Jesse Williams

Sometimes the thrill of being behind the scenes (BTS) can be as great as being on stage. So, it was a GREAT day for Bare when we were given the opportunity to follow actor Jesse Williams around pre-, during, and after his appearance on Broadway in “Take Me Out.” at the Hayes Theatre. Throughout our time together, not only did this talented, handsome “Grey’s Anatomy” alum let us capture some rare candid moments, he also provided in-depth answers to all our burning questions. (We appreciate you, Jesse!) We urge you to a) read this piece b) see Take Me Out (maybe even twice) in which Jesse plays a superstar baseball center fielder named Darren Lemming, who casually reveals he’s gay, and c) look out for Jesse in this summer’s “Secret Headquarters,” with Owen Wilson and Michael Peña. Now, join us for a BTS look at Jesse in his first Broadway play…

Enjoying some outdoor chill time with a sip of tea. Then, it’s a stop at the deli before heading off to the Hayes Theater by bike, subway or, on this day, via a leisurely car ride so he could chat with *Bare*.

Bare Magazine: What drew you to this project?

Jesse Williams: Quite a number of things. First, I was looking for a nearly insurmountable challenge. I was looking for something that was terrifying and difficult, that would put me in a real position of being a student and learning something new. I was also drawn to the material. It is so smart and dense. I totally related to parts of it, and not to other scary parts of it. I knew the whole process was going to be daunting and scary … plus there is literal nudity in the show, which adds a whole other level of vulnerability. But I knew that no matter what, I would feel alive, and I would have fun doing it. Plus, I would be back home in New York with friends and family and get to live out the dream of doing Broadway.

Bare: What is it like playing Darren?

JW: It really is a stew with Darren, and I continue to make discoveries every night. This is my first time doing any of this, being on Broadway, in a three-act play, being a lead. So it's fun. It's full of fireworks and mistakes and terribly painful emotional collisions. All roles don’t have arcs necessarily, but this one does — emotionally, psychologically — Darren is propelled into monstrous change from beginning to end and that requires detailed preparation and, more important, fluid honesty to explore and experience his reality. It’s like a damn six-car pileup every show and I admit to being deeply banged up after as a result. The second act is an absolutely brutal experience for me, honestly, that I just want to end. A series of blistering collisions—worst of all, with the self. To experience earth-shattering, reality-shifting realizations and then find a way to put that away, cleanse, and start all over for an evening show two hours later, open, optimistic and ultimately oblivious, is a wonder. I’m trying my best to honor that experience, and learning.

Even in the dimmest light his eyes still sparkle.

Bare: In what ways is Darren both like and unlike you?

JW: Darren and I are really different. Despite my childhood ambitions, I never became a world-class athlete. We also grew up very differently. I am very familiar with my own personal and communal failings, consequences, mistakes, dangers, and vulnerabilities — the landmines of life. Darren doesn't seem to have any sense of these landmines. I wouldn't say he is oblivious, but his level of inexperience with what is happening in the world is not something I can relate to. He also seems to have grown up with an almost racially agnostic mindset. He's not involved in the fight. He's not really a conscious person in terms of any kind of collective standing or disenfranchisement or oppression. I doubt he's on the front lines of anything, frankly. So, it's very much the opposite of who I am, how I was raised, and what I grew up to be. He is also in a different place when it comes to emotional access and self-awareness.

That said, there are universal human truths and realities as biracial men, as Black men in the world, no matter your degree of external or visible activism, we know what it's like to be in white spaces, and to watch white privilege lead people to things that we have to fight differently for.

Bare: The moments between you and Jesse Tyler Ferguson are truly engaging, and also hilarious! Tell us about your chemistry. You guys killed it!

JW: Jesse Tyler Ferguson is just so goddamn wonderful. Our friendship and chemistry developed naturally as we got to know each other personally and through our characters. The truth of the characters does some of that work for us, but I am very sincerely charmed and disarmed by Jesse. His character, Mason, is a safe space for Darren. Mason is non-threatening, but challenges Darren to think holistically and remember why he loved baseball in the first place. He is also a safe place for Darren to dabble in expressing himself as a gay man. But what it comes down to is that Jesse and I have great chemistry. We both have great comedic sensibility, and we respect each other so much. And I think it shows on stage.

