Kim's Convenience
October 17 to November 4, 2023
Opening Night October 20
Spriet Stage
Written By and Starring Ins Choi
Directed by Esther Jun
Running Time: 90 minutes with no intermission.
Age Recommendation: 12+
Content Advisory: This production includes themes of racial stereotyping, prejudice and biased opinion, cultural rivalry, and mild language.
The play uses humour to engage in cultural criticism including content with racial sensitivities. Stereotyping and racial profiling are deeply problematic. Our aim is for this production to entertain and to provoke dialogue in hope of change.
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THE STORY
Mr. Kim is a first-generation Korean immigrant, a father of two, and the proud proprietor of Kim’s Convenience for the past 30 years. After building his empire from nothing, the stubborn Mr. Kim grapples with his changing Toronto neighbourhood, and the growing chasm between him and his second-generation children. In this heart-warming and hilarious story, audiences will follow the Kim family as they tackle their challenging past and look to face an unknown future.
A relatable story for all families, Ins Choi’s award-winning play—that inspired the beloved hit TV show of the same name—is a modern Canadian classic.
Learn more about the road to Kim's Convenience here.
Enhance Your Experience
AfterWORDS
On Wednesday evenings, immediately after the performance, join host Breanne Ritchie in theatre's lounge for a brief guided discussion with guest artists, creative team members, and Grand staff members.
- Wednesday, October 18, 2023
- Wednesday, October 25, 2023
- Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Tea Talks
Join us for creative conversations pre-show with host James Stewart Reaney and special guests connected to the show. Tea Talks begin at 12:00pm before the Wednesday 1:00pm matinée.
- Wednesday, November 1, 2023
From the Stage Door
“The play beautifully braids the serious concerns of legacy and culture with comedy.” - Vancouver Sun
“…a bittersweet immigrant story; of trying to fit in to a new life but still honouring the traditions of one’s culture; and of forgiveness.” - The Slotkin Letter
“Even if you have seen the hit series on Netflix, you must see the original source.” - Broadway World
The Cast
Emeka Agada
Alex & various roles
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (Selected): We Could Be (Green Light Arts); Rise/Fall (Toronto Fringe).
Film and TV Credits (Selected): Reacher (Amazon); Nurses (Global)/NBC); Ruby and the Well (Shaftesbury); Ransom (CBS/eOne); Odd Squad (TVO/Sinking Ship).
Training: Guildford School of Acting
Other: Received an ACTRA Award nomination in 2022 for his performance in NURSES.
Theatre Credits (Selected): We Could Be (Green Light Arts); Rise/Fall (Toronto Fringe).
Film and TV Credits (Selected): Reacher (Amazon); Nurses (Global)/NBC); Ruby and the Well (Shaftesbury); Ransom (CBS/eOne); Odd Squad (TVO/Sinking Ship).
Training: Guildford School of Acting
Other: Received an ACTRA Award nomination in 2022 for his performance in NURSES.
Ins Choi
Appa
For the Grand Theatre: Kim’s Convenience - (the role of Jung in 2013).
Theatre Credits (Selected): Banana Boys, lady in a red dress (fu-gen); Hamlet, The Odyssey, The Taming of the Shrew, All’s Well That Ends Well (Stratford); Death of a Salesman, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, You Can’t Take it With You, Oh! What A Lovely War, Alligator Pie, re(birth): ee cummings in song, Window on Toronto (Soulpepper); 2000 Candles, The Big Picture (Brookstone).
Film and TV Credits (Selected): Co-creator, writer and Executive Producer of the TV series Kim’s Convenience (Thunderbird, CBC, Netflix).
Theatre Credits (Selected): Banana Boys, lady in a red dress (fu-gen); Hamlet, The Odyssey, The Taming of the Shrew, All’s Well That Ends Well (Stratford); Death of a Salesman, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, You Can’t Take it With You, Oh! What A Lovely War, Alligator Pie, re(birth): ee cummings in song, Window on Toronto (Soulpepper); 2000 Candles, The Big Picture (Brookstone).
Film and TV Credits (Selected): Co-creator, writer and Executive Producer of the TV series Kim’s Convenience (Thunderbird, CBC, Netflix).
Vicki Kim
Umma
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Comfort (Native Earth Performing Arts).
Film and TV Credits (Selected): The Expanse, The Boys (Amazon Prime); Shadowhunters, Workin’ Moms, Work It (Netflix); Accused (FOX); SkyMed (CBC); Out of My Mind (Disney Plus); Robyn Hood (Corus); Orphan Black Echoes (AMC)
Other: Graduate of the BSc Psychology Program at the University of Toronto.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Comfort (Native Earth Performing Arts).
