NEW YORK — Theatergoers to new Broadway play “Take Me Out” do not seem to mind having to lock up their cell phones in Yondr felt pouches with a magnetic security tags for the 2-hour, 15-minute play – a practice the Hayes Theater instituted to protect cast members during several nude scenes.
Lengthy full-frontal scenes in the shower involved such stars as Jesse Williams and Patrick J. Adams.
“We were all a little unsure if it would work and were worried the audience would be really resentful that they had had their phones taken away,” star Adams told the Daily News.
“But it’s actually been a magical experience, just getting everyone off their phone for two hours,” he said. “We hear strangers are talking to each other. People are suddenly looking up and discussing what they just saw asking each other questions, (like) ‘What was your favorite part?’ or ‘Here’s why that part was tough for me to watch.’ ”
“So that alone is the greatest gift of having the phones away, you know, it’s certainly nice to know that we’re safe on stage, being naked and not being recorded. But that people connecting is, is a great byproduct of that,” he added.
Richard Greenberg’s revival of “Take Me Out” focuses on the fallout of a biracial baseball player who reveals he’s gay at the height of his career.
Aside from being nominated for best revival of a play, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Michael Oberholtzer and Williams were nominated for best featured actor in a play on Monday.
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