Welcoming new Artistic Director Brandon Weinbrenner, Everyman Theatre spearheaded its 36th season in standout fashion with Ins Choi’s internationally acclaimed comedy, Kim’s Convenience, in an unprecedented collaboration with Indiana Repertory Theatre and Portland Center Stage.
As those familiar with the popular five-season Netflix sitcom series may already know, Kim’s Convenience is set in a family corner store run by Mr. Kim (aka “Appa”), a fiercely proud, acutely wily, hardworking Korean immigrant who is navigating a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood and an uncertain legacy compounded by complicated relationships with his estranged son, Jung, and aspiring photographer daughter, Janet.
The fast-moving, 80-minute production is brought to immediate life through award-winning scenic designer Yoon Bae’s immersive set, resident costume designer David Burdick’s detailed styling, regional and off-Broadway lighting designer Kat Zhou’s keen highlights, and Portland-based sound designer Phillip Gerard Johnson’s lyrical arrangements. Everyman’s resident fight and intimacy choreographer Lewis Shaw adds physical artistry, demonstratively led by resident stage manager Cat Wallis.
Under the masterful direction of cara hinh, who serves as Indiana Rep’s associate artistic director, Choi’s 2011 play is as hilarious, poignant, and engaging as ever, teeming with sharp wit and heartwarming moments as it explores universally relatable, challenging family dynamics, interwoven with immigrant experiences and intergenerational intricacies within a family-run business.
Mr. Kim, aptly referred to as Appa (Korean for Dad), convincingly played by Resident Company Member Tony Nam, is a first-generation South Korean immigrant and former schoolteacher. Upon settling in Canada, Appa seized upon the opportunity to own a Toronto neighborhood convenience store. His steadfast, churchgoing wife, Umma (Korean for mom), tautly portrayed by Resident Company Member Tuyết Thị Phạm, dutifully assists him. Alongside Appa in operating the store is 30-year-old Janet, his second-generation Korean daughter, vibrantly presented by Jenny Lee, who seamlessly toggles between underlying resentment and a sense of duty as she tries to forge her own path in life. As the show unfolds, we learn that Janet’s older brother, Jung (deftly depicted by Jae Woo), ran away 16 years earlier after a violent confrontation with his father. His absence casts a palpable undercurrent of gloom.
Meanwhile, downtown Toronto, where the store is located, is being redeveloped with an expansive condo complex with a Walmart on the way. Change is inevitably coming, and a local real estate mogul, Mr. Lee (played by Austin Michael Young, whose skilled versatility is also displayed as three other characters: Alex, Mike, and Rich), presents Appa with an unexpected offer to buy the store that would allow him to retire comfortably. But Appa believes that selling the store is tantamount to discarding his story, and he tries to explain this to Janet, hoping that she will continue his legacy.
Each of the cast members is outstanding. Nam’s Appa is unapologetically bold but endearing. His Korean accent is uproariously authentic, which balances his paternal bluntness. This was particularly underscored in a scene with Janet, when he informs her, “You have to understand, now is desperation time for you. Sudden death, overtime, penalty kick shootout. Expiration date is over. Take over store is only choice you having.”
Lee’s Janet is enthralling to watch, as she is as assertive as she is loyal, making it easy to root for her quickly budding romance with Young’s likable Alex. Phạm’s stalwart Umma has a measured presence in the show, but her maternal spirit steadies throughout the play. Woo emotionally captures Jung’s essence with nuanced dimensions of internal conflict, pain, and regret.
Hysterically heartwarming, Kim’s Convenience shines as a love letter to first-generation immigrants, capturing the cultural clashes of hardworking parents and their native-born children with wit and inspiration that resonate in every family dynamic.
Running Time: Approximately 80 minutes with no intermission.
Kim’s Convenience plays through September 27, 2026, at Everyman Theatre, 315 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD. Purchase tickets ($78.50–$105.50) online, by contacting the box office at boxoffice@everymantheatre.org, or by calling 410.752.2208. Standard box office hours are Monday through Friday, 12 p.m.- 5 p.m., and closed on Saturday and Sunday. The box office will open 2 hours before every performance, including weekends. Everyman offers more than 700 Pay-What-You-Choose seats throughout the run, with seats allocated for every performance.
The playbill is online here.
Kim’s Convenience
By Ins Choi
Directed by cara hinh
Co-production with Indiana Repertory Theatre and Portland Center Stage
