Play ball! Leave it to Broadway to provide a worthy election season distraction with the return of an American pastime slightly less polarizing than politics. The critically acclaimed revival of Take Me Out has returned this fall, but who’s that new hunky player on the field?
Bill Heck joins the company as Kippy Sunderstrom, teammate and buddy to Darren Lemming (Jesse Williams), who comes out as gay, throwing the team and the media into a tailspin. Jesse Tyler Ferguson also rejoins the cast, reprising his Tony-winning role as the gay nebbish accountant Mason Marzac who discovers his love for the sport.
Related: Balls, bats and brawn: Broadway’s ‘Take Me Out’ hits a home run
But what the Heck? New production photos reveal that there’s likely even more to admire with the actor’s arrival in the now-famous shower scene, which caused a scandal when photos of a nude Williams were leaked on the internet, despite audiences being required to lock their mobile phones in Yondr pouches. The Grey’s Anatomy actor took it in stride, but the theater has become even more stringent to ensure rogue images don’t escape the confines of the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The rest of the revival cast also returns to their roles.
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Related: 5 stage shows that had audiences gagging over full frontal nudity
Though this may be the first time Heck is baring his booty on Broadway, he’s bared his soul — twice. Heck made his Broadway debut as an understudy in Brooklyn Boy, then later stepped into the role of Clifford Bradshaw in the Sam Mendes revival of Cabaret. Television fans may recognize Heck from Netflix’s Locke & Key, FX’s The Old Man, and Amazon Prime’s I Know What You Did Last Summer.
Heck is more than a handsome distraction, though. With a degree in acting from New York University’s prestigious master’s program, it’s no surprise that he leaped at the opportunity to appear in Richard Greenberg’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated play. The shower scene is like a much-appreciated seventh-inning stretch and hot dog (make that nine hot dogs). But the real action is the terrific acting ensemble swinging for the bleachers.
And with the Instagram handle @billheckyes, all we can say is… no arguments here:
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Take Me Out plays on Broadway through February 5, 2023.
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Take Me Out won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play was a 2003 finalist.
Kangol2
Jesse Williams is irreplaceable, so I’m glad to see he’s back. (Daniel Sunjata was great in debuting the role years ago, but Williams adds so much more! 😉 )
Man About Town
Yo Matt: while “Take Me Out” was nominated for a Pulitzer, it didn’t win.
SELA Rising
Good for him! Glad to see his star rise. Also, why no mention of his early movie role as a gay man in the film Pit Stop?
Just.my.opinion
I have been a fan of Bill Heck since PIT STOP. I will not be able to, but I would love to see this cast of TAKE ME OUT.
Major
*finds Jesse Williams nude pics from the show on the internet again*
Wheelerman
I saw Take Me Out last May. Terrific show. Jesse Tyler Ferguson is a hoot, but Michael Oberholtzer was fantastic and heartbreaking as Shane Mungitt. I wish the featured actor role Tony Award could have been split between Jesse & Michael. And those shower scenes of muscled butts and flopping d*cks were worth the price of the ticket!!
Rikki Roze
Saw the show on opening night of the revival in October. Mr. Hicks only adds to an already wonderful cast. The audience rose to its feet with a roar at the end. Definitely see it if you can.