“In this Tony Award-winning Best Play, playwright Richard Greenberg celebrates the personal and professional intricacies of America’s favorite pastime. When Darren Lemming (Williams), 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.”
Television audiences will recognize Jesse Williams from his role as “Dr. Jackson Avery” on the television drama Grey’s Anatomy. He has appeared on film in has appeared in films including Lee Daniels’ The Butler, The Cabin in the Woods, Band Aid, and the upcoming Jacob’s Ladder and Selah and the Spades. Williams is an activist/actor/entrepreneur and former high school teacher.
Mark Robinson is the author of the two-volume encyclopedia The World of Musicals, The Disney Song Encyclopedia, and The Encyclopedia of Television Theme Songs. He maintains a theater and entertainment blog at markrobinsonwrites.com.