JUST HOW I LIKE MY THEATER —
HOT, SWEET, AND SAUCY

Now playing at New Conservatory Theatre Center, The Hot Wing King is a spicy tale of love, friendship, and a cooking contest gone gloriously overboard. Katori Hall’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, directed here by ShawnJ, brings its Memphis heat to San Francisco in a production that’s equal parts humor, heart, and hot sauce.

Twon Marcel Pope (Big Charles), Omar Stewart (Isom), and Bradley Kynard (Cordell)

Omar Stewart (Isom), James Arthur M. (Dwayne), Taylor Ryan Rivers (Everett “EJâ€),
Bradley Kynard (Cordell), and Twon Marcel Pope (Big Charles)

Set in Memphis, Tennessee, the story centers on Cordell Crutfield (Bradley Kynard), a forty-something queer Black man determined to claim the title of “Hot Wing King” at the upcoming Hot Wang Festival. Most of the action unfolds in Cordell’s kitchen and living room, where he lives with his partner Dwayne (James Arthur M.). It’s the night before the big contest, and Cordell is frantically mixing sauces and cooking up a storm. His two best friends, Isom (Omar Stewart) and Big Charles (Twon Marcel Pope), have been drafted to help when the doorbell rings, ushering in unexpected complications.

James Arthur M. (Dwayne), Twon Marcel Pope (Big Charles),
Omar Stewart (Isom), Taylor Ryan Rivers (Everett “EJâ€)

Dwayne’s teenage nephew E.J. (Taylor Ryan Rivers) is dropped off for the weekend by his father TJ (Kennzeil Love). E.J.’s mother has recently passed away, and his father, unable to cope, hands off responsibility to Dwayne. Conflict brews between Dwayne and Cordell, who wants the weekend to be all about perfecting his wings, not parenting a restless teen.

Omar Stewart (Isom), Bradley Kynard (Cordell),
Kennzeil Love (TJ), and Twon Marcel Pope (Big Charles)

What follows is an evening of laughter, tension, and heartfelt debate about family, responsibility, and sacrifice. Cordell, who came out later in life after leaving his wife and two children, wrestles with guilt and self-doubt. Dwayne, disciplined and steady, is torn between his partner and his nephew. Isom, all sass and style in tight clothes and a high-pitched voice, provides comic relief, while Big Charles brings beer, banter, and brotherly wisdom. And E.J., wounded but resilient, searches for the affection and structure he desperately needs.

Act I sets up the conflicts; Act II lets them erupt. Yet through the friction, resilience and love prevail. Hall’s message resonates clearly: family isn’t just where you come from — it’s who you choose to love and care for.

Twon Marcel Pope (Big Charles) and Bradley Kynard (Cordell)

Bradley Kynard (Cordell) and James Arthur M. (Dwayne)

ShawnJ gives each actor room to shine, and the performances are uniformly strong, with genuine chemistry among the ensemble. A highlight of the evening — one that could have slipped into cliché but instead lands beautifully — is when the four principals come together for a joyous rendition of Luther Vandross’s “Never Too Much.” It’s pure delight and worth the price of admission alone.

James Arthur M. (Dwayne), Bradley Kynard (Cordell), Taylor Ryan Rivers
(Everett “EJâ€), Twon Marcel Pope (Big Charles), and Omar Stewart (Isom)

Matt Owen‘s cozy set — complete with kitchen, living room, and outdoor patio featuring a basketball hoop — feels authentically lived-in, the perfect backdrop for this funny, moving slice of life.

Katori Hall’s The Hot Wing King is ultimately about connection: romantic, familial, and chosen. It’s a play that speaks to anyone — gay or straight, Black or white, or anywhere in between. Just be warned: by the time it’s over, all that talk of food might leave you craving a plate of wings yourself.

photos by Lois Tema

The Hot Wing King
New Conservatory Theatre
New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco
Wed and Thurs at 7:30pm, Fri and Sat at 8pm, Sun at 2
ends on October 19, 2025
for tickets, call 415.861.8972 or visit NCTC