The Pasadena Playhouse, in association with Broadway producer Suzi Dietz, announced today that they will present Tony Award-nominee and multi-platinum recording artist Sam Harris’ critically acclaimed Off-Broadway production Ham: A Musical Memoir. Directed by Ken Sawyer (Founding Member of The Road Theatre Company) and Billy Porter (Tony Award-winner for Kinky Boots), the musical comedy takes us from a conflicted childhood in Bible-Belt Oklahoma to the dizzying roller coaster ride of a life in show business and the precarious balancing act of fatherhood. The production features musical direction by Todd Schroeder. HAM will play a limited engagement of three performances only on Saturday, July 9 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, July 10 at 2:00 p.m. at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue).
“I had the pleasure to see HAM several months ago and I was entertained, delighted, and very moved by the show,” said Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director of The Pasadena Playhouse. “It is a pleasure to welcome Sam to The Playhouse for this special presentation. In song and story, the show wittily and movingly depicts the journey that has created a dazzling performer who so generously shares his gifts with his audiences.”
Writer and actor Sam Harris said, “I’ve never written or performed anything this personal. The book, HAM, is stories about my life. The show, HAM, is playing it out – all the characters, the original music, humor and pathos and search that we all go through in our lives — it’s a show for everyone.” He added, “And The Pasadena Playhouse is the dream theater for this show. I couldn’t be more excited.”
Ham: A Musical Memoir received critical acclaim both Off-Broadway and in Los Angeles. The New York Times said, “Mr. Harris pulls out all the stops and proves himself a winner one more time,” and Theater Mania adds, “Sam Harris was born to be onstage.” Named a Los Angeles Times “Critics’ Choice,” David C. Nichols wrote, “Buoyantly entertaining. Captivating. HAM? More like filet mignon! An unmissable experience.”
Based on Harris’ book HAM: Slices of a Life (Simon & Schuster), the musical originally opened Off-Broadway at Ars Nova in January 2015. It later played at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre in January 2016.
The limited engagement of Ham: A Musical Memoir plays at The Pasadena Playhouse, 39 South El Molino Avenue in Pasadena. Performances are Saturday, July 9 at 2 pm and 8 pm and Sunday, July 10 at 2 pm. Tickets are $27 – $82 and are available online at PasadenaPlayhouse.org, by phone at 626-356-PLAY (7529) or in person at The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, 39 South El Molino Avenue. The Box Office is open Tuesday – Sunday from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm during non-performance dates. On performance dates the Box Office is open Tuesday – Saturday from 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm and 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm on Sunday. For more information, visit PasadenaPlayhouse.org.