Film and TV Credits (Selected): The Expanse, The Boys (Amazon Prime); Shadowhunters, Workin’ Moms, Work It (Netflix); Accused (FOX); SkyMed (CBC); Out of My Mind (Disney Plus); Robyn Hood (Corus); Orphan Black Echoes (AMC)
Other: Graduate of the BSc Psychology Program at the University of Toronto.
Leon Qin
Jung
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Fatal Charade (Toronto Fringe Festival); Twelfth Night (RSDC); Midsummer Night’s Dream (RSDC); The Tempest (Stella Adler Studio).
Film and TV Credits: Fade In (Morehouse Human Rights Film Festival).
Other: BFA Acting, New York University. www.leonqin.com
Theatre Credits (Selected): Fatal Charade (Toronto Fringe Festival); Twelfth Night (RSDC); Midsummer Night’s Dream (RSDC); The Tempest (Stella Adler Studio).
Film and TV Credits: Fade In (Morehouse Human Rights Film Festival).
Other: BFA Acting, New York University. www.leonqin.com
Kelly J Seo
Janet
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Jenny's House of Joy (Foster Festival); Kim's Convenience (Thousands Islands Playhouse); Twelfth Night (St Lawrence Shakespeare Festival; Hana Hashimoto The Sixth Violin (Thousand Islands Playhouse); You Can Ask Me How I'm Doing (Alumnae Theatre).
Film & TV Credits: Age of Samurai, Lola, If I Should Die "The Strangler", The Sanhok Tapes - PUBG Lore Drop. Commercials: Kelly’s face may be recognizable from her commercial work including but not limited to, Spotify, Fitbit, Sephora and most notably Cracker Barrel Cheese.
Other: Graduate of the BFA Theatre Program at York University. You can keep updated with Kelly at www.kellyseo.com or on her Instagram @kellyjseo
Theatre Credits (Selected): Jenny's House of Joy (Foster Festival); Kim's Convenience (Thousands Islands Playhouse); Twelfth Night (St Lawrence Shakespeare Festival; Hana Hashimoto The Sixth Violin (Thousand Islands Playhouse); You Can Ask Me How I'm Doing (Alumnae Theatre).
Film & TV Credits: Age of Samurai, Lola, If I Should Die "The Strangler", The Sanhok Tapes - PUBG Lore Drop. Commercials: Kelly’s face may be recognizable from her commercial work including but not limited to, Spotify, Fitbit, Sephora and most notably Cracker Barrel Cheese.
Other: Graduate of the BFA Theatre Program at York University. You can keep updated with Kelly at www.kellyseo.com or on her Instagram @kellyjseo
Creative Team
Esther Jun
Director
For The Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits: Les Belles-Soeurs, Little Women, I Am William (Stratford Festival); Between a Wok & Hotpot (Cahoots); The Great Leap (Cleveland Playhouse); Kim's Convenience (TIP); Planet Munsch (George Brown); Pal Joey, The Gamblers, Amadeus (Talk Is Free); The Promised Land (Soulpepper); The Omnibus Bill (Counterpoint Players); Theory, Girls Like That (Tarragon); The Private Life Cabaret (Theatre ARTaud); The Last Wife (The Belfry, GCTC); Rococo (Shaw Festival); Bremen Rock City (Song Trolley Productions); Cowboy Mouth, Trout Stanley (Heart In Hand); Yellow Face (Hart House) .
Other: www.theestherjun.com
Theatre Credits: Les Belles-Soeurs, Little Women, I Am William (Stratford Festival); Between a Wok & Hotpot (Cahoots); The Great Leap (Cleveland Playhouse); Kim's Convenience (TIP); Planet Munsch (George Brown); Pal Joey, The Gamblers, Amadeus (Talk Is Free); The Promised Land (Soulpepper); The Omnibus Bill (Counterpoint Players); Theory, Girls Like That (Tarragon); The Private Life Cabaret (Theatre ARTaud); The Last Wife (The Belfry, GCTC); Rococo (Shaw Festival); Bremen Rock City (Song Trolley Productions); Cowboy Mouth, Trout Stanley (Heart In Hand); Yellow Face (Hart House) .
Other: www.theestherjun.com
Julia Kim
Set* & Costume Designer
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (Selected): The Supine Cobbler (GCTC); Steel Magnolias (Watermark Theatre); Gaslight (Watermark Theatre); Okay, You Can Stop Now (Theatre Passe Muraille); Kim’s Convenience (TIP); Pass Over (Obsidian Theatre Company).
