# Fat Ham

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 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.
It made its off-Broadway debut at The Public Theater on May 12, 2022, to overwhelmingly positive reviews. 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 and five Tony Award nominations, including Best Play and Best Director of a Play. The Broadway production was originally scheduled to have a strictly limited run through June 25, 2023. The run was extended through July 2, 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.
In June 2024 The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California produced the play featuring a new cast under the direction of Sideeq Heard.
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.

## Notable casts

| Character | Philadelphia | Off-Broadway | Broadway | Boston |
| Character | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2023 |
| Juicy | Brennen S. Malone | Marcel Spears | Marcel Spears | Marshall W. Mabry IV |
| Pap | Lindsay Smiling | Billy Eugene Jones | Billy Eugene Jones | James T. Alfred |
| Tedra | Kimberly S. Fairbanks | Nikki Crawford | Nikki Crawford | Ebony Marshall-Oliver |
| Rev | Lindsay Smiling | Billy Eugene Jones | Billy Eugene Jones | James T. Alfred |
| Tio | Anthony Martinez-Briggs | Chris Herbie Holland | Chris Herbie Holland | Lau'rie Roach |
| Rabby | Jennifer Kidwell | Benja Kay Thomas | Benja Kay Thomas | Thomika Marie Bridwell |
| Opal | Taysha Marie Canales | Adrianna Mitchell | Adrianna Mitchell | Victoria Omoregie |
| Larry | Brandon J. Pierce | Calvin Leon Smith | Calvin Leon Smith | Amar Atkins |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2022 | Pulitzer Prize | Pulitzer Prize for Drama | James Ijames | Won |
| 2023 | Tony Awards | Best Play | Best Play | Nominated |
| 2023 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Play | Saheem Ali | Nominated |
| 2023 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play | Nikki Crawford | Nominated |
| 2023 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Play | Dominique Fawn Hill | Nominated |
| 2023 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Play | Bradley King | Nominated |
| 2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Play | Outstanding Play | Nominated |
| 2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Sound Design of a Play | Mikaal Sulaiman | Nominated |
| 2023 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Play | Outstanding Production of a Play | Nominated |
| 2023 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | Marcel Spears | Nominated |
| 2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | John Gassner Award for New American Play | James Ijames | Won |
| 2024 | Lambda Literary Award | Drama | James Ijames | Won |