THE HUNTINGTON WELCOMES KOREAN CANADIAN HIT COMEDY KIM’S CONVENIENCE IN SPECIAL PRESENTATION STARRING INS CHOI

THE HUNTINGTON WELCOMES KOREAN CANADIAN

HIT COMEDY KIM’S CONVENIENCE

IN SPECIAL PRESENTATION STARRING INS CHOI

 

The North American tour of the heartfelt and humorous play that inspired

the CBC / Netflix TV series arrives at The Huntington this November

 

Ryan Jinn, Esther Chung, Ins Choi, Kelly Seo, and Brandon McKnight in Kim’s Convenience (2025). A Soulpepper Production in association with American Conservatory Theater & Adam Blanshay Productions. Photo by Dahlia Katz

(BOSTON) – The Huntington will host the hilarious and heartwarming Kim’s Convenience, the award-winning comedy by Ins Choi about a Korean family-run corner store, which inspired the popular hit TV series that ran for five seasons on CBC/Netflix. Produced by Soulpepper, Canada’s leading artist-driven theatre company, in association with American Conservatory Theater and Adam Blanshay Productions, and directed by Weyni Mengesha, this North American tour plays at The Huntington’s Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA (527 Tremont St) from Thursday, November 6 – Sunday, November 23, 2025.

 

In the play Kim’s Convenience, as well as the television show, Mr. Kim works hard to support his wife and children with his Toronto convenience store. As he evaluates his future, he faces both a changing neighborhood landscape and the gap between his values and those of his Canada-born children.

 

Playwright Ins Choi, who also stars in this special production as the title character Mr. Kim (or Appa), calls Kim’s Convenience “my love letter to my Appa and Umma, and to all first-generation immigrants who end up making a foreign land, home.”

 

“Having originated the role of Jung (the son) almost fifteen years ago, I’m grateful to now be playing the role of Appa (the dad) in this play,” continues Choi. “My kids have been preparing me for this their whole lives.”

 

Called “the most successful Canadian play of the last decade” by ClassicalFM, Kim’s Convenience was originally produced as part of the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival. The premiere production was produced by Soulpepper Theatre Company in Toronto, ON and became an internationally successful TV show on CBC and Netflix following its original run.

 

The Toronto Star says this production of Kim’s Convenience “remains as sharp, witty, and moving as ever,” and Everything Theatre called the UK tour, an “achingly funny... Hilarious, heart-warming story of love, family, and survival through change and challenge.”

 

Kim’s Convenience is part of The Huntington Selects, a series of curated touring productions The Huntington partners with to bring exciting and unique experiences to Boston audiences. This series is offered as an add-on to The Huntington’s subscription season, and Huntington FlexPass holders are able to redeem their tickets for these performances and events.

 

The cast of Kim’s Convenience includes:

 

Playwright Ins Choi as Appa, a first-generation Korean Canadian convenience store owner. Credits include: Kim's Convenience (Playwright/the role of Appa) with Soulpepper Productions, Kim’s Convenience (co-creator, writer, and executive producer of the TV Series) on CBC and Netflix, and Son of a Preacherman (his new solo show) at the Pacific Theatre.

 

Esther Chung as Umma, Appa’s wife, a first-generation Korean Canadian. Credits include: the world premiere of Bigfoot! with the Port Stanley Festival Theatre, Cross on Amazon Prime, and The Boys on Amazon Prime.

 

Ryan Jinn as Jung, Appa and Umma’s 32-year-old son, a second-generation Korean Canadian. Credits include: Kim’s Convenience on CBC and Netflix, as well as with Arts Club Vancouver, An Assertive Girl at Pull Festival, and The Man in the High Castle on Amazon Prime.

 

Kelly J. Seo as Janet, Appa and Umma’s 30-year-old daughter, a second-generation Korean Canadian. Credits include: Kim’s Convenience with Grand Theatre and Thousand Islands Playhouse, The Melville Boys at Foster Festival, and If I Go Missing on Tubi.

