Pulitzer-winning The Hot Wing King sizzles onto American Stage this June
- Aleyah Conway with AI-assisted drafting
- May 15
- 2 min read
Set in Memphis, Tennessee, during the annual "Hot Wang Festival," the play follows Cordell Crutchfield and his partner Dwayne — along with their culinary crew, The New Wing Order — as they chase a crispy crown.
But when Dwayne takes in his troubled nephew, the stakes get a whole lot higher than a first-place trophy. Promotional materials describe The Hot Wing King as a funny, deeply felt exploration of Black masculinity, queerness, love, and family — told with sizzle and soul.
Katori Hall, a Memphis native, has become one of the most celebrated voices in American theater. The Hot Wing King earned Hall the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, with the Pulitzer board praising it as a "funny, deeply felt consideration of Black masculinity... filtered through the experiences of a loving gay couple."
Hall also won the Olivier Award for Best New Play for her earlier work The Mountaintop and received two Tony Award nominations for Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, which she wrote and co-produced.
The production is directed by Kenny Moten and stars Mathenee Treco (Hamilton national tour) and Jos N. Banks (Kinky Boots international tour), alongside Randy Chalmers, Don Randle, Elijah Jordan, and Lance Markeith Felton.
Special events include:
Behind the Scenes — May 24, 2026, 2:00 PM
Preview Nights — June 3 & 4, 7:00 PM
Opening Night — June 5, 8:00 PM
Hot Wing Competition — June 14, 2:00 PM
ASL Performance — June 20, 8:00 PM
The show is rated for ages 16+ and runs through June 28. Tickets are on sale now at americanstage.org or by calling (727) 823-7529.
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