Tony Award-winning actor Cynthia Erivo has joined the producing team of “Fat Ham,” marking her Broadway producing debut.
Erivo won a Tony in 2016 for her leading turn as Celie in the revival of “The Color Purple.” She is currently filming Jon M. Chu’s movie musical adaptation of “Wicked” in the role of Elphaba.
“Fat Ham” begins previews at the American Airlines Theatre on March 21 ahead of an official opening night on April 12. Directed by Saheem Ali, the production of James Ijames’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play is set to run for a limited engagement through June 25.
With “Fat Ham,” Ijames reinvents Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” to center around Juicy, a young Black man struggling with his queerness and identity. When the ghost of his father shows up during a family cookout and demands his death be avenged, Juicy goes on a journey in search of happiness and liberation.
“Fat Ham” is being produced on Broadway by Rashad V. Chambers, No Guarantees and Public Theater Productions, with Andy Jones and Dylan Pager as executive producers. Roundabout Theatre Company, which operates the American Airlines Theatre, is not a producer of the show.
