Fat Ham has added Emmy winner and Tony nominee Colman Domingo (The Scottsboro Boys, The Color Purple) as co-producer for its Broadway run of the James Ijames Pulitzer-winning play. Set to begin its run at American Airlines Theatre March 21, Fat Ham will open its strictly limited 14-week engagement April 12.
In an interview with Deadline, Domingo said The Public Theater and National Black Theatre co-production "is the kind of theatre that we need on Broadway—bold re-imaginings of stories that fuel us all.”
In a reinvention of Shakespeare's Hamlet, Fat Ham takes place at a Southern cookout. The comic tragedy follows Juicy, a queer college kid, as he grapples with identity questions, the ghost of his father, a supernatural demand for vengeance, and the choice of breaking or continuing cycles of trauma and violence. The work made its world premiere in 2021 as a streaming production via Philadelphia's Wilma Theater; it now transfers to Broadway after an extended and sold-out Off-Broadway debut earlier this year at The Public Theater. Read reviews for the Off-Broadway run here.
READ: Marcel Spears, Star of Pulitzer-Winning Fat Ham, Talks Shakespeare and Southern Cookouts
The production's entire original Off-Broadway cast is continuing with the production for the Broadway bow, including Nikki Crawford as Tedra, Chris Herbie Holland as Tio, Billy Eugene Jones as Rev and Pap, Adrianna Mitchell as Opal, Calvin Leon Smith as Larry, Marcel Spears as Juicy, and Benja Kay Thomas as Rabby; Crawford, Holland, Mitchell, Smith, and Spears all will make their Broadway debuts with the production. Casting is by Kate Murray.
Also continuing with the work is director Saheem Ali, who will make his Broadway debut helming the upcoming run. Ali will be joined by much of his creative team from the Off-Broadway production, including scenic designer Maruti Evans, costume designer Dominique Fawn Hill, sound designer Mikaal Sulaiman, choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie, hair and wig designer Earon Chew Nealey, and illusions designer Skylar Fox. Newly joining the team are lighting designer Bradley King and production stage manager Kamra A. Jacobs. General management will be by Baseline Theatrical.
The production marks National Black Theatre’s first production on Broadway. Fat Ham will be produced by Rashad V. Chambers, No Guarantees, and Public Theater Productions. Andy Jones and Dylan Pager will serve as executive producers.
Visit FatHamBroadway.com.
Check out photos from the Off-Broadway debut of Fat Ham at The Public Theater.
Marcel Spears
The cast of Fat Ham
Billy Eugene Jones and Marcel Spears
Chris Herbie Holland, Adrianna Mitchell, Benja Kay Thomas, and Calvin Leon Smith
Billy Eugene Jones and Nikki Crawford
Benja Kay Thomas
Marcel Spears and Adrianna Mitchell
Chris Herbie Holland and Marcel Spears
Calvin Leon Smith and Billy Eugene Jones
The cast of Fat Ham
Marcel Spears
Marcel Spears and Nikki Crawford
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