The Hot Wing King

Katori Hall is a Pulitzer Prize and Olivier Award-winning playwright and television creator/producer hailing from Memphis, Tennessee. A two-time Tony Award nominee, she won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play, The Hot Wing King. For Broadway, she most recently wrote and produced the hit musical, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, based on the life of the iconic performer, receiving two Tony Award nominations for her work as both playwright for ‘Best Book of a Musical’ and as producer in the ‘Best Musical’ category. For the musical’s acclaimed West End production, she also received an Olivier nomination for ‘Best New Musical.’

Kian Kline-Chilton is a director and producer based in San Diego, dedicated to pioneering new theatrical experiences that examine and celebrate stories of queer resistance. Thanks to all those who continue to uplift them in their endeavors. Founder of Patchwork Theatre. BA in Theatre Arts from San Diego State University.  Recent credits include We Are Continuous (Diversionary Theatre), The Finish Line: A Bill and Judy Garrett Commission (Cygnet Theatre), and A LOT of assistant directing credits. @kian.k.c. on instagram. The website is taking a minute, but she coming.

Caroline is a lighting designer and theatre consultant with over 15 years of experience in theatre and live events, and over 5 years of lighting design for themed entertainment. Caroline has worked as lighting and projections designer and associate designer throughout the United States and internationally. They have worked in theatre, live events, dance, and opera at a multitude of venues, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Princess Cruise Lines, BlizzCon, Comic-Con, The Old Globe, Cygnet Theatre, and numerous others. They have additionally been a guest lecturer and mentor at San Diego State University, Mesa College, and with various non-profit educational organizations.

Cygnet Theatre: Mud Row, El Huracán, The Last Wife, Bad Jews, Sons of the Prophet, True West, Fool for Love, Spring Awakening, Assassins, Company. Regional: Empty Ride, Stir, English, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Exotic Deadly, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Trouble in Mind, Krapp’s Last Tape, What You Are, Tiny Beautiful Things, Globe for All 2017-2024, Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Guys and Dolls, Camp David, The Comedy of Errors (The Old Globe), Derecho, The Garden, POP tour 2020, Junk (La Jolla Playhouse), Fun Home, Into the Beautiful North, Outside Mullingar, The Oldest Boy, Honky (SDRep), Pippin (Diversionary).

Audrey Casteris is thrilled to be making her Cygnet debut with The Hot Wing King! Recent design credits include All Bark No Bite (Coronado Playhouse), We Begin in a Tavern (Orlando Fringe 2023), and The Interference and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Theatre UCF). She is also the Resident Set Design Assistant at The Old Globe. @audreycasterisdesign

Padra Crisafulli creates theatrical experiences as a sound designer, composer, director, and generative artist, and is most energized when mixing the unexplainable with the unavoidable. Incredibly excited to make their Cygnet debut. Past credits include: La Jolla Playhouse, Diversionary Theatre, Park Avenue Armory, National Museum of Serbia, Prague Quadrennial, and Edinburgh Fringe Festival. MFA in Sound, UC San Diego. BFA in Directing, Carnegie Mellon University.

Katie Davis is from La Crescenta, CA. Select credits include: Derecho (La Jolla Playhouse), The Glass Menagerie (Diversionary Theatre), Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Circuit (PCPA – Pacific Conservatory Theatre), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, A.D. 16, and The Music Man (Olney Theatre Center), नेहा & Neel, Dead Girl’s Quinceañera, and Hedda Gabler (UCSD). Upcoming: Indian Princesses (La Jolla Playhouse). Education: BFA Stage Management – University of Miami, MFA Stage Management – UC San Diego.

Teresa Jove is deeply grateful and honored to be a part of this production. They’ve had the privilege of working on: The Rocky Horror Show ’24, El Huracán, Mud Row, Life Sucks and La Cage Aux Folles here at Cygnet Theatre. She has also worked at The Old Globe and San Diego Repertory Theatre. They would like to give huge thanks to all her friends and family, who have been supporting and encouraging them to pursue their passion. And a very special thank you to Richard “The Wizard”, whose vast knowledge and willingness to help have made their crazy ideas into reality.

Danita Lee is delighted to work with Cygnet again on this piece! Favorite projects include In the Heights (Music Theatre Wichita), Handbagged and The Madres (MOXIE), Water by the Spoonful and Bad Jews (Cygnet Theatre). ACD credits with Old Globe Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, and North Coast Rep. She holds an MFA in Costume Design from SDSU. Thanks to the incredible team and wonderful cast—what a beautiful exploration of life and human connection! And to Michael J., the Lee & Woo families, SW, DVW and HRW—you are magic! danitalee.com

Jaz is thrilled to be working at Cygnet for the first time! They work in stage management around the San Diego area (most recently We Are Continuous at Diversionary Theatre) but they also have directing and intimacy directing credits in So-Cal as well as Portland, OR where they apprenticed at the Portland Playhouse. Jaz sees a more sustainable and accessible future for theatre and is excited by the slow realization of that future being fostered in art spaces around San Diego. But as always there is more work to be done! You can find Jaz on Instagram at @jazvillalino.