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Interests
General
Making you laugh long time.
OPM stands for OPENING PEOPLE'S MINDS!
When's the last time you watched live sketch comedy that delivers on themes and people in our world of color?
Also check us out at WWW.OPMCOMEDY.COM...
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Inquiring minds ask, "What's behind the taglines?"
"OPM... GET ADDICTED."
It speaks for itself... :)
"AWARD-WINNING SKETCH COMEDY SINCE 2001."
- 2001 L.A. debut in September
- 2002 San Francisco Fringe Fest Best Of The Fest & Best Box Office Awards
- 2003 San Francisco Fringe Fest Best Box Office Award
- 2003 Vancouver Sketchoff Competition Top Prize
- 2004 San Francisco Fringe Fest Best Box Office Award
- 2004 Vancouver Sketchoff Competition Top Prize
- 2005 Vancouver Sketchoff Competition Top Prize
FYI: OPM did not enter the '05 SF Fringe Fest, but will return this year! Also, Vancouver did not hold a sketch competition in '06, but OPM had enjoyed its close-out show this past June (see below)!!
- 2006 San Francisco Fringe Fest Best Sketch Group Award
- 2008 San Francisco Fringe Fest Best Sketch Group and Best Box Office Awards
Music
Rain. Journey (they got a Filipino lead singer!). Peking/Beijing Opera.Movies
Most Hollywood movies depicting Asians can be categorized under science-fiction. Take The Last Samurai. Tom Cruise's Yankee learns fluent Japanese and transforms into a samurai, in about 6 months. To top it off, he becomes the best friend of Ken Watanabe's lead samurai character-- after slaying Watanabe's brother-in-law and bedding his sister. But of course.Television
SUPPORT NETWORKS THAT DO ASIAN RIGHT. ImaginAsian, AZN, and of course, the one channel that every Asian family can watch together without translation... the Discovery Channel.Books
Memoirs of A Geisha. See above "Movies."Heroes
is a good show... Now, let's have these dudes speak ENGLISH, like they do in real life!
Details
- Status: Swinger
- Here for: Networking, Friends
- Hometown: Los Angeles
- Ethnicity: Asian
- Zodiac Sign: Gemini
- Occupation: Sketch Comedy
- Income: Less than $30,000
Companies
-
OPM
- Seattle, WA US
1996 - 2001 -
OPM
- Los Angeles, CA US
2001 - present
Latest Blog Entries
- Jul 6, 2008 1:27 AM Past shows
- Feb 25, 2007 1:14 AM 2 Reviews of TELEMONGOL, from San Jose (Feb.14, 15, 2007)
- Jan 3, 2007 10:30 PM L.A. Weekly review of "TeleMongol"
- Jan 3, 2007 10:26 PM Rafu Shimpo review of "TeleMongol"
- Jan 3, 2007 10:24 PM L.A. Times review & article of "TeleMongol"
Blurbs
About me:
OPM (Opening People’s Minds) is the award-winning multi-ethnic-cultural-lingual-hyphenate sketch comedy troupe from L.A.
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OPM is winding up for yet another 30-minute installment of ALL-NEW sketches at the L.A. Comedy Fest with
FISTS OF FUNNY
Saturday, May 9 at 11:00 pm
Sunday, May 10 at 7:00 pm (along with The 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors)
Friday, May 15 at 11:00 pm
Saturday, May 16 at 11:00 pm
ACME Comedy Theatre
135 N. La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Tickets: $10 online, $12 at the door
RSVP: Call 323-463-2942 or visit www.lacomedyfest.com for more info!
Starring: Ewan Chung, Lanny Joon, Charles Kim, John Lopez, Randall Park, Lee Sherman, Jae Suh, Rodney To, and Dave Wilder
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OPM returned to Vancouver, for its first performance of 2009, at ALL-YOU-CAN-LAUGH, 10th Annual Asian Comedy Night!
Presented by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (www.vact.ca)
JANUARY 9 & 10 @ 7:30 pm @ The Roundhouse!
OPM will be doing 25-30 minutes of greatest hits material, alongside brethren troupe 18 MIGHTY MOUNTAIN WARRIORS, ASSAULTED FISH, HOPSING'S OFFSPRING, and THE KUPPS.
For tix & info, go to www.vact.ca.
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IT WAS A SUCCESS! THE LAST "OPM" PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR-- WELL KINDA...
