‘P-Valley’ explores Black strip club culture, gay acceptance

LOS ANGELES — When Katori Hall first pitched the idea to convert her popular play about Black strip club culture into the television series “P-Valley,” the Pulitzer Prize winner was either quickly rejected after meeting with networks or denied before she could fully explain the concept. Hall, who is a Black woman, understood they wanted to avoid any backlash, but her overall vision was focused on humanizing exotic dancers — which Starz heard with “open ears.” “I felt like there were some strong characters here,” said Hall, who won a 2021 Pulitzer Prize for her play “The Hot Wing King.” She serves as the creator, showrunner and executive producer of the drama series “P-Valley,” an adaptation of her 2015 stage play. “Starz was the only one that said ‘yes.’ But I’m a firm believer that all you have to do is take that one ‘yes’ and make something of it.” “P-Valley” tells a story about several exotic dancers — veteran and newcomers — who are trying to make a name for themselves at a popular Mississippi Delta strip club called The Pynk, which is owned by a nonbinary and gender-fluid character, Uncle Clifford. “It’s a lot to take in when you watch it, because it’s the truth.” Hall understands her show has created some uncomfortable conversations on topics such as queer acceptance and Black empowerment.