The first monologue ever performed was by
He had to do one for his college summer program at the National Theater Institute in Connecticut. Kim chose a scene from 鈥淔OB," Hwang's play about the assimilation struggles of a Chinese American. So, it's fitting that 35 years later Hwang 鈥� the first Asian American to win the Tony Award for best play 鈥� would be the one to bring Kim into the Tony spotlight.
Known for TV series such as 鈥淟ost鈥� and 鈥淗awaii Five-0,鈥� Kim, 56, is the first Asian nominee in the category of best leading actor in a play in the Tonys鈥� 78-year history for his work in a Broadway revival of Hwang鈥檚 鈥淵ellow Face.鈥�
鈥淚 can imagine a lot of things, but I did not imagine this scenario with David,鈥� Kim said. 鈥淭hat I would be in a play with him, that we would both be nominated for Tony Awards and we would be able to call each other friends.鈥�
In the semi-autobiographical show, which ran last fall at the Roundabout Theatre Company, Kim played a satirical version of Hwang. The show also scored nods for best play revival and best performance by a featured actor in a play for first-time nominee Francis Jue, an original 2007 cast member.
You could not have scripted a better ending for a play that was written in response to the musical casting white actors as Asian characters.
Kim's performance was filmed in November and The Tonys, airing on CBS on June 8, also will put a spotlight on the play.
Asian representation and the Tonys
This groundbreaking nomination seems like the perfect karmic reward for Kim, who has spent years advocating for greater Asian representation. At the pandemic's height, the Korean American actor was a constant media presence speaking out against anti-Asian hate. He also jump-started .
He woke up to the news of his nomination after people were able to get around his phone's 鈥渄o not disturb鈥� mode. His competition includes George Clooney and Cole Escola.
鈥淚t鈥檇 be a huge surprise if I won, but I will say that even getting the nomination is a win especially when you put it in the context of our community and what this means for Asian Americans,鈥� said Kim, whose previous Broadway credits include
He admits it's surprising and 鈥渁 little sad鈥� that no other Asian actor has been in this category. There鈥檚 still never been an Asian nominee for best lead actress in a play.
鈥淥f course, the barrier we really want to break is to actually have someone win, and hopefully that happens sooner rather than later, whether it鈥檚 me or not.鈥�
Kim is one of seven Asian acting nominees this year. Only three acting trophy winners have been Asian. One was for 鈥淢iss Saigon鈥� and another was Ruthie Ann Miles for 鈥淭he King and I.鈥� Coincidentally, the first was BD Wong for best featured actor in Hwang's Tony-winning play, 鈥淢. Butterfly.鈥� Hwang takes special pride in helping actors break glass ceilings.
鈥淚 get to feel like, 鈥極h, maybe I鈥檓 actually able to make a difference鈥� and change the culture in the way that my little-kid-self would have loved but would not have thought possible," said Hwang, who now has his fourth career Tony nomination. He was last nominated 22 years ago.
Bringing Asian Americans into the theater
For a long time, Hwang felt the only way to get a play with Asian characters made was to set it outside America because "Broadway audiences are not interested in Asian Americans.鈥�
Historically, productions with Asian ensembles have been musicals set in 鈥渢he exotic lands of Asia,鈥� such as 鈥淭he King and I," said a theater studies professor at Duke University and author of 鈥淭he Theatre of David Henry Hwang." 鈥淔lower Drum Song,鈥� set in San Francisco, was an exception but the songs and book were by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Hwang actually revised the book in 2002.
鈥淚t's 2025. We finally see an actual Asian American play with an Asian American lead,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淵ou can have 鈥楾he King and I鈥� and have great actors and they may get Tony Awards, but it鈥檚 really not about Asian Americans. That this has happened with 鈥榊ellow Face鈥� is just incredible.鈥�
The show's two-month run brought the Roundabout a 50% increase in first-time audience members 鈥� 鈥渁 powerful statement," Kim said.
鈥淥ne of the nicest compliments I would hear after the show when I would go to the stage door is, 鈥楾his is the first Broadway show I鈥檝e ever seen,鈥�" Kim said. 鈥淭hat meant a lot to me because bringing Asian Americans into the theater is important and bringing younger people into the theater is important just for the health of theater in general.鈥�
鈥榊ellow Face鈥� has new relevance
Besides discussing whitewash casting, 鈥淵ellow Face鈥� examines the pain of the main character's immigrant father. The role is based on Hwang's father's experience being wrongly accused of laundering money for China. With the current anti-immigrant and anti-DEI climate, the show's airing on PBS feels especially vital to Hwang.
鈥淲henever there鈥檚 a conflict between America and any Asian country, Asian Americans are the first to get targeted,鈥� Hwang said.
PBS is also where in 2020 the aired for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Kim was a narrator and remains 鈥渦nequivocally proud" of the project.
, Kim sees 鈥淵ellow Face鈥� simply making it to Broadway as a victory.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to get preachy, but I will say that the goal with spotlighting and elevating people of color is not to threaten the establishment,鈥� Kim said. 鈥淭he goal was really to say everyone can contribute to our society. Everyone can be a positive force for change.鈥�
Terry Tang, The Associated Press
