South Philadelphia playwright wins 2022 Pultizer Prize for Drama

From native universities to theatrical areas throughout town, South Philadelphia artist James Ijames obtained this prestigious honor for his exhausting work.

Ijames is a Temple College graduate, a theater professor at Villanova College, and the co-artistic director on the Wilma Theater.

On Monday, his play ‘Fats Ham’ gained the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

“I feel what’s most touching is that I like writers of any variety,” Ijames mentioned. “That award is given by writers to writers. It simply feels so superb to produce other writers say, ‘I see one thing of magnificence in what you have written.’ I really feel actually honored.”

The 41-year-old playwright created Fats Ham throughout the pandemic.

It is his comedic riff on ‘Hamlet,’ set at a Southern BBQ.

His digital manufacturing on the Wilma streamed just about final yr. On Thursday, Fats Ham may have its first in-person manufacturing Off-Broadway in New York Metropolis.

He credit Philadelphia for fueling his creativity.

“I really feel like, as a result of I used to be in Philadelphia, and I have been in Philadelphia so lengthy, the theater right here is so adventurous,” he mentioned. “That is the surroundings the place I discovered learn how to be an artist. I used to be all the time challenged to assume exterior of the field.”

His new present ‘Reverie,’ produced with Azuka Theatre, is now taking part in on the Proscenium Theatre at The Drake.

It runs via Could 22.