 

Brandon McKnight as Rich (a young customer), Alex (a 32-year-old police officer and friend of Jung), Mr. Lee (a successful real estate agent and friend of Appa), and Mike (another customer). Credits include: Kim’s Convenience on CBC and Netflix, The Flash on the CW, Judas Noir with Tarragon Theatre, and Of Mice and Men with Unit 102 Theatre.

 

 

The creative team for Kim’s Convenience includes scenic design by Joanna Yu, costume design by Ming Wong, projection design by Nicole Eun-Ju Bell, lighting design by Wen-Ling Liao, and sound design by Fan Zhang. The fight director and choreographer is Sean Baek. The stage manager is Robert Harding and the assistant stage manager is Angela Mae Bago.

 

Kim’s Convenience is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. concordtheatricals.com

 

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

 

INS CHOI (Playwright, the role of Appa) was born in Korea but grew up and currently lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife and two children. His debut play, Kim's Convenience, won the Best New Play Award and the Patron's Pick at the 2011 Toronto Fringe festival. It then launched Soulpepper Theatre Company's 2012 season, toured across Canada, and was adapted into a TV series of the same name with Thunderbird Entertainment on CBC and Netflix for 5 seasons. Ins was a writer, executive producer and co-creator of the TV series. He also wrote the plays Subway Stations of the Cross, Bad Parent, Son of a Preacherman, and was part of the collective that created the plays, Alligator Pie, re(birth): ee cummings in song, Window on Toronto (Soulpepper), and 2000 Candles (Brookstone). He taught screenwriting at the National Screen Institute and the Canadian Film Centre and offers his writing workshop from time to time.

 

WEYNI MENGESHA (Director) was raised in Scarborough, ON and has been the Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company since 2019. Celebrated for her groundbreaking work and community engagement, her directing credits span Canadian and international stages. Weyni is also a committed educator, mentor, and a producer of youth arts initiatives. In addition to Soulpepper, she has taught at the National Theatre School of Canada and the Canadian Film Centre. FOR SOULPEPPER: Kim’s Convenience (2025, 2015, and 2012), What the Constitution Means to Me (2024); Billie, Sarah and Ella: Revolutionary Women in Jazz (2024 and 2023), A Streetcar named Desire (2024), The Guide To Being Fabulous (2023), Da Kink in my Hair (2022), Queen Goneril (2022), Pipeline (2002), Jesus Hopped the A-Train (2020), Father Comes Home from the Wars (2016), A Raisin in the Sun (2008 and 2010). Other theatre credits include Treemonisha (Volcano Theatre/TOlive/Luminato/Soulpepper), Power of Sail (Geffen Playhouse), Seven Spots on the Sun (Rattlestick Theatre, NY), Butcher (Why Not/Mirvish), and Bars and Measures (Boston Court, Pasedena). Weyni is so happy to be back with the Kim's family, she would also like to thank her family including her husband and two kids and her father and mother who immigrated here from Ethiopia in the 70's. Thank you all for sharing this story with us.

 

DETAILS ON KIM’S CONVENIENCE

 

WHEN 

Performances: November 6 – November 23, 2025

Evenings: Tues – Thurs at 7pm; Fri and Sat at 7:30pm; Sun at 5pm

Matinees: Sat at 2pm; Sun at 1pm

Days and times vary; see complete schedule above.

 

Run time: 75 minutes

 

WHERE

Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA

527 Tremont St, Boston, 02116

TICKETS 

Tickets to in-person performances start at $29. Season ticket packages and FlexPasses are also now on sale:

 

• online at huntingtontheatre.org
• by phone at 617-266-0800;
• or in person at the Huntington Theatre (264 Huntington Ave) or Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont Street)

Select discounts apply:

• $10 off: season ticket holders
• $40 “HYPE” tickets for patrons 40 years old and younger (valid ID required)
• $25 student and military tickets (valid ID required)
• Limited number of Pay-What-You-Wish tickets (not available online, please call or visit the box office to inquire using the contact info above)

The Huntington asks that any patron experiencing COVID symptoms stay home and contact ticketing services for more information about exchanges.