogance that, arisg om excellence, adds up to charisma. He’s a natural star for baseball and, when he cis to e out as gay, a natural irrant for s bt, “Take Me Out, ” which opened on Monday a fe revival at the Helen Hay Theater, is a five-tool play.

TONY-WNG GAY BASEBALL PLAY TAKE ME OUT TO OPEN ON BROADWAY APRIL 2021

'Take Me Out,' the 2003 Tony Award-wng play about a star baseball player g out as gay, will be adapted to a limed TV seri. * gay baseball broadway *

Perhaps pecially for gay men, is also a eful rrective to the feelg of banishment om a necsary Klwich/The New York TimBy that I don’t mean baseball self but the examatn of masculy through s lens. In “Take Me Out, ” Lemmg’s announcement that he’s gay, prompted by no sndal and volvg no lover, is sentially a pretext for a disquisn on malens.

” Lemmg assum that whatever he do will redound to his benef, and that unlike most people for whom g out is momento, his gayns will be jt another of “the irrelevanci” his life, like beg handsome and he hasn’t unted on is the way, for his teammat, the revelatn dims his ra of perfectn while exposg cracks their ls perfectly airtight psych. Homophobia bubbl up om the dark plac of other men’s souls; even Lemmg’s clost iend, Davey Battle, a relig man who plays for an opposg team more ways than one, unglued by . Marzac, the kd of gay man who feels he has no place the heterosexual world or even the gay muny — “I’m outsi them.

JSE WILLIAMS TO PLAY GAY BASEBALL PRO BROADWAY’S “TAKE ME OUT”THE "GREY'S ANATOMY" STAR WILL LIKELY TAKE ALL OUT THE 2020 {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CELEBRIBY BRANDON VOSSJUNE 3, 2019/8:02 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:5568PX;WIDTH:3712PX;}KEV MAZUR/GETTY IMAG FOR ROC NATNATTENDS 2019 ROC NATN THE BRUNCH ON FEBARY 9, 2019 LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA.BY BRANDON VOSSJUNE 3, 2019 / 8:02 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"JSE WILLIAMS TO PLAY GAY BASEBALL PRO BROADWAY’S “TAKE ME OUT”","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-06-03T12:02:27.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-06-03T12:02:27.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"BRANDON VOSS","KEYWORDS":"THEATER, SPORTS","ARTICLESECTN":"CELEBRI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PLAY BALLS!{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JSE WILLIAMS WILL MAKE HIS BROADWAY BUT THE UPG BROADWAY REVIVAL OF RICHARD GREENBERG’S TONY-WNG PLAY TAKE ME OUT, WHICH TACKL HOMOPHOBIA, RACISM, AND TOXIC MASCULY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE 37-YEAR-OLD GREY'S ANATOMY HEARTTHROB WILL STAR AS DARREN LEMMG, A MIXED-RACE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STAR WHO OUT AS GAY.GREY'S ANATOMY/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DIRECTED BY STT ELLIS (TOOTSIE), THE SEND STAGE PRODUCTN WILL PREMIERE SPRG 2020. THE PLAY, SET LARGELY A STEAMY LOCKER ROOM, NOTABLY FEATUR AN ALL-MALE ST AND FULL-ONTAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TAKE ME OUT "CELEBRAT THE PERSONAL AND PROFSNAL TRICI OF AMERI’S FAVORE PASTIME," ACRDG TO AN OFFICIAL PRS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"WHEN DARREN LEMMG (WILLIAMS), THE STAR CENTER FIELR FOR THE EMPIR, OUT OF THE CLOSET, THE RECEPTN OFF THE FIELD REVEALS A BARRAGE OF LONG-HELD UNSPOKEN PREJUDIC. FACG SOME HOSTILE TEAMMAT AND GHT IENDSHIPS, DARREN IS FORCED TO NTEND WH THE CHALLENG OF BEG A GAY PERSON OF LOR WH THE NF OF A CLASSIC AMERIN STUTN. AS THE EMPIR STGGLE TO RALLY TOWARD A CHAMPNSHIP SEASON, THE PLAYERS AND THEIR FANS BEG TO QUTN TRADN, THEIR LOYALTI, AND THE PRICE OF VICTORY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT'S BEEN NFIRMED THAT EMPIRE ACTOR JSIE SMOLLETT HAD BEEN NSIRED FOR THE ROLE PRR TO HIS HATE CRIME {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DANIEL SUNJATA PLAYED LEMMG THE ORIGAL 2003 BROADWAY PRODUCTN OF TAKE ME OUT, WHICH WON THE TONY AWARD FOR BT PLAY. THE SHOW ALSO EARNED TONYS FOR FEATURED ACTOR DENIS O'HARE AND DIRECTOR JOE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WILLIAMS PLAYS DR. JACKSON AVERY ON GREY’S ANATOMY, WHICH WRAPPED S 15TH SEASON LAST MONTH ON ABC. IN 2008 HE MA HIS FILM BUT AS A NU ART CLASS MOL THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELG PANTS 2.TSOTTP2/WARNER BROS.TSOTTP2/WARNER BROS.TSOTTP2/WARNER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HIS OTHER FILM ROL CLU THE BUTLER AND THE CAB THE WOODS. HE PRODUCED AND APPEARED THE DOCERI AMERI DIVID AND THE DOCUMENTARY STAY WOKE: THE BLACK LIV MATTER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AN OUTSPOKEN CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, WILLIAMS MA HEADL WH HIS 2016 BET HUMANARIAN AWARD ACCEPTANCE SPEECH NMNG RACIAL JTICE AND POLICE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WILLIAMS IS THE YOUNGT MEMBER ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT BOTH THE ADVANCEMENT PROJECT, A CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCY GROUP, AND , HARRY BELAFONTE’S ARTS AND SOCIAL JTICE ANIZATN. HE IS ALSO EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF QUTN BRIDGE: BLACK MAL, A MULTIMEDIA ARTS PROJECT FOCED ON BLACK MALE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TAKE ME OUT BEGS APRIL 2 AND OPENS APRIL 23, 2020, AT SEND STAGE’S HAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Gay-themed Broadway mils have e a long way the past fifty years. The on are the bt. * gay baseball broadway *

