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Fat Ham by James Ijames

September 4 - September 22, 2024

Weeks after his father’s funeral, Juicy, a queer Black man, finds himself at a barbeque with his family and friends. But here’s the rub: the barbeque is a wedding reception for his mother and his uncle. When the ghost of Juicy's father appears like a specter out of the smoke, demanding vengeance for his murder, Juicy learns revenge is a dish best served “char-cold.” This sweet and spicy reimaging of Shakespeare’s Hamlet serves up a feast of drama, with loyalty, identity, and power dynamics on the menu in what the New York Times calls “a hilarious yet profound tragedy smothered in comedy.”

This season, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company embarks on PROJECT Hamlet, presenting a trio of productions that explore the timeless tragedy of "Hamlet." The series begins with a FREE production of "Hamlet" in the parks across the tri-state area, followed by the Cincinnati premiere of James Ijames' Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Fat Ham," which reimagines the story of "Hamlet" as a backyard BBQ in the South. The series concludes with the World Premiere of Lauren Gunderson's "A Room in the Castle" which is based on the women of "Hamlet." This play was commissioned by CSC and is presented in collaboration with the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC. Experience them all!

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