(PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre Center welcomes the new year with Kim's Convenience, the award-winning comedy about a Korean family-run corner store that inspired the hit CBC television series later distributed internationally on Netflix. Running in the Berlind Theatre from January 23 through February 15, 2026, the play brings heart and humor to the stage as it explores family, identity, and resilience in a rapidly changing world.
The North American tour is produced by Adam Blanshay Productions and Soulpepper Theatre Company, Canada’s leading artist-driven theatre company, in association with American Conservatory Theater. Directed by Weyni Mengesha, Kim’s Convenience centers on Mr. Kim, a hardworking shop owner in a gentrifying Toronto neighborhood. As generational tensions rise between Mr. Kim and his Canadian-born children, the family’s everyday struggles become a poignant and often laugh-out-loud metaphor for a society in transition.
Written by and starring Ins Choi, who calls the play his “love letter to his parents and to all first-generation immigrants who call Canada their home,” Kim’s Convenience has been hailed by The Toronto Star as “a timeless, beautiful, and heartfelt ode to the immigrant experience.”
“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,” says Choi. “My kids have been preparing me for this their whole lives.”
Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling Patron Services at (609) 258-2787. McCarter Theatre Center is located at 91 University Place in Princeton, New Jersey.
Called “the most successful Canadian play of the last decade” by Classical FM Canada, Kim’s Convenience debuted at the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival. Soulpepper’s premiere production later inspired the internationally successful television series, which ran for five seasons.
The Toronto Star says this production “remains as sharp, witty, and moving as ever,” while Everything Theatre called the U.K. tour an “achingly funny… hilarious, heart-warming story of love, family, and survival through change and challenge.”
The cast of Kim’s Convenience includes Ins Choi as Appa, Esther Chung as Umma, Ryan Jinn as Jung, Brandon McKnight (multiple roles including Rich, Alex, Mr. Lee, and Mike), and Kelly Seo as Janet.
The company also includes James Yi as Appa Alternate, Frank Chun (u/s Jung), Ngabo Nabea (u/s Rich, Alex, Mr. Lee, Mike), and Rosie Simon (u/s Janet, Umma). Yi, who played Jimmy Young on the television series, will perform the role of Appa on Saturday, January 24 at 2:00pm; Thursday, January 29 at 2:00pm; all performances from February 3 through February 8; and on Thursday, February 12 at 10:30am.
(LEFT to RIGHT) Ryan Jinn, Esther Chung, Ins Choi, Kelly Seo, and Brandon McKnight
The production team includes scenic designer Joanna Yu; costume designer Ming Wong; lighting designer Wen-Ling Liao; video and projection designer Nicole Eun-Ju Bell; sound designer Fan Zhang; fight director Sean Baek; and assistant director Aaron Jan. The stage management team includes Robert Harding (production stage manager) with Angela Mae Bago serving as assistant stage manager. Cath Bates is the Production Manager.
McCarter’s Pre-Show Pop-Up Bar Is Back! Audiences are invited to arrive early and enjoy an immersive pre-show pop-up bar in the Berlind Lobby, designed and built by McCarter’s Production Team and inspired by a neighborhood bar and convenience store in Regent Park, Toronto. Pop-Up Bar Hours: 6:00pm–7:30pm before every evening performance. No ticket required.
Brandon McKnight and Kelly Seo
Post-Show Conversations & Accessibility Events
* Post-show conversations will take place immediately following the 2:00 PM matinee performances on Sunday, January 25; Thursday, January 29; and Saturday, January 31.
* An American Sign Language (ASL)–interpreted performance will be offered on Saturday, January 31, at 2:00 PM. To select the best seats for ASL access, please contact Patron Services at (609) 258-2787.
* Open captioning and audio description will be available during the Sunday, February 1, performance at 2:00 PM. To select the best seats for open captioning and audio description, please contact Patron Services at (609) 258-2787.
Ryan Jinn, Esther Chung, Ins Choi, Kelly Seo, and Brandon McKnight
About the Artists
Ins Choi (Playwright, Appa) was born in Korea and raised in Toronto, where he currently lives with his wife and two children. His debut play, Kim’s Convenience, won Best New Play and Patron’s Pick at the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival, launched Soulpepper Theatre Company’s 2012 season, toured across Canada, and was adapted into the television series of the same name on CBC and Netflix. Choi served as writer, executive producer, and co-creator of the series. His other plays include Subway Stations of the Cross, Bad Parent, and Son of a Preacherman. He has taught screenwriting at the National Screen Institute and the Canadian Film Centre and continues to offer writing workshops.
James Yi (Appa Alternate) is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, but now calls Vancouver home, where he has been acting for nearly two decades. He has appeared in numerous productions of this award-winning play, including playing Appa on the U.K. tour, and also portrayed Jimmy Young on the television series Kim’s Convenience. His film and television credits include The Interview, Kim’s Convenience, Gabby Duran, Siren, and Flashpoint. His upcoming films include Any Other World, Win Lose or Die, Surrender, His & Hers, and Devil in the Dorm.
Weyni Mengesha (Director) was raised in Scarborough, Ontario, and has served as Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company since 2019. Known for her groundbreaking work and deep community engagement, her directing credits span Canadian and international stages. She is also a committed educator and mentor and has taught at the National Theatre School of Canada and the Canadian Film Centre. Mengesha is thrilled to return to Kim’s Convenience and extends her gratitude to her family, including her parents, who immigrated from Ethiopia in the 1970s.
Ins Choi
One of the country’s leading nonprofit professional theatres, McCarter Theatre Center is a multidisciplinary creative and intellectual hub offering theater, music, dance, family programs, spoken word, and educational experiences for all ages. Located on the campus of Princeton University, McCarter inspires conversations, connections, and collaborations through a vibrant season of classic and contemporary plays, musicals, and special events, as well as robust community and education programs. To learn more about McCarter’s history, the 2025–26 season, and its community and education initiatives, visit mccarter.org.
