Pulitzer Prize-winning drama next up for American Stage

ST PETERSBURG —  The Hot Wing King, the 2021 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by acclaimed playwright Katori Hall, will open on Friday, June 5, at American Stage

Set in Memphis, Tennessee, during the city’s annual Hot Wing Festival, The Hot Wing King follows Cordell Crutchfield and his close-knit group of friends as they prepare for the high-stakes culinary competition. As tensions rise and personal challenges emerge, the story explores themes of black queerness, masculinity, belonging, and chosen family.

Kenny Moten will direct. While The Hot Wing King is not a musical, it is deeply rooted in Memphis, Tennessee—a city known for its musical legacy. Like Moten’s earlier work in American Stage's production of Hair, The Hot Wing King is saturated with music in spirit and reference, evoking artists like Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, and Kirk Franklin.

 The Hot Wing King received the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It runs through June 28. Visit American Stage's website for schedule and ticket information.