Our very own Charles Kim performed a few of his trademark characters (Kim Jong-Il, crazy Korean mother) on behalf of OPM, at Lodestone Theatre Ensemble's cabaret-style fundraiser, "AFTER DARK," December 11 thru 14. CELEBRITY GUESTS included David Ono, Kelly Hu, Sandra Oh, Alec Mapa, Roger Fan, Leonardo Nam, John Cho, and more! A blast was had by all, and it was the most ticket sales ever per show for Lodestone! Congrats!
And BIG THANKS to all our fans and supporters in 2008! We enjoyed many successful runs, from the LA Comedy Fest in April, to The Ford Amphitheatre in August, the San Francisco Fringe Fest in September, and back to the LA Comedy Fest in November. What an awesome and whirlwind year!
Wishing you all a warm and safe holiday and Happy New Year!
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OPM presented the very best of its award-winning EXOTIC MESSAGES + a few new sketches, at L.A. COMEDY FEST in November!
Sunday 11/16 @ 7:00
Tuesday 11/18 @ 8:00
Saturday 11/22 @ 8:00
Sunday 11/23 @ 8:30
ART|WORKS THEATRE
6569 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Starring Julia Cho, Ewan Chung, Charles Kim, John Lopez, Caroline Pho, Lee Sherman, and Dave Wilder.
Directed by international award-winning Esther K. Chae (www.estherchae.com here)
More info at www.lacomedyfest.com here)!
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OPM RETURNS TO THE SAN FRANCISCO FRINGE FESTIVAL IN SEPTEMBER!!
The group made a grand return to the Fringe Fest and won Best Sketch Comedy and Best Box Office again! Thank you, San Francisco.
We also got some press coverage here.
The EXIT Theatre
156 Eddy Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(between Mason & Taylor)
Cast (l to r): Charles Kim, John Lopez, Ewan Chung, Caroline Pho, Dave Wilder, and Julia Cho
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OPM made a successful benefit appearance on a big bill at the Ford Amphitheatre.
August 3rd
Tia Chucha's Celebration of Community & Culture
2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East
Los Angeles, CA 90068
Cast: Julia Cho, Ewan Chung, Charles Kim, John Lopez, Caroline Pho, Gem Silver, Dave Wilder
Directed by Esther K. Chae
Headlined by comedy icon Cheech Marin!! The line-up includes funk masters Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, poet Luis J. Rodriguez, singer Nobuko Miyamoto, hip-hop artist Olmeca, ska/funk band Upground, and dance troupe Temachtia Quetzalcoatl. Comedian Ernie G hosts.
The benefit supports Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural, a non-profit learning and cultural arts center dedicated to sharing Chicano, Mexican, and Central American cultures in the communities of greater Los Angeles (www.tiachucha.com). Tia Chucha is open to the public and along with a bookstore, offers workshops, art exhibits, presentations, readings, family events, and performances.
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OPM was America's TOP MODEL MINORITY at the L.A. Comedy Fest at the McCadden Theatre in May.
STARRING: Vivian Bang, Ewan Chung, Janina Gavankar, Charles Kim, Caroline Pho, Chase Sprague, Dave Wilder, Nika Williams
And now 20% more ASIAN with Deborah S. Craig!!
DIRECTED by David J. Lee
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On January 10th, OPM performed in Downtown L.A. at the COMEDY WALK.
www.comedywalk.com
This performance’s cast included Ewan Chung, Janina Gavankar, Charles Kim, Caroline Pho, Chase Sprague, Jae Suh, and Nika Williams.
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We had a blast with TELEMONGOL at the 1st annual National Asian American Theatre Festival at the The Kirk Theatre in New York in June.
It was part of the continuation of the successful run with Lodestone, 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors, and Cold Tofu after L.A. and San Jose! The L.A. Times had this to say.
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THANKS TO EVERYBODY who came out on Oscar night, February 25, and supported OPM, 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors, Cold Tofu, and Lodestone Theatre Ensemble, at the Oscar Party Fundraiser for TeleMongol!
For those not in the know, TeleMongol is our sketch comedy extravaganza starring, written and produced by OPM, 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors, Cold Tofu, and Lodestone Theatre Ensemble, and directed by award-winning television director Henry Chan. We've been getting great reviews-- check out the latest, in the blog section!
