Guns N’ Roses, Cyndi Lauper, and Bonnie Tyler may not be known for their activism fighting hunger, but in Kristina Wong’s one-woman show “#FoodBankInfluencer,” their music becomes the parody soundtrack for a hilarious and heartfelt exploration of food insecurity in America. 

Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristina Wong performed her solo show “#FoodBankInfluencer” at Emerson College from Sept. 19-21. Through the unexpected medium of comedy and musical parodies, Wong sets out to inspire her audience by educating them on food insecurity. 

With a brightly colored set and unconventionally large props—all hand-sewn by Wong —the whimsical vibe of the show invites laughter while teaching an important lesson about America’s emergency food system. Although this information is framed comedically, at its core, the performance shows the realities of hunger in America.

“Comedy sort of opens a portal to talk about difficult things,” Wong said in an interview with the Beacon. “[It] gives power to something we’re powerless against.”

The show celebrates the emergency food system by drawing from Wong’s own lived experience of relying on food distribution for decades after leaving home. The story follows her journey finding the right food bank and details the resources she used, including World Harvest Food Bank in Los Angeles.

But the night wasn’t just about her own story. Audience members had the chance to speak up about their experiences with food banks and pantries, opening a vulnerable conversation within the Emerson community. 

Throughout the show, Wong also provided key information on food insecurity, breaking down terminology and statistics in a digestible way. One statistic that stood out is that one-sixth of Americans utilize food banks and other emergency food systems. This issue is exemplified in Boston, with 37% of public university students in the city experiencing food insecurity.

At the Emerson student preview on Sept. 18, Emerson student Grey Cunningham opened the show by speaking about Emerson’s Office of Student Success’ Food Pantry, a campus resource offering emergency food services for students. Wong followed up this message later in the show by displaying QR codes to connect students with local food resources, encouraging them to get help they may need during the school year outside of what their campus provides.

While Wong’s performance is a celebration of the power of the emergency food system and encourages all those who are in need to utilize it, she also recognizes that it is just a temporary solution to a bigger issue. She acknowledges its inability to solve the deep-rooted problems regarding food insecurity, and is very clear about the need for long-term solutions. 

“Hunger is not something we can fix by just throwing food at it,” Wong said. “There are bigger structural changes and bigger policy changes that need to happen.”

Nevertheless, “#FoodBankInfluencer” shows that even jokes can be used as a call to action when they are rooted in truth. Comedy, stories, and community engagement allow Wong to invite the audience to not just laugh, but to learn and take steps towards change.