The Hot Wing King
by Katori Hall

Name: The Hot Wing King
Brand: Katori Hall
SKU: 9780822242277
Rating: 3.96 (37 reviews)

Off-Broadway Off-West End

The Hot Wing King Book Cover — The Hot Wing King Cover

Highlights

Male

120 mins Present Day Role(s) for Black Actor(s) All Men Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes Comedy

Awards & Recognition

Pulitzer Prize

Winner! 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Synopsis

Ready, set, fry!

It’s time for the annual “Hot Wang Festival” in Memphis, Tennessee, and Cordell Crutchfield knows he has the wings that’ll make him king.

Supported by his beau Dwayne and their culinary clique, The New Wing Order, Cordell is marinating and firing up his frying pan in a bid to reclaim the crispy crown.

When Dwayne takes in his troubled nephew however, it becomes a recipe for disaster.

Suddenly, a first place trophy isn’t the only thing Cordell risks losing.

Press Reviews

"The funny, moving tale of Black gay friends and lovers navigating responsibility and guilt—all while prepping for a hot wing festival—touches on pressing issues such as mental health as well as on the intricacies of Cajun marinade."
— Washington Post

"A funny, deeply felt consideration of Black masculinity and how it is perceived, filtered through the experiences of a loving gay couple and their extended family as they prepare for a culinary competition."
— Pulitzer Prize Jury

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Dwayne 40s. Might not be the head chef, but is the head of the household. Holds Cordell and everyone down. Has been a mentor to his struggling nephew for years. Holds resentment towards Cordell for taking so long to legitimize their relationship.	male	40s	40s. Might not be the head chef, but is the head of the household. Holds Cordell and everyone down. Has been a mentor to his struggling nephew for years. Holds resentment towards Cordell for taking so long to legitimize their relationship.
Isom 30s. New friend. Playlists include gospel and trap and that’s exactly how he talks. Met the duo at chuuch.	male	30s	30s. New friend. Playlists include gospel and trap and that’s exactly how he talks. Met the duo at chuuch.
Big Charles 40s. Old friend. Met the duo at the barber shop. Observant, laid-back. The Rock.	—	40s	40s. Old friend. Met the duo at the barber shop. Observant, laid-back. The Rock.
Everett “Ej” 16. Dwayne’s nephew. In need of guidance and a new home.	—	16	16. Dwayne’s nephew. In need of guidance and a new home.
Tj 35. Everett’s father. A long-time dealer who is “about that life”. Struggles with teaching his son how to be a man, but unsure if Cordell and Dwayne can be good father figures to his son.	male	35	35. Everett’s father. A long-time dealer who is “about that life”. Struggles with teaching his son how to be a man, but unsure if Cordell and Dwayne can be good father figures to his son.
Cordell 40s. The head chef of the clique. Recently emerged from the closet to co-habitate with Dwayne. In a not so former life, had a wife and 2 kids.	female	40s	40s. The head chef of the clique. Recently emerged from the closet to co-habitate with Dwayne. In a not so former life, had a wife and 2 kids.