presented by capital group
FAT HAM
By JAmes ijames
directed by jerrell L. henderson
January 29 - february 16, 2025
What if the hero of the story wasn’t who everyone expected? Meet Juicy, a young Southern queer college boy grappling with grief, identity…and now the ghost of his father demanding vengeance for his murder!? Set against the backdrop of a family wedding barbecue, will the poetic and sensitive Juicy lose his courage to get the answers he needs or will he find the strength to ‘his own self, be true.’ This Pulitzer-Prize-winning adaptation by James Ijames serves you a juicy blend of comedy, drama, and social commentary with a side of soul food; and reimagines this timeless classic with a bold and innovative look that shatters stereotypes and celebrates identity, togetherness, and the meaning of family.
“Delicious, funny and piercingly moving, Fat Ham is a celebration that’s as thoughtful as it is irreverent.” – Daily Beast
“Hot and sizzling... A raucous, flat-out hilarious comedy... Fat Ham is a revelation.”
– The New York Times
“Uproarious... an unalloyed comedy pleasure.” – Wall Street Journal
“Don’t let that Pulitzer Prize fool you. Fat Ham is the most fun you'll have at any play.”
– The Wrap
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Run Time: 90 minutes with no intermission
Audience Recommendation: coming soon
Content Advisory: This production contains the use of haze and fog, flashing lights, strong language, depictions of violence, and use of racial slurs.
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January 19 at 7pm | Share Your Joy Storytelling Night
January 29 - 31 | Preview Performances
January 31 at 7:30pm | HR Pride and Young Professionals Night
February 1 at 6:45PM | Meet the Director
February 1 at 7:30PM | Opening Night Performance
February 2 + 9 @ 2:00PM | Post Show Talkbacks
February 8 @ 3PM | Audio Description & Open Captioning*
February 8 at 7:30PM | ASL Performance*
February 12 at 7:30PM | Divine Nine Night More Details Soon
February 13 at 3PM | Theatre for Everyone*Seating for Audio Description & Open Captioning is provided in the Orchestra Left. Please use promo code “AccessVA” on checkout for proper booking.
*Seating for ASL is provided in the Orchestra Left side of the House. Please use promo code “ASL” on checkout for proper booking.
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Directed by JERRELL L. HENDERSON†
Scenic Designer CAITLIN MCLEOD
Costume Designer NIA SAFARR BANKS
Lighting Designer JASON LYNCH
Sound Designer DAVID LAMONT WILSON
* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
“The tragedy of Shakespeare is replaced by something witty, moving and life affirming... Instead of the tragedy-and-then-some of Hamlet, this is a play that emphasizes life, and specifically Black queer joy, while interrogating all the things that conspire to negate the life and feelings of the central character... The play is a compact 90 minutes, but it’s as dense and thoughtful as it is light on its feet and irreverent.” – Daily Beast
