Last February I spoke with actor/singer/author Sam Harris when he was appearing at Catalina Jazz Club. Though I didn’t include anything more than a reference to his show, Ham, we did talk about its future. The future is now for Harris as Ham: A Musical Memoir, will have its world premiere Tuesday night as part of Outfest.
The screening takes place on Tuesday, July 23rd at 9:30 PM at the TCL Chinese Six Theatres.
Harris performed Ham at the Pasadena Playhouse. Here’s what he told me about the film in February:
“We just finished editing. It’s gorgeous. I’m so happy. It looks beautiful, the sound is beautiful. I’m pleased with my performance as much as that is possible.”
He let out a huge laugh immediately after saying that.
“I’m just thrilled. This began as a book. Then this sprang from me doing readings and traveling all over the country. Then we added songs and we’re in theaters. My friend Susie Dietz saw it in New York and said, ‘let’s expand this.’
“I went to New York and worked with Billy Porter and he directed the first incarnation. We played in New York for six weeks or something and did it in Los Angeles for several weeks.
“I’m telling my most intimate stories. There’s a suicide attempt and a celebration. It’s an arc. The theme is ‘What is enough?’ It’s never enough. For most of my life it was never enough. You’re out there trying to make it enough. At my age, I know what enough is. I have a kid. I have a sense of something outside myself. It’s my work. It’s who I am. It’s what I do. It represents me, but it’s not my sole identity. At this point in my life and career to be able to put this out there is a celebration.”
Sam Harris will be performing live after the screening.
For tickets go here.
Photo of Ham: A Musical Memoir courtesy of Outfest.