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Voices Rising: Korean Diaspora Voices in Performance lands in NYC this Fall!

9/3/2026

Evolving Narratives

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  • 5 hours ago
  • 7 min read

Watch this short video below to learn more about our award-winning Voices Rising series!



Our New York-Emmy nominated Voices Rising series shines a spotlight on AAPI culture, explores issues at the heart of the Asian American experience, and celebrates the contributions of the Asian diaspora to American society.



Our flagship series returns this fall for Voices Rising: Korean Diaspora Voices in Performance, produced as a collaboration between ALL ARTS, the Serica Initiative, and Park Avenue Armory.



Wednesday, September 24, 2026 | 7:30–9:00 PM

Park Avenue Armory | 643 Park Ave, New York, NY 10065

Tickets: $45, buy tickets here


The live showcase will feature two panel conversations and two live performances by Korean and Korean American artists.


The program will convene company members from Simon Stone’s Korean-language adaptation of The Cherry Orchard and other prominent Korean diaspora performers to reflect on how the Korean and Korean American diasporas have shaped the evolution of Asian American theater, dance, music, and performance. The program will also consider how Korean artists are influencing US culture, from the global reach of K-pop and K-drama, to the vitality of the contemporary stage, while carrying forward deep artistic traditions. 



PROGRAM AT A GLANCE



Opening Performance: Opera performance by Jasmine Rice LaBeija


Welcome Remarks: Serica & ALL ARTS


Panel I: The Cherry Orchard and the Korean Diaspora in Theater & Performing Arts

Moderator: Kyung Yoon

Panelists: Min K. Shin and Nam Yunho


Featuring producer Min K. Shin and actor Nam Yunho, moderated by Kyung Yoon, the conversation will use The Cherry Orchard as a starting point for a wider discussion of Korean artists and performing arts across cultures and borders.


The panel will explore the production itself, international artistic collaboration, Korean theater and performing arts, and the experiences of artists and creative leaders whose work moves between Korea and international stages.


Performance: Violin performance by Kristin Lee


Panel II: The Wider Global Impact of Korean Diasporic Arts & Culture

Moderator: Panney Wei

Panelists: Hee Seo, Kristin Lee and Joshua Hyunho Lee


Moderated by Panney Wei and featuring Hee Seo, Kristin Lee, and Joshua Hyunho Lee, the second panel expands the conversation across movies, television, music and dance.


The discussion will consider the wider global impact of Korean diasporic arts and culture and how Korean artists are influencing U.S. culture—from the global reach of K-pop and K-drama to contemporary performance—while carrying forward deep artistic traditions.



MEET THE PANELISTS & PERFORMERS


Min K. Shin

Panelist, Panel I


Min K. Shin is the Producer of The Cherry Orchard and Head of Programming at LG Arts Center SEOUL, where she oversees the curation, producing, and programming of the center's two venues (a 1,250-seat main hall and a 350-seat flexible stage) spanning genres from theater and dance to musicals and concerts. She also curates the center's signature season, CoMPAS(Contemporary Music and Performing Arts Season).


With more than two decades of experience across the arts and creative industries, including leadership roles at LG Arts Center, the National Theater of Korea, and the Korea Arts Management Service, Min K. Shin continues to drive cross-border collaboration, with a growing interest in expanding beyond theater into contemporary dance, music, and other genres to create new work for global audience. Her cross-border practice is rooted in her own training: she holds an MA in International Performance Research from the University of Warwick and the University of Amsterdam, completed as a recipient of the European Commission's Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's Degree Scholarship.


Nam Yunho

Panelist, Panel I


Nam Yunho is South Korean actor whose career bridges between classical theater to films and TV series, most recently he appeared in the stage production of The Cherry Orchard at LG Arts Center SEOUL in 2024.


Nam first established his reputation as a formidable leading actor in the Korean theater scene, taking on a repertoire of demanding, psychologically complex roles including Alan Strang in Equus and the title characters in The Chorus: Oedipus, Shakespeare's Pericles, and Coriolanus. After a decade-long theater career, Nam has moved seamlessly into film and television scenes and quickly became a sought-after actor in the industry. His cinematic breakthrough came with 12.12: The Day (2023), a military thriller based on the true historical event that became one of the Top 10 highest-grossing Korean films of all time. His theatrical training includes a BA in Media Arts from Royal Holloway College, University of London, an MFA in Acting from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and an MA Theatre Lab from Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).


