Fat Ham
{{Short description|2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by James Ijames}}
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{{Infobox play
| name = Fat Ham
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| writer = James Ijames
| based_on = {{based on|Hamlet|William Shakespeare}}
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| premiere = {{Start date|2021|04|23}}
| place = Wilma Theater, Philadelphia
| orig_lang = English
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| genre = Drama
| web =
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Fat Ham is a dramatic stage play written by American playwright James Ijames. It is a modern-day adaptation of William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
The play was awarded the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama{{Cite news |last1=Pengelly |first1=Martin |last2=Lee |first2=Benjamin |date=2022-05-09 |title=Washington Post wins public service Pulitzer for Capitol attack coverage |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/may/09/washington-post-pulitzer-prize-2022-capitol-attack-coverage |access-date=2023-05-02 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Chapman |first=Wilson |date=2022-05-09 |title=Pulitzer Prizes Include James Ijames for 'Fat Ham,' Raven Chacon for 'Voiceless Mass' |url=https://variety.com/2022/legit/news/pulitzer-prizes-2022-1235262117/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |title=2022 Pulitzer Prizes |url=https://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=www.pulitzer.org |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Fat Ham |url=https://wilmatheater.org/event/fat-ham/ |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=Wilma Theater |language=en-US}}
It made its off-Broadway debut at The Public Theater on May 12, 2022,{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=2022-05-09 |title=James Ijames' 'Fat Ham' Awarded Pulitzer Prize For Drama Just Days Before New York Debut |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/pulitzer-prize-drama-fat-ham-james-ijames-2022-1235019647/ |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} to overwhelmingly positive reviews.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-05-26 |title=Review Roundup: FAT HAM Opens at The Public Theater |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Review-Roundup-FAT-HAM-Opens-at-The-Public-Theater-20220526 |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=BroadwayWorld |language=en-US}} 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{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Review Roundup: Pulitzer Prize-Winning FAT HAM Opens On Broadway! |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Review-Roundup-Pulitzer-Prize-Winning-FAT-HAM-Opens-On-Broadway-20230412 |access-date=12 April 2023 |website=BroadwayWorld}} and five Tony Award nominations, including Best Play and Best Director of a Play.{{cite web |last1=Rubin |first1=Rebecca |title=Tony Award Nominations 2023: 'Some Like It Hot' Dominates, Followed by '& Juliet,' 'Shucked,' 'New York, New York' |url=https://variety.com/2023/legit/news/tony-nominations-2023-full-list-1235600841/ |access-date=2 May 2022 |website=Variety}} The Broadway production was originally scheduled to have a strictly limited run through June 25, 2023.{{cite web |last1=Culwell-Block |first1=Logan |title=Pulitzer-Winning Fat Ham Sets 2023 Broadway Bow |url=https://playbill.com/article/pulitzer-winning-fat-ham-sets-2023-broadway-bow |access-date=6 December 2022 |website=Playbill}} The run was extended through July 2, 2023,{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Greg |title=Tony-Nominated 'Fat Ham' Extends Broadway Run |url=https://deadline.com/2023/06/fat-ham-broadway-closing-date-extension-1235398419/amp/ |access-date=2 June 2023 |website=Deadline|date=2 June 2023 }} 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.{{cite web |last1=Gordon |first1=David |title=Fat Ham Broadway Stars Will Reprise Performances in Geffen Playhouse Run |url=https://www.theatermania.com/news/fat-ham-broadway-stars-will-reprise-performances-in-geffen-playhouse-run_1725298/ |website=TheaterMania |access-date=11 January 2024}}
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.{{cite web |title=Fat Ham |url=https://www.osfashland.org/productions/2025-plays/fat-ham |website=Oregon Shakespeare Festival |access-date=30 March 2025}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Bakare |first=Lanre |last2=Khomami |first2=Nadia |author2-link=Nadia Khomami |date=2025-01-29 |title=RSC goes for Hamlet hat-trick with production of Fat Ham |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/jan/29/royal-shakespeare-company-hamlet-hat-trick-fat-ham-james-ijames-dahl-bfg |access-date=2025-01-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
Notable casts
| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Character !Philadelphia |
| 2021
!2022 !2023 !2023 |
|---|
| Juicy
| align="center" |Brennen S. Malone | colspan="2" align="center" |Marcel Spears |Marshall W. Mabry IV |
| Pap
| align="center" |Lindsay Smiling | colspan="2" align="center" |Billy Eugene Jones |James T. Alfred |
| Tedra
| align="center" |Kimberly S. Fairbanks | colspan="2" align="center" |Nikki Crawford |Ebony Marshall-Oliver |
| Rev
| align="center" |Lindsay Smiling | colspan="2" align="center" |Billy Eugene Jones |James T. Alfred |
| Tio
| align="center" |Anthony Martinez-Briggs | colspan="2" align="center" |Chris Herbie Holland |Lau'rie Roach |
| Rabby
| align="center" |Jennifer Kidwell | colspan="2" align="center" |Benja Kay Thomas |Thomika Marie Bridwell |
| Opal
| align="center" |Taysha Marie Canales | colspan="2" align="center" |Adrianna Mitchell |Victoria Omoregie |
| Larry
| align="center" |Brandon J. Pierce | colspan="2" align="center" |Calvin Leon Smith |Amar Atkins |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Award ! Category ! Nominee ! Result |
| 2022
|{{Won}} |
| rowspan="10" |2023
| rowspan="5" |Tony Awards | colspan="2" |Best Play |{{nom}} |
| Best Direction of a Play
|{{Nom}} |
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
|{{nom}} |
| Best Costume Design of a Play
|Dominique Fawn Hill |{{Nom}} |
| Best Lighting Design of a Play
|{{Nom}} |
| rowspan="2" |Drama Desk Awards
| colspan="2" |Outstanding Play |{{Nom}} |
| Outstanding Sound Design of a Play
|Mikaal Sulaiman |{{Nom}} |
| rowspan="2" |Drama League Awards
| colspan="2" |Outstanding Production of a Play |{{Nom}} |
| Distinguished Performance
|Marcel Spears |{{Nom}} |
| Outer Critics Circle Awards
|John Gassner Award for New American Play |James Ijames |{{Won}} |
| 2024
| Lambda Literary Award{{cite web |url=https://www.them.us/story/lambda-literary-awards-2024-shortlist-announcement |title=Announcing the Finalists for the 36th Annual Lambda Literary Awards |website=Them |date=2024-03-27 |access-date=2024-04-05 }} | Drama | James Ijames | {{won}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.fathambroadway.com/ Official website]
- [https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/fat-ham-535958 Fat Ham at IBDB]
- [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/theater/fat-ham-review.html New York Times review]
{{PulitzerPrize Drama}}
Category:African-American plays