Sacramento, California - March 2, 2026: Capital Stage continues its 21st Season with the Sacramento Premiere of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize Winning adaptation of Shakespeare's HAMLET, entitled FAT HAM by James IJames. A New York Times Critics Pick, FAT HAM tells the story of Juicy, a young gay black man, who is confronted by the ghost of his father during a cookout, demanding that Juicy avenge his murder. Juicy, already familiar with Hamlet's plight, tries to break the cycles of trauma and violence. Called “hot and sizzling… a raucous, flat-out hilarious comedy” by The New York Times. Longtime Capital Stage artist Anthony D'Juan (THE MOUNTAINTOP, THE ROYALE, PASS OVER, CLYDE'S, FAIRVIEW) directs. The cast features the return of Brooklynn T. Solomon (THE ROYALE, FAIRVIEW), Brandon Rubin* (THE ROYALE), Kali Honeywood (FAIRVIEW), Tarig Elsiddig* (SWEAT, GEORGIANA & KITTY, KING JAMES), and making their Capital Stage debuts are James Simpson, Sené Goss, and Xzavier Beacham*. (*Member Actors Equity Association.) Performances run Mar. 18 - Apr. 19, 2026, at Capital Stage in Midtown Sacramento. Tickets are available now at capstage.org.

FAT HAM

by James IJames

Directed by Anthony D'Juan

2022 Pulitzer Prize Winner

NY Times Critic's Pick

Sacramento Premiere

Mar. 18 – Apr. 19, 2026

Juicy is a queer, Southern college kid, already grappling with some serious questions of identity, when the ghost of his father shows up in their backyard, demanding that Juicy avenge his murder. It feels like a familiar story to Juicy, well-versed in Hamlet’s woes. What’s different is Juicy himself, a sensitive and self-aware young Black man trying to break the cycles of trauma and violence in service of his own liberation. From an uproarious family barbecue emerges a compelling examination of love and loss, pain and joy.

Critic’s Pick! “Hot and sizzling… A raucous, flat-out hilarious comedy… Fat Ham is a revelation.”

– THE NEW YORK TIMES

PERFORMANCE LENGTH: 1 Hour, 30 Minutes, No Intermission

FEATURING: James Simpson, Brooklynn T. Solomon, Brandon Rubin*, Kali Honeywood, Tarig Elsiddig*, Sené Goss, Xzavier Beacham*

*Member Actors' Equity Association

SPONSORED BY:



TED COBB

James Ijames is a Pulitzer Prize winning and Tony Award nominated playwright, a director and educator. James’ plays have been produced by Flashpoint Theater Company, Orbiter 3, Theatre Horizon, Wilma Theatre, Theatre Exile, Azuka Theatre (Philadelphia, PA), The National Black Theatre, JACK, The Public Theater (NYC), Hudson Valley Shakespeare Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre, Definition Theatre, Timeline Theater (Chicago IL) Shotgun Players (Berkeley, CA) and have received development with PlayPenn New Play Conference, The Lark, Playwright's Horizon, Clubbed Thumb, Villanova Theater, Wilma Theater, Azuka Theatre and Victory Garden. James is the 2011 F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Artist recipient, and two Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Direction of a Play for THE BROTHERS SIZE with Simpatico Theatre Company and Gem of the Ocean with Arden Theatre. James is a 2015 Pew Fellow for Playwriting, the 2015 winner of the Terrance McNally New Play Award for WHITE, the 2015 Kesselring Honorable Mention Prize winner for ....MIZ MARTHA, a 2017 recipient of the Whiting Award, a 2019 Kesselring Prize for KILL MOVE PARADISE, a 2020 and 2022 Steinberg Prize, the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Drama recipient and a 2023 Tony nominee for Best Play for FAT HAM. James was a founding member of Orbiter 3, Philadelphia’s first playwright producing collective. He received a B.A. in Drama from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and a M.F.A. in Acting from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. James is an Associate Professor of Theatre at Columbia University where he serves as head of playwriting. He resides in South Philadelphia and the Morningside Heights neighborhood in New York, NY.