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To all our Bay Area fans-- especially our newly-earned San Jose peeps-- MUCHA GRACIA from OPM! The San Jose run of TeleMongol, at the Theatre On San Pedro Square, from February 9-18, 2007, was a hit!!
BIG PROPS to AATC, CATS and Gary of TOSPS for all their wonderful work, faith and vision!!!
http://www.asianamericantheater.org/ ..
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JANUARY 5, 2007 @ 8PM
THE HIGHLANDS at
HOLLYWOOD+HIGHLAND
OPM and other troupes rocked the house at "Comedy Cocktail"-- check out www.comedycocktail.com.
OPM performed 2 of its TOP sketches from 2006: Tyra Loves Chic, featuring Tyra Banks and her immigrant models; and Iron Chef North Korea, featuring Kim Jong-Il, Bobby Flay, and the secret ingredient, "grass." ..
Tyra Banks (Nika Williams) and fashion editor Linda Fawnstrom (Jae Suh) present the looks of the season, while "Chinese Auntie" (Charles Kim) works the catwalk... Fierce!
In this version of "Iron Chef," Number Won (Ewan Chung) stands ready as chairman Kim Jong-Il (Charles Kim) decides who wins and who... dies...
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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2006
BURBANK, "Television Capital of The World"
In a 90-seat theatre nestled inside a local park, TELEMONGOL made history with a f***in funny a** show.
THANK YOU to all those who came out and enjoyed themselves...
BIG PROPS to our co-d's: 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors, Cold Tofu and Lodestone Theatre Ensemble, AND the most patient, wise and fearless director HENRY CHAN!
Check out the reviews in the blog!
More TELEMONGOL:
>>> February - San Jose, CA (TBA)
>>> June - New York City, NY (pho-show)
The cast includes OPMers Ewan Chung, Charles Kim, Corinne Chooey (also with Cold Tofu) and Aaron Takahashi (also with Cold Tofu)!
TELEMONGOL follows 3 executives at AHOLE (Asia Home of Language Entertainment) as they fight to keep their television network alive. "Behind The Scenes," written by Michael Chih Ming Hornbuckle, stars (l to r) Ewan Chung as paralegal-counsel Jay Park, Corinne Chooey as AHOLE President Lois Lew, and Michael Palma as director of marketing Paul Manalo.
Every network needs a gritty prison drama... "Chino State Pen," by Charles Kim, features Aaron Takahashi as Gojira-san, Michael Palma as Santos, Robert Covarrubias as Mothra, and Charles Kim as Rodan.
And now, a pubic service announcement courtesy of "Project APPLE (Asian Porn Performers for Literacy Education)," written by Aaron Takahashi. Featuring porn stars-turned-educators (l to r) Yung Ho (Wanru Tseng), Long Duk Dick (Greg Watanabe), China Doll (Jully Lee), and Bang Cock (Denise Iketani).
Keeping it relevant and irreverent, much like your typical OPM show. "A Very North Korean Holiday," written by Charles Kim, features Wanru Tseng as Marilyn Monroe, Charles Kim as Kim Jong-Il, and Robert Covarrubias as Osama Bin Laden-- all doing the Axis of Evil dance... And dance shows are hot these days.
EVERYBODY! Pictured to the left of Osama is OUR DIRECTOR HENRY CHAN and to the right of Osama, are actor JAMES HONG (guest in the audience) and our guest actor-celebrities in the show that night: TAMLYN TOMITA and ABC NEWS anchor DAVID ONO.
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OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2006
HOLLYWOOD
OPM performs the very best of GET LAUGHS OR DIE TRYIN', to sold-out houses, at the 5th annual L.A. Fest of Sketch (LAFS) on October 20, 28 & November 3!
OPM is the ONLY sketch group to perform at LAFS every year-- that's 5 for 5, yall!
BIG THANKS to all our friends and supporters for making this run so much FUN!!
Much love to Lawrin Goulston-Salazar, producer of L.A.F.S.!
Check out www.4LAFS.com...
THE CAST: (l to r) Dave Wilder, Nika Williams, Ewan Chung, Charles Kim, Jae Suh, and Andrea Apuy
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SEPTEMBER 2006
SAN FRANCISCO
OPM awarded BEST SKETCH GROUP at the 2006 SAN FRANCISCO FRINGE FEST (September 8-10, 15-17)!