Film and TV Credits (Selected): Heart of Gold (Noema Productions); Misfit M. (Paige Locke Production);
Other: www.yeon.studio; IG @yeon._.studio
* Set Design by Julia Kim, based on the Original Set Design by Carolyn Rapanos.
Theatre Credits (Selected): The Supine Cobbler (GCTC); Steel Magnolias (Watermark Theatre); Gaslight (Watermark Theatre); Okay, You Can Stop Now (Theatre Passe Muraille); Kim’s Convenience (TIP); Pass Over (Obsidian Theatre Company).
Film and TV Credits (Selected): Heart of Gold (Noema Productions); Misfit M. (Paige Locke Production);
Other: www.yeon.studio; IG @yeon._.studio
* Set Design by Julia Kim, based on the Original Set Design by Carolyn Rapanos.
Jareth Li
Lighting Designer
For the Grand Theatre: Controlled Damage.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Topdog/Underdog (Canadian Stage); Prince Caspian (Shaw Festival); Jersey Boys, Ring of Fire (Citadel Theatre); Every Little Nookie (Stratford Festival); Peter’s Final Flight (Ross Petty Productions); The Hours That Remain (Theatre Aquarius);Three Women of Swatow (Tarragon Theatre); Trojan Girls and the Outhouse of Atreus (Outside the March); The Home Project, The Wolves, Casimir and Caroline, Punk Rock (The Howland Company).
Upcoming: Pollyanna (Theatre Aquarius)
Other: Stagecraft instructor at York University, member of the Associated Designers of Canada IATSE 659. Online @jareth.li.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Topdog/Underdog (Canadian Stage); Prince Caspian (Shaw Festival); Jersey Boys, Ring of Fire (Citadel Theatre); Every Little Nookie (Stratford Festival); Peter’s Final Flight (Ross Petty Productions); The Hours That Remain (Theatre Aquarius);Three Women of Swatow (Tarragon Theatre); Trojan Girls and the Outhouse of Atreus (Outside the March); The Home Project, The Wolves, Casimir and Caroline, Punk Rock (The Howland Company).
Upcoming: Pollyanna (Theatre Aquarius)
Other: Stagecraft instructor at York University, member of the Associated Designers of Canada IATSE 659. Online @jareth.li.
Maddie Bautista
Sound Designer
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Les Belles Soeurs, I am William (Stratford); The First Stone (GCTC, Buddies); Kim's Convenience (Thousand Islands Playhouse); White Girls in Moccasins (Buddies in Bad Times); Toka (Theatre Passe Muraille); 1184 (Phoenix Arts/Aga Khan Museum).
Original Works: Love You Wrong Time (Bad Muse Collective); 4inXchange (xLq).
Other: Maddie has been nominated 5 times for a Dora Mavor Moore Award. www.maddiebautista.com
Theatre Credits (Selected): Les Belles Soeurs, I am William (Stratford); The First Stone (GCTC, Buddies); Kim's Convenience (Thousand Islands Playhouse); White Girls in Moccasins (Buddies in Bad Times); Toka (Theatre Passe Muraille); 1184 (Phoenix Arts/Aga Khan Museum).
Original Works: Love You Wrong Time (Bad Muse Collective); 4inXchange (xLq).
Other: Maddie has been nominated 5 times for a Dora Mavor Moore Award. www.maddiebautista.com
Amanda Lin
Assistant Director
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Between a Wok and a Hot Pot - Playwright and Performer (Cahoots Theatre); Like Mother Like Daughter - Performer (Why Not Theatre); In This World - Director (Theatre Count); Anon(ymous) - Director (5th Company Lane); The Vic - Director (Vagabond Theatre Company).
Other: Program Director at Nightwood Theatre, XR Producer at Single Thread Theatre.
This position has been funded by the Ontario Arts Council's Career Catalyst grant.
Theatre Credits (Selected): Between a Wok and a Hot Pot - Playwright and Performer (Cahoots Theatre); Like Mother Like Daughter - Performer (Why Not Theatre); In This World - Director (Theatre Count); Anon(ymous) - Director (5th Company Lane); The Vic - Director (Vagabond Theatre Company).
Other: Program Director at Nightwood Theatre, XR Producer at Single Thread Theatre.
This position has been funded by the Ontario Arts Council's Career Catalyst grant.
Anita Nittoly
Fight Director
For the Grand Theatre: Phantom of the Opera, Fall On Your Knees.
Theatre Credits (selected): Fall on Your Knees (Canstage/NAC); Counter Offence (Segal Centre); Fairview (Canstage); Prodigal (Crow's Theatre); Trojan Girls and The Outhouse of Atreus (Outside The March/Factory Theatre); Our Place (Cahoots/TPM); 2019 Season (The Stratford Festival).
