ISLAND CITY STAGE, GABLESTAGE AND BRÉVO THEATRE RECEIVE $250,000 WARTEN FOUNDATION GRANT TO PRODUCE PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING FAT HAM PLAY IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Island City Stage in Wilton Manors, GableStage in Coral Gables and Brévo Theatre in Pompano Beach have been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Warten Foundation to produce Fat Ham, the 2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by James ljames, in South Florida. This significant announcement marks a first-time collaboration among three leading theater groups in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, an innovative foundation partnership, as well as a South Florida premiere for this imaginative, witty interpretation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet that tackles identity, race and generational family issues. “Fat Ham” is presented by an arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.

The Warten Foundation grant is earmarked to ensure the theaters have the resources to both fully realize, cast, and mount the production in two theaters, and also recruit new audiences for all three companies.

“The Warten Foundation is pleased to fund this historic collaboration that offers a rare opportunity for three highly lauded theater groups to authentically address their respective missions and use the unique powers of live theater to continue the discussion regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion within the context of a brilliant and funny theatrical production,” said Clifford J. Cideko, chairman of the Warten Foundation.

“Collectively, our three companies are thrilled the Warten Foundation has made this significant commitment,” said Martin Childers, managing director of Island City Stage. “By joining our creative forces and unique strengths, we can create a more accomplished and impactful production than each of us could have working individually.”

T.M. Pride, producing artistic director for Brévo Theatre who will also direct this South Florida production, elaborated, “Theatre is all about celebrating humanity and the power of storytelling. Fat Ham is an opportunity to celebrate black culture within a classical framework. It’s an honor to direct James Ijames’ reimagining of this classic tale and bring it to the vibrant communities throughout South Florida.” 

Fat Ham transforms Shakespeare's Hamlet into an over-the-top tale set in a North Carolina BBQ pit. With a twist, the Danish castle becomes a Southern backyard barbecue, and Juicy, a Black, gay southern kid, navigates familial legacies and a ghostly demand for vengeance. The clash of generations unfolds in this award-winning adaptation, exploring the complexities of identity and violence. Jesse Green, theater critic for The New York Times wrote, “That Fat Ham achieves its happy, even joyful, ending honestly, without denying the weight of forces that make Hamlet feel just as honest, is a sign of how capacious and original the writing is, growing the skin of its own necessity instead of merely burrowing into Shakespeare’s.”

“GableStage is honored to collaborate with Island City Stage and Brévo Theatre in producing this groundbreaking production of Fat Ham. We're particularly excited about the opportunity to connect this contemporary adaptation of Hamlet with our ongoing Shakespeare in Schools program, allowing the Miami-Dade County community to experience both the classic and its modern reimagining,” said Rosalyn Stuzin, GableStage board president.

Fat Ham will premiere as part of all three companies’ 2024-25 seasons. The play will begin its initial run at Island City Stage in May 2025 and will move to GableStage, directly thereafter. Additional details, casting and production design team will be announced later in the year. The theaters will each individually announce their 2024-25 full season of plays, programs and pricing in the coming weeks.

“This undertaking mirrors the aspirations of Fredrick Warten when he envisioned the creation of his foundation to support social justice, LGBTQ+ programs and organizations, and excellence in the arts and education,” concluded Cideko.