Entertainment

From Corner Store to Center Stage Kim’s Convenience Delivers Warmth in West Palm Beach

Published

8 months ago

February 26, 2026

John Lariviere

From Toronto’s Regent Park to a Radiant West Palm Beach Stage, Kim’s Convenience Glows at the Kravis Center With Humor and Humanity.

February 25th, 2026

Kim’s Convenience, the stage play that gave rise to the beloved TV series of the same name, arrives in West Palm Beach at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts as something warmer, and more quietly profound than its small-scale setting might suggest.

Presented as part of the Kravis Center’s PEAK Series, this Soulpepper Theatre Company production reminds us why the story first captured hearts long before streaming algorithms got involved. Set in Toronto’s Regent Park neighborhood, the play invites us behind the counter of Mr. Kim’s corner store, where potato chips, family arguments, cultural misunderstandings, and unconditional love are all sold in equal measure.

At the center of it all is playwright Ins Choi, who originally brought Jung to life when the play first premiered and now, years later, steps into the role of Appa. The evolution feels natural, even poetic. Choi carries the history of the story in his bones, and that lived-in understanding deepens his portrayal of the stubborn yet deeply loving patriarch. His performance is a masterclass in comedic restraint and emotional payoff. Appa’s gruff exterior, part stand-up philosopher and part immovable traditionalist, draws plenty of laughs, but Choi never lets the humor flatten the character. Instead, the jokes become doorways into deeper truths about immigration, sacrifice, and the complicated ways parents and children talk past one another while still meaning everything they say.

As Umma, Esther Chung brings a gentle, grounding warmth to the production. Her performance glows with empathy, revealing the quiet strength behind the family’s emotional glue. Chung’s Umma doesn’t demand attention; she earns it, scene by scene, with a tenderness that lingers.

Ryan Jinn’s Jung feels lived-in and sincere. He is a son caught between past resentments and present responsibilities, now navigating fatherhood himself. Kelly J. Seo’s Janet, meanwhile, crackles with confidence and restless energy, embodying the push-and-pull of second-generation identity with clarity and charm. Brandon McKnight deserves special mention for his impressively distinct turns in multiple supporting roles, each sharply defined and a little delightful in its own way.

The creative team deserves credit for making the store itself feel like a character. Joanna Yu’s scenic design is both colorful and intimate. The result is a space that feels real—so real you half-expect to hear the bell over the door ring as you leave the theater. And at about 80-minutes this show whizzes by much like a light-hearted sit-com one might expect.

Yes, audiences familiar with Kim’s Convenience will recognize beloved characters and rhythms. But this stage version stands firmly on its own, reminding us that before the punchlines and catchphrases, there was a deeply human story built on cultural and generational expectations of the expression of familial love well worth telling.

At the Kravis Center, Kim’s Convenience feels exactly where it belongs: a small story with a big heart, played out on a stage that allows its quiet truths to land with clarity and grace. Like the best neighborhood stores—welcoming to everyone who walks through the door.

Kim’s Convenience will be appearing February 25–March 8, 2026 at Persson Hall at Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets start at $40.25 including fees. Show times are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. & 7 p.m. Sunday at 1:30 p.m . The Kravis Center is located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL 33401 For tickets visit kravis.org

Adam Blanshay Productions (Producer) is a U.K. based company with over 60 productions worldwide to date, recipient of eight Tony® Awards, 10 Oliviers and one Helpmann Award. ABP produced the highly acclaimed 2024 U.K. première of Kim’s Covenience starring Ins Choi, directed by Esther Jun at Park Theatre and Riverside Studios in London, as well as the U.K. tour which began in March 2025. This production won the 2025 Stage Award for Campaign of the Year. Originally from Montréal, Adam has an EMBA from the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and received The Linbury Scholarship for his studies. Full bio: adamblanshay.com He dedicates this to his Umma, Roni.

About the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts: The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is a nonprofit organization and one of South Florida’s premier cultural destinations, located in downtown West Palm Beach. Since 1992, the Kravis Center has presented the finest in live entertainment, showcasing internationally acclaimed artists in music, comedy, dance, Broadway, and more. As part of its nonprofit mission, the Kravis Center has welcomed millions of students to its comprehensive arts education programs. Students of all ages can participate in workshops, classes, and special events, as well as access free and reduced-price tickets for those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience live performances.