Off-Broadway's HAM: A Musical Memoir Streams Free Now

Previously released in 2021 through BroadwayHD, Sam Harris's stage adaptation of his book, "Ham: Slices of a Life", will now become available to stream for the first time outside of the BroadwayHD platform, with no subscription needed.

The play, in which Harris plays twelve different characters, was developed and directed by Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor Billy Porter. It ran in New York and Los Angeles and was eventually filmed at The Pasadena Playhouse.

HAM: A Musical Memoir follows the true story of Sam Harris's life growing up in Oklahoma's Bible Belt during the 60s and 70s as a sensitive and prodigiously talented kid who dreams of playing Helen Keller at age 5, wishes he was Jewish at 10, finds his voice in the black church at 15, and falls in love with a boy "who looks just like Cary Grant," followed by a depression that leads to a suicide attempt.

Sam flees to Los Angeles where he sings at every dump and dive in town, finally ending up on a new TV show called Star Search (precursor to American Idol) winning the hearts of America. Fame ensues - Broadway, television, albums, Carnegie Hall. But for Sam, less is...less. And more is never enough. After the highs and lows of a life in show business, Sam is finally forced to confront the merciless question: what is enough?

The musical is now streaming for free through The Roku Channel in the US and Canada for a limited time. The musical can be streamed online or through Roku's own app on all supported streaming devices.

In her review for The New York Times, Anita Gates said: "Mr. Harris’s performance — complemented by that of Todd Schroeder, musical director, pianist and occasional commenter — is a little shaky at first, but we soon feel his pain, his determination and his possibilities. To Mr. Harris’s credit, he wrests major humor from a suicide attempt in his youth. He attempts an overdose of Seconal (very retro), but has to abort the plan when his little brother has an accident and needs his help. ADVERTISEMENT Continue reading the main story Mr. Harris’s exceptional “Over the Rainbow,” which became his signature number on “Star Search,” closes the show, winning over anyone who wasn’t a happy little bluebird already."