Fat Ham

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Fat Ham
Written by James Ijames
Based on Hamlet
by William Shakespeare
Date premieredApril 23, 2021 (2021-04-23)
Place premiered Wilma Theater, Philadelphia
Original languageEnglish
Genre Drama

Fat Ham is a dramatic stage play written by American playwright James Ijames. It is a modern-day adaptation of William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Contents

The play was awarded the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama [1] [2] [3] and was nominated for five Tony Awards including Best Play.

Synopsis

Juicy, a young gay black man, is confronted by the ghost of his father during a cookout, who demands that Juicy avenge his murder. Juicy, already familiar with Hamlet's plight, tries to break the cycles of trauma and violence.

Productions

The play premiered on April 23, 2021 in a filmed production for the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia. The digital production was available until May 23. [4]

It made its off-Broadway debut at The Public Theater on May 12, 2022, [5] to overwhelmingly positive reviews. [6] The production received a Special Citation at the 66th Obie Awards honoring the creative team and ensemble. In 2023, the Public Theater production transferred to Broadway with the entire cast and most of the creative team intact. Previews began at the American Airlines Theatre on March 21, with opening night on April 12. The production once again received widespread critical acclaim [7] and five Tony Award nominations, including Best Play and Best Director of a Play. [8] The Broadway production was originally scheduled to have a strictly limited run through June 25, 2023. [9] The run was extended through July 2, 2023, [10] subsequently closing on that date.

The play had its West Coast premiere in spring 2024 with a production at the Geffen Playhouse, based on the Public Theater production. Sideeq Heard recreated Saheem Ali's direction, having served as Associate Director for the Broadway mounting. Most of the Broadway cast reprised their roles, with Matthew Elijah Webb taking over as Larry after understudying the role on Broadway. [11]

In June 2024 The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California produced the play featuring a new cast under the direction of Sideeq Heard. Fat Ham is running at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival from March 11 to June 27, 2025, directed by Elizabeth Carter. [12] The 2025 South Florida Premiere Production directed by T.M. Pride, runs April 4 through May 4 at Island City Stage in Wilton Manors, FL and May 16 - June 15 at GableStage in Coral Gables, FL.

The play will have its UK premiere presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 15 August until 13 September 2025, directed by Sideeq Heard. [13]

Notable casts

CharacterPhiladelphiaOff-Broadway [14] Broadway [15] Boston [16]
2021202220232023
Juicy Brennen S. MaloneMarcel SpearsMarshall W. Mabry IV
Pap Lindsay SmilingBilly Eugene JonesJames T. Alfred
Tedra Kimberly S. Fairbanks Nikki Crawford Ebony Marshall-Oliver
Rev Lindsay SmilingBilly Eugene JonesJames T. Alfred
Tio Anthony Martinez-BriggsChris Herbie HollandLau'rie Roach
Rabby Jennifer KidwellBenja Kay ThomasThomika Marie Bridwell
Opal Taysha Marie CanalesAdrianna MitchellVictoria Omoregie
Larry Brandon J. PierceCalvin Leon SmithAmar Atkins

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2022 Pulitzer Prize [2] Pulitzer Prize for Drama James Ijames Won
2023 Tony Awards [8] Best Play Nominated
Best Direction of a Play Saheem Ali Nominated
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play Nikki Crawford Nominated
Best Costume Design of a Play Dominique Fawn HillNominated
Best Lighting Design of a Play Bradley King Nominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Play Nominated
Outstanding Sound Design of a Play Mikaal SulaimanNominated
Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a PlayNominated
Distinguished PerformanceMarcel SpearsNominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards John Gassner Award for New American PlayJames IjamesWon
2024 Lambda Literary Award [17] Drama James IjamesWon

References

  1. ↑ Pengelly, Martin; Lee, Benjamin (2022-05-09). "Washington Post wins public service Pulitzer for Capitol attack coverage". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  2. 1 2 Chapman, Wilson (2022-05-09). "Pulitzer Prizes Include James Ijames for 'Fat Ham,' Raven Chacon for 'Voiceless Mass'". Variety. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  3. ↑ "2022 Pulitzer Prizes". www.pulitzer.org. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  4. ↑ "Fat Ham". Wilma Theater. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  5. ↑ Evans, Greg (2022-05-09). "James Ijames' 'Fat Ham' Awarded Pulitzer Prize For Drama Just Days Before New York Debut". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
  6. ↑ "Review Roundup: FAT HAM Opens at The Public Theater". BroadwayWorld. 2022-05-26. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  7. ↑ "Review Roundup: Pulitzer Prize-Winning FAT HAM Opens On Broadway!". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  8. 1 2 Rubin, Rebecca. "Tony Award Nominations 2023: 'Some Like It Hot' Dominates, Followed by '& Juliet,' 'Shucked,' 'New York, New York'". Variety. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  9. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan. "Pulitzer-Winning Fat Ham Sets 2023 Broadway Bow". Playbill. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  10. ↑ Evans, Greg (2 June 2023). "Tony-Nominated 'Fat Ham' Extends Broadway Run". Deadline. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  11. ↑ Gordon, David. "Fat Ham Broadway Stars Will Reprise Performances in Geffen Playhouse Run". TheaterMania. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  12. ↑ "Fat Ham". Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
  13. ↑ Bakare, Lanre; Khomami, Nadia (2025-01-29). "RSC goes for Hamlet hat-trick with production of Fat Ham". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2025-01-29.
  14. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe (19 May 2022). "Photos: First Look at the Pulitzer Prize-Winning FAT HAM at The Public Theater". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  15. ↑ Oladipo, Gloria (2023-04-13). "Fat Ham review – Pulitzer-winning Hamlet revision hits Broadway". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  16. ↑ "Fat Ham". Huntington Theatre Company. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  17. ↑ "Announcing the Finalists for the 36th Annual Lambda Literary Awards". Them . 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
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