Posted: 5/14/23 at 10:25pm
Finally saw this last night and absolutely loved it. And that karaoke scene was a gorgeous moment. There was a post show talk back with the cast, director, and James Ijames moderated by Colman Domingo.
Posted: 5/14/23 at 11:54pm
Feel like this should be THE show of the season, but seems to be flying under the radar.
Posted: 5/15/23 at 8:22am
I’ve been surprised by the number of people I’ve talked to who were completely unaware of it. Such a shame. It’s been living in my head since I saw it.
Posted: 5/15/23 at 11:08am
Worth noting the rest of the run is up on TDF for $49
Posted: 5/20/23 at 10:50pm
This was my third of three shows this trip and by far the most wonderful. Still smiling. Such a skilled cast even though some were making their debuts with this play. Loved the way they incorporated the organic audience responses--including tonight a seredepitious sneeze and a perfectly timed "bless you" from Juicy. Got a ticket through TDF that put me in the
confetti zone.
So happy I picked this one!
Posted: 5/25/23 at 12:09am
Revisited Kimberly Akimbo and Fat Ham today. I enjoyed Fat Ham significantly more on Broadway, and Kimberly significantly less. I still love Kimberly, but I think Fat Ham transferred more successfully to the larger space.
Updated On: 5/25/23 at 12:09 AM
Posted: 5/25/23 at 9:35am
Saw this last night through TDF and absolutely ADORED it. Fat Ham is everything that I love about live theatre in NYC. It is unapologetically black and queer and is unafraid to take risks that majorly pay off. Huge props to the entire cast, especially Nikki Crawford, Billy Eugene Jones, and of course Marcel Spears. It’s funny and touching and weird and intense and I cannot wait for James Ijames’ next work. More plays like this on Broadway pls!!
Posted: 6/1/23 at 12:25pm
Have there been any rumblings of this extending? Some places (including this very website) list it as closing August 6, but the website and everything official says June 25. I'm dying to see it but won't be in town until July 7. Wondering if anyone here has any inside scoop?
Posted: 6/1/23 at 5:55pm
No inside scoop here but I saw the show yesterday (loved it!) and the box office was still advertising the 6/25 closing date. Maybe they’ll extend if they fare well at the Tonys?
Posted: 6/1/23 at 6:30pm
I suppose it’s possible but the advanced sales are quite anemic and it seems to have been beaten by Leopoldstadt across most awards bodies. (FWIW - I’m a SUPER fan of this show).
I will say that, if anything, it may close and transfer to a second commercial run in a small house (maybe the Music Box or the Booth if Akimbo folds?) a la Take Me Out.
Also, There’s going to be a big question mark about Marcel Spears returning since he does have his commitments to “The Neighborhood”, but that’s on hiatus given the WGA Strike. (Personally, I submit Jaquel Spivey - but that’s a personal bias)
Posted: 6/1/23 at 11:29pm
This is already a commercial run and Roundabout doesn't have anything for that theatre until the Fall (2nd Stage had already booked Kite Runner for the Hayes last summer).
If there is anything, it would be an extension.
Posted: 6/1/23 at 11:42pm
Saw it last night. I enjoyed it but fell like if got a bit muddled near the end and then the big ending. We also had the Juicy understudy. I was not crazy about his performance. (Although "the song" was amazing).
I had to come home and refresh myself on the ending of Hamlet. I now see what they were going for but it still felt muddled to me. With that said, I would really like to see this again.
Posted: 6/2/23 at 9:13am
Well, it extended, but only for one week. Will now close July 2. Huge bummer for me but happy to see them get another week!
Posted: 6/2/23 at 1:48pm
angoradebs said: "Well, it extended, but only for one week. Will now close July 2. Huge bummer for me but happy to see them get another week!"
EDITED to add: press release says tickets go on sale Monday Jun 5.
I am thrilled for this extension! It now will be playing during the first part of my theater trip. However, when I went to purchase tickets there are not dates shwoing past Jun 25. Why would they announce an extension today and not have the ticketing platform ready to go with the new dates?