THE DIRECTOR

Anthony D'Juan is a Sacramento based director-playwright who has been active since 1996. He was assistant and protégé to Ed Claudio, and is currently an Adjunct Professor for the Los Rios Community College District. His playwriting credits include: MEN IN RIFFS, THEORY OF THE DREAM, THE PURVEYORS, SAFE AT HOME: THE JACKIE ROBINSON STORY, 3:BLACK GIRL BLUES, THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENED, DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE, BIRDMOCKING, ANY/PERSON, US & THE REST OF ‘EM, EXIT, THEATER OF LIGHTS, LIVE LIKE YOUR FATHER’S DEAD and SUPERIOR CALIFORNIA. His stage directing credits include: SUBURBIA, ENDGAME (best drama 2004), A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (THE MUSICAL), TOPDOG/UNDERDOG (2007), THE MOUNTAINTOP, BOOTYCANDY (nominated best director), SKELTON CREW, PASS OVER, THE ROYALE, DIRECT FROM DEATH ROW:THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, FATSO (with Logan Heller - 2023 revival), PAPI ME AND CESAR CHAVEZ, CLYDE’S, ROBIN HOOD (world premier), THE GOAT OR WHO IS SYLVIA? (nominated best director), FAIRVIEW (nominated best director), FENCES, WATER BY THE SPOONFUL, TWELFTH NIGHT and OUR TOWN (2026).

WHAT:

Capital Stage Presents the Sacramento Premiere

2022 Pulitzer Prize Winner

FAT HAM by James Ijames

Directed by Anthony D'Juan

WHERE: Capital Stage Theatre

2215 J Street, Sacramento CA 95816

WHEN: March 18 – April 19, 2026

PERFORMANCE TIMES:

Wednesdays at 7pm

Thursdays at 7pm

Fridays at 7pm

Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm

Sundays at 2pm

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Wine Wednesdays - (Wine tasting with Di Arie Vineyards & Winery) Mar. 25 & Apr. 8

Beer Friday - (Beer tastings with Oak Park Brewing Co.) Mar. 27

CapChats - (Q&A with artists) Sun. Mar. 29, Thu. Apr. 2, Sun. Apr. 5, Sun. Apr. 12, Thu. Apr. 16

Community Night (Pay What You Will) - (Min. $5/ticket) Sat. Mar. 28 at 8pm

ASL Interpreted Performance - Sat. Apr. 18 at 8pm

PERFORMANCE LENGTH: 1 Hour, 30 Minutes, No Intermission

BOX OFFICE:

Hours: Tue. - Sat. 12:00 - 5:00 pm

Phone: 916-995-5464

Email: boxoffice@capstage.org

Website: capstage.org

TICKETS: $35 - $70 (Not including fees.)

Direct Ticket Link: https://capstage.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0STV0000029Jwj2AE

Show Webpage: https://capstage.org/the-plays/fat-ham/

WHO:

Playwright: James Ijames

Director: Anthony D'Juan

Assistant Director: Alissa Doyle

Cast: James Simpson, Brooklynn T. Solomon, Brandon Rubin*, Kali Honeywood, Tarig Elsiddig*, Sené Goss, Xzavier Beacham*

Artistic Director: Michael Stevenson

Managing Director: Liz Gray

Production & Company Manager: Tony Gabrielson

Technical Director: Caleb Jones

Stage Manager: Melissa Jernigan*

Assistant Stage Manager: Stephen Byrum^

Scenic Designer: Stephen C. Jones

Lighting Designer: Isaiah Leeper

Sound Designer & Engineer: Ed Lee

Costume Designer: Rebecca Valentino

Costume Design Assistant: Leo McConnell

Properties Designer: Morgan Sommer

Fight Choreographer: Jarod Wiggins

Dance/Movement Choreographer: Shannon Mahoney

Dramaturg & Intimacy Coordinator: Nicole Limón

Scenic Charge Artist: Samantha McLean Haas



*Member Actors' Equity Association | ^Capital Stage Apprentice

“Fat Ham” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

New York Premiere Co-Production by

The Public Theater

Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director Patrick Willingham, Executive Director

and

National Black Theatre

Sade Lythcott, Chief Executive Officer Jonathan McCrory, Executive Artistic Director



FAT HAM was commissioned by and received its World Premiere as a filmed production at The Wilma Theater, Philadelphia:

Blanka Zizka, Yury Urnov, James Ijames, and Morgan Green, Co-Artistic Directors

Leigh Goldenberg, Managing Director

Capital Stage is a professional nonprofit theatre company in Sacramento, California, dedicated to creating transformative, thought-provoking theater experiences that challenge, inspire, and connect. Founded in 2005, Capital Stage presents seven full-length, live theatre productions each year, as well as various concerts and special events in its Midtown Sacramento home at 2215 J Street. Capital Stage also offers apprenticeships to individuals seeking professional experience in theatre, performing arts classes to the public, and educational theatrical opportunities in association with CLARA, The Crocker Art Museum, and McGeorge School of Law. Named by The Sacramento Bee as “one of the most respected arts organizations in the region,” and “one of the area's hottest theatre companies,” by CapRadio, Capital Stage is a leader of cutting-edge quality theatre in Northern California.

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