Moliere’s Tartuffe at CSC Brings Acclaimed Actor to the Stage

In the vast landscape of entertainment, there are few individuals whose careers resonate as deeply and diversely as that of Randall Duk Kim. An actor of unparalleled skill and a luminary of both theater and film, Kim's journey is not just a chronicle of success but a testament to the enduring power of talent, perseverance, and passion. Kim’s journey continues as he returns to the Sitnik Stage, as Orgon in Centenary Stage Company’s production of Moliere’s Tartuffe running February 16 through March 3, 2024.

Born in 1943 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Kim's early life was marked by the fusion of cultures that would later enrich his performances. His upbringing instilled a deep appreciation for storytelling, a trait that would become the cornerstone of his illustrious career.

“At age 10, I saw my first play, Oklahoma, at the Honolulu Community Theatre and it was ecstasy to see that make-believe could be ‘real’. My closest companion was my imagination and it made me perpetually restless, always hungry for stories, stories told to me, stories overheard, stories sent through the radio or projected onto screens or enacted before my eyes, stories I found in a myriad of books. I was insatiable,” commented Kim.

While in high school, the University of Hawaii’s drama department began the “Great Plays Cycle,” a program designed for students to see eight traditional Western performances over the span of four years. At 16 years old, Kim saw Hamlet and Oedipus live on stage and credits these shows to his love of theater and fueled his drive to become a stage actor dedicated to the “classical” theatre.

Kim's ascent in the world of acting was nothing short of remarkable, leaving Hawaii in 1964 with close friend, Charles Bright, who he would later co-found the American Players Theatre, and headed to New York City. He spent the following years filling his life with theatre, attending countless performances in New York, San Francisco, and London. Kim honed his craft at the prestigious New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and later at the renowned American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. It was here that he began earning critical acclaim for his nuanced performances and commanding presence.

Kim starred in two of Frank Chin’s plays including The Chickencoop Chinaman, the first play written by an Asian American and professionally produced in New York, and The Year of the Dragon in 1974. Later in 1974, Kim became one of the first Asian-American actors to play a leading role in The New York Public Theater’s production of Shakespeare’s Pericles, Prince of Tyre.

One of the defining moments in Kim's career came with his portrayal of the titular character in "The King and I" on Broadway. His rendition of the iconic role showcased not only his remarkable talent as an actor, but also his ability to breathe new life into classic characters, captivating audiences with his charisma and depth. Some of his most notable performances included the title role in Hamlet, Andrew Kwong/Eng Tieng-Bin in the Golden Child and Wang in the Flower Drum Song.

“These plays won’t let you go, you can’t go far from them, I mean when Hamlet gets you or Seagull gets you or any of these plays it’s like, you can’t shake it off. It suddenly becomes a part of your being. I mean, within me I now carry all characters that I have ever played. They’re a part of my being, they’re a part of who I am,” commented Kim.

Kim left an indelible mark in film as well and brought his talents to a wider audience, with memorable roles in movies such as "The Matrix Reloaded" where he portrayed ‘The Keymaker’ and "Memoirs of a Geisha." Other film roles included the voice of Master Oogway in Kung Fu Panda, Prisoners in Time, The Replacement Killers, Lost Empire (aka the Monkey King), Anna and The King, Dragonball Evolution, The Last Airbender, and Ninja Assassin. TV audiences have seen him in Fringe, Person of Interest, and Elementary. In each performance, Kim brought a sense of gravitas and authenticity that elevated the storytelling, earning him a legion of fans and accolades from critics alike.

One of Kim’s most notable contributions to the arts is his work with the American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Kim and his wife, Anne Occhiogrosso, have now devoted 40 years of their lives to classical theatre, through acting, directing, teaching, commissioning new translations of classic work, and developing a singular approach to classical text interpretation. This life-long dedication to classical theatre led to their founding the American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin, along with their founding partner Charles J. Bright, in 1979.

“Charles Bright, Anne Occhiogrosso, and I had a very big dream, to found and build an American, classical repertory company producing plays within the framework of a classical theatre research and training center. We incorporated in Washington D.C. in 1977, and in 1980 planted ourselves in Spring Green, WI. With high hopes and limited funds, we dove into realizing our dream,” states Kim via his performing arts legacy project site.

He served as the Artistic Director of the theatre for many years after its founding and under their combined leadership, the American Players Theatre received a Tony Award nomination in 1985 for “Outstanding Regional Theatre in America.” The theater spent its formative years and all those following training both adult and children in the art of the stage through various classical works.

After many years of working with the American Players Theatre, Kim and his wife left Wisconsin to pursue even more theatrical endeavors. In October 2023, after a 25-year absence, they returned to celebrate the Folger Library’s national tour of Shakespeare’s first folio in The Pleasure of His Company.

His most recent credits are a mix of stage and screen such as CSC’s professional production of Art, An Enemy Of The People and John Wick 3. He is the voice of John in John, Sun-Hee in The Boys Presents: Diabolical and Wan Shi Tong in Avatar: The Last Air Bender.

Beyond his artistic achievements, Kim's contributions to the Asian American community cannot be overstated. At a time when opportunities for Asian actors were scarce, he blazed a trail for future generations, breaking down barriers and paving the way for greater representation in the industry.

Kim was inducted into the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters in 2003 and has been invited to have his theatre, film, and life journey remembered through The Performing Arts Legacy Project, through the Actors’ Fund. This legacy project contains Randall’s own words about his journey in life and in performing, as well as interviews and highlights of his incredible career.
You can find it online at performingartslegacy.org/kimrandall/

In addition to starring in CSC’s production of Tartuffe as Orgon, the story’s protagonist, Kim also helms the production as the co-director alongside his wife, artistic collaborator, and American Player’s Theatre Co-founder, Anne Occhiogrosso. Kim and Occhiogrosso are joined by many familiar faces including Nick Bettens.

“Whether watching Randall onstage or performing alongside him, one is awestruck by his disappearance into a role. He brings himself to a character, and they walk hand in hand onstage. The audience gets the gift of watching his performance and seeing their reflection, both the character in Randall, and the human in themselves. Randall truly holds “the Mirror up to Nature” and it’s an inspiring experience to be a part of, both as an actor, and a human being,” commented Bettens.

Tickets for Tartuffe range from $25 – $29.50 for adults and $15 - $17.50 for students. Children under 12 are free. The Sitnik Theatre located in the Lackland Center of the Centenary University campus at 715 Grand Avenue, Hackettstown, NJ.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit centenarystageco.org or call the Centenary Stage Company box office at 908- 979-0900. The Centenary Stage Company box office is open Monday through Friday from 1-5 p.m. and two hours prior to performances. The box office is located in the Lackland Performing Arts Center on the campus of Centenary University at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ.

The 2023-24 Season of Performing Arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of the NJ State Council on the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, the Sandra Kupperman Foundation, the John and Margaret Post Foundation, The New Jersey Theatre Alliance, the CSC corporate sponsors, including Platinum Season Sponsor the House of the Good Shepherd, Silver Sponsors, Heath Village, Visions Federal Credit Union, Explore Warren, and Fulton Bank, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.