THANKS to our friends and supporters-- you made it so much fun!! :)
MUCHO KUDOS to Christina, producer of the Fringe, Richard, our light tech Ryan, our sound tech Ian-- when you're in The Bay, check out his band The Get Down (for info go to www.the getdownonline.com)-- and theatre manager Amanda!
The cast & crew in front of the EXIT Theatre, in the Tenderloin, before hitting the road: (l to r) Jae Suh, Dave Wilder, sound tech Ian, Andy Apuy's duffel bag (she had to leave right after the show to catch a flight back to Burbank), Nika Williams, Ewan Chung, and Charles Kim.
HUGE SHOUT-OUT to Rachel Rehmet, whose support and generosity made this traveling show possible-- check her out at www.addsomefun.com!!!
BIG HUGS to our fellow Fringer, Thessaly Lerner, who also rocked the house-- check her out at www.ThessalyLerner.com!
THE CAST: (l to r) Dave Wilder, Nika Williams, Ewan Chung, Charles Kim, Jae Suh, and Andrea Apuy.
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JUNE 2006
VANCOUVER, CANADA
BIG PROPS to the VANCOUVER ASIAN CANADIAN THEATRE (visit WWW.VACT.CA for more info) & its producer extraordinaire, JOYCE LAM, for bringing OPM up to lovely Vancouver for its very own show. OPM closed its 4th year in Vancouver with a grand finale, after winning the top prize in the sketch comedy competition 3 years in a row.
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JUNE 2006
LITTLE TOKYO, L.A.
MUCH RESPECT to EAST WEST PLAYERS for setting the standard and putting on the Asian American Theatre Conference. OPM was honored to perform as one of a few selected artists in the showcase!
Support the APA theatre and arts movement, and check out to WWW.EASTWESTPLAYERS.ORG as well as WWW.NEXTBIGBANG.ORG.
"Interracial Relations," written by Charles Kim, features Nika Williams as Black Woman and Charles Kim as Korean Man, doing what Black women and Korean men do best... (You'll just have to see it.)
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APRIL - MAY 2006
HOLLYWOOD
This 5-week run of GET LAUGHS OR DIE TRYIN' at the Flight Theatre @ The Complex WAS A BLAST...
The cast of April-May 2006: (l to r) Chase Sprague, Nika Williams, Ewan Chung, Charles Kim, Jae Suh, Janina Gavankar, and Aaron Takahashi.
What cultural differences? Dave, played by Chase Sprague, squirms as he witnesses an unorthodox greeting between father and daughter (Charles Kim and Jae Suh, respectively), while mother (Ewan Chung, in drag) keeps a watchful eye, in "Meet The Korean Family," written by Roy Eisentsein.
Comments
Jul 1 2009 6:50 PM
Jun 27 2009 8:44 AM
Presto™
"Push Work"
B.T.W. If u haven't already, download the "Presto Mix 2009 Mix 1" in my blog section...that one is on the house!
Sep 1 2008 3:57 AM
www. myspace. com/CupcakeAndSwizzleStick wish you Success!
Aug 29 2008 12:16 AM
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW EVENT & RSVP!
Jul 13 2008 8:35 PM
www. myspace. com/CupcakeAndSwizzleStick
May 24 2008 1:45 AM
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!
May all your dreams come true!
May 7 2008 7:28 AM
greg
Jan 23 2008 10:09 PM
xoxoxoxo, The Ukulady
Jan 3 2008 1:40 AM
Nov 2 2007 5:57 AM
Great show and congratulations on the extension! Thanks also for the shout out at your curtain call; really appreciate that.
Break a leg guys and hope you had a great Halloween!
greg
Oct 26 2007 9:14 AM
Oct 25 2007 5:43 PM
Break a leg!!!
Pete
Sep 8 2007 7:57 PM
Thanks for giving a shout for 'Only the Brave'! Most righteously done.
greg
Aug 2 2007 10:59 PM
Hey Charles I thought maybe you would like these. I had a great time working with you guys. Take care. Keep in touch.
Adina
Apr 2 2007 7:04 AM
Mar 1 2007 2:55 AM
Oct 31 2006 8:11 PM
"OPM is the religion of the masses."
- Shishir Kurup
during Next Big Bang, June 2006
Oct 16 2006 10:33 AM
Aug 4 2006 4:48 AM