Film and TV Credits (selected): SEE, Star Trek: Discovery, Pretty Hard Cases, Titans, The Boys, Rabbit Hole, What We Do in the Shadows, and various Ubisoft motion capture productions.
Other: Anita is a Stage Combat Instructor, Fight Director, and Sexual Choreographer at the National Theatre School.
Theatre Credits (selected): Fall on Your Knees (Canstage/NAC); Counter Offence (Segal Centre); Fairview (Canstage); Prodigal (Crow's Theatre); Trojan Girls and The Outhouse of Atreus (Outside The March/Factory Theatre); Our Place (Cahoots/TPM); 2019 Season (The Stratford Festival).
Film and TV Credits (selected): SEE, Star Trek: Discovery, Pretty Hard Cases, Titans, The Boys, Rabbit Hole, What We Do in the Shadows, and various Ubisoft motion capture productions.
Other: Anita is a Stage Combat Instructor, Fight Director, and Sexual Choreographer at the National Theatre School.
Peter Jotkus
Stage Manager
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (Selected): The Belfry; Pacific Opera; Arts Club, Vancouver Playhouse (twelve consecutive seasons); Bard on the Beach; Electric Company; Aeriosa Dance; WCT; Banff Centre; ATP; The Citadel; Theatre Calgary; MTC; Stratford Festival; Shaw Festival; Canadian Stage; Opera Atelier; COC; National Arts Centre; Centaur; Charlottetown Festival. Touring: De Singel, Antwerp; BAM, New York; Edinburgh International Festival; Kammerspiel, Munich; American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco; Bushnell Center for the Arts, Hartford; Bergen Festival, Norway; Wellington Festival; Adelaide Festival; Barbican Theatre, London; World Stage Festival; Luminato, Toronto.
Other: Graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada.
Theatre Credits (Selected): The Belfry; Pacific Opera; Arts Club, Vancouver Playhouse (twelve consecutive seasons); Bard on the Beach; Electric Company; Aeriosa Dance; WCT; Banff Centre; ATP; The Citadel; Theatre Calgary; MTC; Stratford Festival; Shaw Festival; Canadian Stage; Opera Atelier; COC; National Arts Centre; Centaur; Charlottetown Festival. Touring: De Singel, Antwerp; BAM, New York; Edinburgh International Festival; Kammerspiel, Munich; American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco; Bushnell Center for the Arts, Hartford; Bergen Festival, Norway; Wellington Festival; Adelaide Festival; Barbican Theatre, London; World Stage Festival; Luminato, Toronto.
Other: Graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada.
Kelsey Rae
Assistant Stage Manager
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (selected): The Donnelly Trilogy (Blyth Festival); Wizard of Oz Panto (Drayton); Bentboy (YPT); King Henry Five, Rosalynde, A Musical, Midsummer Night's Dream (Driftwood Theatre); Paper Bag Princess, The In-Between - 2Play Tour (Geordie Productions); Echoes of the
Homesick Heart (Western Canada Theatre); Canadian Badlands Passion Play, Merry Wives of Windsor (Perchance Theatre); Waiting for Godot (Stratford Festival)
Other: Proud graduate of Mount Allison University
Theatre Credits (selected): The Donnelly Trilogy (Blyth Festival); Wizard of Oz Panto (Drayton); Bentboy (YPT); King Henry Five, Rosalynde, A Musical, Midsummer Night's Dream (Driftwood Theatre); Paper Bag Princess, The In-Between - 2Play Tour (Geordie Productions); Echoes of the
Homesick Heart (Western Canada Theatre); Canadian Badlands Passion Play, Merry Wives of Windsor (Perchance Theatre); Waiting for Godot (Stratford Festival)
Other: Proud graduate of Mount Allison University
Sydney Stobo
Apprentice Stage Manager
For the Grand Theatre: Debut.
Theatre Credits (Selected): The Sound of Music (Thousand Islands Playhouse); RETOLD (Musical Stage Company); Let’s Dance! (Terra Bruce Productions); 9 to 5: The Musical (Capitol Theatre Port Hope); Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Mirvish); First Drafts (Musical Stage Company/Theatre Sheridan).
Theatre Credits (Selected): The Sound of Music (Thousand Islands Playhouse); RETOLD (Musical Stage Company); Let’s Dance! (Terra Bruce Productions); 9 to 5: The Musical (Capitol Theatre Port Hope); Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Mirvish); First Drafts (Musical Stage Company/Theatre Sheridan).
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