Updated On: 6/2/23 at 01:48 PM
Posted: 6/3/23 at 4:21pm
Went again today - and it was a bit off.
I’m not sure if I got so used to Marcel’s performance, but having seen Marquis D. Gibson perform the role before in previews, today just felt very…straight and disaffected. The comical winks and nods, the affectations, all of it seemed missing and it threw off the energy by amplifying everyone else (which, honestly, I liked how everyone was at an 11).
I will give him credit where he absolutely DEMOLISHED “Creep” though with that touch of screamo, heavy metal voice.
Posted: 6/5/23 at 4:44pm
quizking101 said: "I suppose it’s possible but the advanced sales are quite anemic and it seems to have been beaten by Leopoldstadt across most awards bodies. (FWIW - I’m a SUPER fan of this show).
I will say that, if anything, it may close and transfer to a second commercial run in a small house (maybe the Music Box or the Booth if Akimbo folds?) a la Take Me Out.
Also, There’s going to be a big question mark about Marcel Spears returning since he does have his commitments to “The Neighborhood”, but that’s on hiatus given the WGA Strike. (Personally, I submit Jaquel Spivey - but that’s a personal bias)
"
Won't go to the Booth. David Stone (lead producer on Wicked) has Akimbo there even though I'm sure it's been losing money almost every week (no way it's profiting with grosses under $600K). He's got deep pockets and he wants the Best Musical Tony. If he loses, I'm guessing he'll pack it up by end of summer as I'm sure the Shuberts want another profitable show in there and Fat Ham ain't it. If it wins, it'll run till January and then close just like A Strange Loop.
Posted: 6/8/23 at 10:31pm
Rema Webb made her debut as Rabby tonight and learned the role in 4 hours. At the talkback, she said she was at the theatre for a Tedra put-in when the SM told her she was going on as Rabby.
She did a fantastic job. Less bombastic than Benja Kay Thomas, but more than held her own, especially in the more intense moments.
Posted: 6/10/23 at 11:36pm
this was a miss for me-- over my head maybe, but i went in hoping something would knock Leopolsdadt out of first place since i found that show so underwhelming but this did nothing for me.
i love the creativity, i loved where it was going, the over-the-top performances were entertaining and the writing was sharp, but it had no idea how to resolve itself, and the last half hour i found undisciplined and insufferable. its possible the Pulitzer/hype raised my expectations to the point of unmeetable? eh, to each their own.
the audience ate it all up and the theater definitely seemed mostly full, two things i love to see.
In the middle of Chris Herbie Holland's big final speech tonight, a woman in front right orchestra's phone went off. he winced but powered through beautifully as it rang. AND.THEN.SHE.ANSWERED.IT. In full voice: "Hi, I can't talk now, let me call you back later." Holland was masterful in getting through this but later, when Spears was explaining how they didnt know how to end the show, he said "Well I hope that phone call was important" which I appreciated.
If I were King, that woman would be arrested and serve prison time.
Posted: 6/11/23 at 3:52am
I ADORED this. It’s heartfelt, funny, and so creative. Way better than Leopoldstadt (which I liked but didn’t love). I sincerely hope this steals that show’s thunder tomorrow with a best play win. It doesn’t sound like it will, but I’ll keep my fingers crossed. I’d give performance awards to Leopoldstadt and play to this one.
Posted: 6/26/23 at 8:33pm
Really enjoyed the show this weekend. One thing that was quite striking was that about 90% of the audience was white. This was the whitest audience I’ve seen all year.
Posted: 6/29/23 at 9:39am
So many empty seats tonight, and sat afternoon and the todaytix rush sold out immediately? Smh
Why couldn’t they just leave this on todaytix or let the hip tix discount work on orch seats too?
Posted: 6/29/23 at 9:52am
I also have been trying to get TodayTix Rush all week but it sells out immediately! Sad i have to miss this!
Posted: 7/1/23 at 7:32am
I just noticed it is on the fall schedule for Studio Theatre in DC.
https://www.studiotheatre.org/plays/play-detail/2023-2024-fat-ham
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