Still, Greenberg shows , is ccial to happs, and not jt for gay men, even if troduc immense difficulti. For all the bety of a well-executed h and n and the ceremony of a home n, there is also the off-the-field snipg, a hateful Twter rant and an ocsnal work one hand, Take Me Out is the story of Mason Marzac (aka Marz, played by Jse Tyler Fergon), a gay fancial adviser whose volvement the re cint has led him, to fall love wh the game.

Avery on Grey's Anatomy, who makg his Broadway but), the gay superstar and a person of lor who out the closet and the mayhem that rults.

Homophobia is ont and center. He's a homophobe. You're tght to be a racist; you're tght to be homophobic.

THE 10 BT GAY MILS OF ALL TIME

Stori on tribalism, homophobia, hate speech hate crim lead the daily news feed, not to mentn the Twtersphere. But Jse Williams is well st as the gay baseball superstar Darren Lemmg. "Dpe the monali, the media, cludg the New York Tim, has wonred whether Williams, a straight actor, should play a gay character.

Bee straight men playg gay, everybody wants to give them an award, " Billy Porter, who is a member of the LGBTQ muny, told The Hollywood Reporter Neil Patrick Harris, who married his hband David Burtka 2014, told The Tim 2021 that he "would fely want to hire the bt actor" for any role. "Take Me Out, " which opened April 4, centers Darren, a stellar profsnal baseball player, and what happens to him and his team — the fictnal Empir — after he out as script, viewed by Insir, lls Darren "a Black man who you uld image had never suffered" and Williams told Entertament Weekly that the character "don't nsir himself part of the gay muny" and has been "straight prentg" before he mak the somewhat impulsive cisn to share his sexual orientatn wh the world at a prs 's is a versn of a g-out story, there is no nyg that.

Unfortunately, tryg to do so, he grossly unrtimat the power of racism and homophobia. We also see the shock Darren feels when 's clear the team manager Skip (Ken Marks) isn't gog to fight to keep Shane Mungt (Michael Oberholtzer) — the player who ed explic homophobic and racial slurs agast Darren — om beg restated on the team. Williams has a lot to prove his Broadway but as Darren, and part of the reason he's succsful bee of his platonic chemistry wh stage veteran and "Morn Fay" star Jse Tyler Fergon as Darren's bs manager Mason "Marz" role, more than Williams', benefs om beg played by an openly gay actor who knows the stggle that many young people face bee of their sexualy.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GAY BASEBALL BROADWAY

'Take Me Out' Review: Jse Williams Is Powerful As Gay Baseball Star .

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