Bare: What/who helps get you through your tiring schedule?

JW: What helps me through the schedule is gratitude. Seriously. And not in some clichéd way. I'm so grateful that I'm healthy and able to be on this journey. I'm so grateful for the health of my family and those I love. I'm doing this as a challenge to myself, but also out of respect for the Broadway community, the theater community. The tirelessness with which these folks work is incredible. To be welcomed in and given the chance to be among them, even for a season, is something I cherish. I'm just so grateful for the opportunity. That's what gets me through. My niece and nephew presented me with this handmade, beautiful, colorful Papier mâché box that they gave me to "put my bad feelings into" after every show, so I don't have to carry them around with me. It was so sweet. It actually ties to a short meditation I do for grounding after each show.

Backstage, feeling grateful and getting pumped.

A few of Jesse’s pre-game go-tos. Cashews are a favorite snack.

Bare: What do you do to stay fit and strong?

JW: To do eight shows a week, I have to treat my body with respect. I meditate, workout, get acupuncture, and do vocal coaching. Eating healthy and sleeping was a priority I established early for myself. The only time I have gone out is to support other Broadway shows. Otherwise, I am staying disciplined. Filling this play in all ways, learning and being of benefit to my company and our audience is my focus. And having fun in the process! But additionally, I go to the gym. I have an incredible personal trainer and nutritionist named Yaw Owusu who I work with four times a week one-on-one. We put in very serious athletic, rigorous training. I eat on a pretty regimented plan that is actually not so oppressive, because there's plenty of protein and carbs. So I'm not bird eating or anything.

Bare: What do you hope the viewer will take with them as they step out of the Hayes theatre?

JW: I hope that the viewer wrestles with all of the ideas, concepts, and relationship dynamics that we present to them. There is a lot to unpack, and it comes at you fast. It is dense material. I strongly recommend that people who see the show return for a second viewing. Carrying the knowledge from the first showing into the second will allow you to pick up on beautiful nuances and details. And I truly mean that. Everybody close to me has done that, and they all say "I'm so glad I came a second time. I got to see a whole new level of the play.” I realize that sounds like they’re just being kind friends, but I’m pretty sure they mean it!

Bare: Describe your cool personal style, where you shop, brands you love…

JW: My style’s evolving, I guess. I dress for comfort and as an expression of the life I’m living. I don’t take it so seriously that I adhere to firm rules — I’m down to play. I started in the hood in Chicago in the '80s. That era of early hip hop and the alchemy of Black urban culture, which provided many of the fundamental architectural aesthetics of American and, therefore, global fashion. My style is an amalgamation of the places I’ve been and lifestyles I've lived, sailing, traveling, the wide array of musical and cultural genres that affect and inspire me. I dress how I feel when I’m getting dressed — which might mean the same sweatpants three days in a row, these things happen.

Bare: What have you been enjoying most about being in NYC?

JW: I lived in New York for almost a decade. I love being able to take the train. I love walking and biking through the neighborhoods of this city. I love being amongst the living. I love the spontaneity, drive, and perseverance present in our lives here; folks from all cultural, economic and social brackets, living. This is home for me.

Bare: And finally, please share your Bare essentials…

JW: 1. Trench coat. 2. Sweatpants with a back pocket (not just side pockets, which fill up fast and get bulky and then you're taking ten damn minutes to fish something out and it gets tangled up with your keys and mask). 3. A baseball cap, so I can ride the train and tilt my head down, and not have people recognize me, especially if I have a mask and sunglasses on too. 4. Comfortable walking sneakers because I walk all over the city. 5. Audible on my phone because I listen to a lot of books on tape. So I guess AirPods as well. 6. Long socks. I wear shorts a lot, and they give me added warmth. 7. Voice protection, including Vocalzone drops, Grether's Pastilles, Entertainer's Secret spray, and Manuka honey. Just a few basics that come to mind for now.