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(Photo by Matthew Tippins)
GableStage Theatre Company will present the South Florida premiere of Fat Ham by James Ijames, in a bold co-production with Island City Stage and Brévo Theatre.
Following its critically acclaimed run in Fort Lauderdale’s Island City Stage, this Pulitzer Prize-winning reinvention of Shakespeare’s Hamlet plays in Coral Gables, at GableStage’s historic Biltmore Hotel home from May 16 to June 15.
Fat Ham takes Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy and flips the script with juicy Southern flair. Set at a North Carolina backyard barbecue, the story follows Juicy, a Black queer young man grappling with questions of identity, vengeance, and generational trauma.
When the ghost of his father demands retribution, Juicy must decide whether to break the cycles of violence — or become a part of them. What unfolds is a hilarious and heartfelt exploration of masculinity, family, and forgiveness.
Fat Ham is outrageous, smart, and full of theatrical mischief — but underneath the jokes and karaoke, it delivers a powerful and necessary punch.
“This production is a testament to the power of reimagining stories through fresh cultural lenses,” shared Brévo Theatre producing artistic director Terrence “TM” Pride, who also is directing the production. “Fat Ham brings a dynamic and relevant perspective to a classic work, making it accessible and resonant for today’s audiences.”
Originally produced by Philadelphia’s storied Wilma Theatre in 2021, Fat Ham premiered off-Broadway at the Public Theatre the next year to overwhelmingly positive reviews before transferring to Broadway in 2023.
This historic, three-company co-production marks the South Florida premiere.
“The thrilling collaboration between the three companies resulted from a shared admiration for this deliciously defiant, laugh-out-loud, genre-busting new work, coupled with a collective desire to reach wider audiences,” said GableStage producing artistic director Bari Newport. “That a foundation like Warten Foundation would step forward to make this possible, is all the more… juicy!”
GableStage’s run of Fat Ham includes a robust schedule of community engagement events:
• Ham It Up: Post-show barbecue and conversation on June 15, catered by Sunni Speaks.
• Who Made the Potato Salad?: A community gathering and culinary debate on May 25.
• Mosaic Miami Presents: Can We Talk? A Ham-plified Conversation: Post-show panel on May 23, moderated by Matt Anderson, executive director of Mosaic Miami), addressing generational shifts and LGBTQ+ acceptance in Black families.
This Miami run is made possible through the generous support of The Warten Foundation, whose landmark $250,000 grant funded this historic collaboration. Additional support comes from Gene Sulzberger, Knight Foundation, City of Coral Gables, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.
The performance runs one hour and 35 minutes with no intermission, and will play from May 16 to June 15; 7:30 p.m. performances will be offered Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; 2 p.m. matinee performances will be offered on Wednesdays and Sundays, and the last Saturday of the run.
Tickets begin at $40, with special rates for artists, military personnel, and groups of 8 or more. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.GableStage.org or by calling 305-445-1119. Students and teachers may attend any performance free of charge through GableStage’s Student/Teacher Rush. Arrive 45 minutes before showtime and fill any empty seat. Student/Teacher ID required.
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