Ray Romano is stepping far outside his sitcom comfort zone with his Broadway debut in the new comedy All Out, framing the move as part of his self‑declared “year of yes.” The Everybody Loves Raymond star told Today that he’d spent years turning down theater offers because he was intimidated by the grind of eight shows a week and the fear of forgetting lines onstage.
What finally changed his mind was learning that All Out would be a limited, three‑week engagement with a rotating cast of comedians, making the commitment feel more like a creative sprint than a marathon. Romano says reading Shonda Rhimes’ book Year of Yes pushed him to stop reflexively rejecting big, scary opportunities, and he decided that if he was ever going to try Broadway, it had to be now.
The play arrives at a busy moment in his life: he’s also become a grandfather and is eyeing new TV and film projects, all while trying to keep stage fright in check. Romano jokes that audiences shouldn’t expect any singing from him, but he’s hoping fans will see a different side of his timing and vulnerability in a live setting that doesn’t allow for second takes. More on his mindset and the show is in Parade’s profile on his “year of yes”.
