James Ijames facts for kids

James Ijames is a talented American playwright, which means he writes plays for the theater. He grew up in Bessemer City, North Carolina. He studied drama at Morehouse College and later earned a special degree in acting from Temple University in Philadelphia. Today, he teaches theater at Villanova University.

James Ijames is also a co-founder of Orbiter 3. This was Philadelphia's first group where playwrights helped each other produce their plays. One of his most famous plays is Fat Ham. It's a modern version of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Fat Ham won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2022. It was first shown online in 2021 and later played on Broadway in April 2023. James Ijames has also won other important awards for his plays, like the Whiting Award in 2018.

Early Life and Education

James Ijames was born in 1980. He spent his childhood in Bessemer City, North Carolina. After high school, he went to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. There, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama. He then continued his studies at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting from Temple University.

James Ijames's Plays and Productions

James Ijames's plays have been performed by many theater companies. These include Flashpoint Theater Company and Orbiter 3. His works have also been shown at Theatre Horizon in Norristown, Pennsylvania. The National Black Theatre in Harlem and Ally Theatre Company in Washington, DC have also produced his plays.

Notable Plays by James Ijames

• Kill Move Paradise: This play first opened at the National Black Theatre in 2017. Critics said it was a powerful play that explored important themes.
• White: This play was performed at Theatre Horizon. It made people think about how different groups are shown in culture.
• Moon Man Walk: Orbiter 3 produced this play in Philadelphia. It was praised for its artistic quality and for being a fresh new work in theater.

List of James Ijames's Plays

Here are some of the plays written by James Ijames:

• Abandon (supported by the National Endowment for the Arts)
• Good Bones (commissioned in 2023)
• Reverie (2022)
• Youth
• History of Walking
• Matter Out of Place
• Kill Move Paradise (2017)
• White
• Moon Man Walk (2015)
• The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington
• The Threshing Floor
• Fat Ham (2021)
• TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever (2020)

Awards and Recognitions

James Ijames has received many awards for his work as a playwright and actor. These awards show how much his talent is appreciated in the theater world.