FAT HAM Previews

Something juicy this way comes…

The winner of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Fat Ham begins previews tomorrow (March 21) at the American Airlines Theatre, before an April 12 opening night. This Black, queer reinvention of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is written by James Ijames and directed by Saheem Ali. The onstage cast includes Marcel Spears, Calvin Leon Smith, Adrianna Mitchell, Billy Eugene Jones, Benja Kay Thomas, Nikki Crawford, and Chris Herbie Holland. Fat Ham will play a limited engagement through August 6.

“Juicy is a queer, Southern college kid, already grappling with some serious questions of identity, when the ghost of his dead father shows up in their backyard, demanding that Juicy avenge his murder. But here’s the rub! Revenge doesn’t come easy to Juicy, a sensitive and self-aware young Black man in search of his own happiness and liberation. From an uproarious family cookout emerges a compelling examination of love and loss, pain and joy.”

Who’s going?

Still shocked that this transferred to Broadway over Suffs...

The mezzanine looks about 25% sold for tomorrow night - which is a HORRIBLE look.

This should be all over TDF and the papering sites to get out word of mouth. Someone get the social media guys from SHUCKED over there, because this looks like it will end up like AIN’T NO MO (and I can’t have that heartbreak again)

I have to say, as someone who *follows* bway news, I can barely tell you what this show is about, what people loved about it, etc. Word of mouth/promotional materials are non-existent.

Kad said: "gibsons2 said: "Still shocked that this transferred to Broadway over Suffs..."

It won the Pulitzer and got great reviews. Suffs didn’t. Why is this shocking?"

So what? It doesn't mean it is going to be a successful show that people would care about and pay to see. I saw it during the Public extension and the tiny theater was half empty. It seems like the initial hype after the play won the Pulitzer has blown over very fast. It was meh.

Updated On: 3/20/23 at 08:20 PM

Seeing this in May, or praying that it holds on till then. I'm sure when previews begin, some excitement will drum up again.

Did anyone go tonight?

Listed running time is 95 minutes, no intermission.

It's a shame to see so many pics and videos of the stage at curtain call, which are major spoilers in and of themselves.

"How was the show itself?"

very fun and original. it's my new favorite play of the season. my friends who saw it downtown had told me it was great and i was not disappointed. Hardly any first preview jitters, which makes sense with the full cast transfer. I know there had been some discussion about this not working well in a traditional auditorium but I thought the set design was great.

If forced to offer one criticism it would be that the exaggerated southern accent for the character of Tedra makes her less believable/more outlandish than the others on stage, making a moment of strong acting later in the show tougher to appreciate, but maybe that's the point.

Go see it!

Any merch?

I was at last night’s show (TDF - Orch K4) and - yup - this is a show that will EASILY end up being a contender in the play categories. The play is just so full of joy, wit, and also is tense and heartbreaking in all the right places.

Like others, I had concerns about the transfer from in the round to a proscenium but they used the whole space very well, and the performers enter and exit from the aisles. The only real issue I had was the sound design, as I had trouble hearing the performers at times, especially during some of the better jokes, which can be a detriment to comedy.

Performance-wise, Marquis Gibson was on as Juicy and, although he lacks the “lived-in” weariness that Marcel Spears has, he is nonetheless very good. Nikki Crawford as Tedra is also a riot from beginning to end. However, my favorite performance remains Calvin Leon Smith as Larry - a performance of quiet tension that slowly builds to an explosive climax and a rousing finale.

I do hope the tickets prices come down so this show is more accessible to a wider audience.

(Side note: Spears was there last night, but I saw him out front talking to a fan and his voice was still SHOT - so I wouldn’t anticipate him being back soon)

DCDrama2 said: "With action happening in the aisles, is the mezz to be avoided to see it all? Or is nothing really lost from being up there?"

The aisles are really only used for exits and entrances...there's not really any real action that happens in them. I was front mezz and didn't miss anything of note.

Saw this at the Public and then saw this a little bit ago on Broadway. I am going back again SOON because I just love this show so much. Do we know if they have been stagedooring? (Does American Airlines even have a stage door?)