Kyung Yoon

Moderator, Panel I


Kyung B. Yoon is the President and CEO (as well as co-founder) of the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF). Under her visionary leadership, KACF has grown into the leading force mobilizing Korean Americans to drive positive change in their communities through philanthropy. Notably, the Foundation received a prestigious $5 million Mackenzie Scott grant in 2024 to accelerate the next chapter of its growth as a national foundation.


Kyung was one of the first appointments to the inaugural New York State AAPI Commission formed in 2024 by Governor Kathy Hochul. She has also previously served as the board chair of Philanthropy New York and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, as a trustee of the New York Foundation, and as a board member of the United Way of New York City. In 2023, Kyung was awarded the Moran Medal of the Order of Civil Merit by the Republic of Korea for her pioneering work to lift up the Korean immigrant community and her trailblazing leadership in building a vibrant culture of giving among Korean Americans.


Jasmine Rice LaBeija

Performer


Jasmine Rice LaBeija is a Juilliard-trained operatic tenor, internationally acclaimed drag artist, and one of New York City’s most magnetic nightlife icons — a singular performer redefining the intersection of classical excellence and queer artistry on the global stage.


In 2025, she made history as the first drag artist to reach the finals of Britain’s Got Talent, earning a coveted Golden Buzzer and captivating millions with her operatic virtuosity and luminous presence. A proud Korean-American and the International Godmother of the Royal House of LaBeija, Jasmine moves seamlessly between opera houses, concert halls, drag stages, and cultural institutions — bridging tradition and transformation in every performance.


Jasmine’s classical foundation began at The Juilliard School, where she performed Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and gave her debut recital in Weill Hall. Her performance credits include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Shell, and major stages across the U.S. and abroad. Beyond opera, she is a beloved fixture of NYC nightlife, drawing celebrity audiences including Loren Allred, Tom Daley, and Chappell Roan. Her film work has screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, and she served as the face of NYC Pride 2020.


Kristin Lee

Performer & Panelist, Panel II


Kristin Lee is a violinist of remarkable versatility and impeccable technique who enjoys a vibrant career as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, and artistic director.


As a soloist, Lee has appeared with leading orchestras including The Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, and more. An accomplished chamber musician, Kristin Lee is a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, performing regularly in New York at Lincoln Center and on tour. In addition to her prolific performance career, Lee is a devoted educator. She has served on the faculty of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and she has also been in residence with the Singapore National Youth Orchestra, the El Sistema Chamber Music Festival of Venezuela, and is a summer faculty member at Music@Menlo’s Chamber Music Institute.  In 2026, she makes her solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall performing her program American Sketches with pianist John Novacek.


Kristin Lee’s honors include an Avery Fisher Career Grant, top prizes in the Walter W. Naumburg Competition and the Astral Artists National Auditions, among numerous other awards.


Joshua Hyunho Lee

Panelist, Panel II


Joshua Hyunho Lee is a Korean American actor, dancer, and singer based in New York City. He graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Computer Science, a secondary in Economics, and a language citation in Mandarin Chinese. He transitioned from a career in venture capital to pursue acting full-time and has since made his Broadway debut originating the role of Timmy X in KPOP, performed alongside Stray Kids at the MTV Video Music Awards, and stars as Supreme in Gangnam Project. He currently portrays Jin in Netflix’s #1 global hit XO, Kitty.


Hee Seo

Panelist, Panel II


Born in Seoul, South Korea, Hee Seo began her ballet training in her hometown at the Sun-hwa Arts Middle School.  She was awarded a three-year full scholarship to continue her training at the Universal Ballet Academy in Washington, D.C. In 2003, Seo won a scholarship to train at the John Cranko Ballet Academy in Stuttgart. She is the recipient of the 2003 Prix de Lausanne Award and the 2003 Grand Prix at the Youth America Grand Prix in New York.


Seo joined American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in 2004 and was promoted to Soloist in August 2010 and to Principal Dancer in July 2012. Her repertoire with the Company includes numerous roles: Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Princess Aurora, the Lilac Fairy, the Fairy of Sincerity, and Princess Florine in The Sleeping Beauty, Odette-Odile, the pas de trois, the Polish Princess, and a big swan in Swan Lake, Clara, the Princess and one of the Nutcracker’s Sisters in Ratmansky’s The Nutcracker, among many other roles.


Panney Wei

Moderator, Panel II


Panney Wei is an award-winning entrepreneur, producer, investor, and philanthropist whose work spans Broadway, film, hospitality, food, and social impact. She is the founding partner of Harpe Ventures, and her body of work includes productions that have garnered Tony, Emmy, and Academy Award nominations.


Panney is currently producing and supporting a slate of projects including Working Girl, The Karate Kid musical, Millennials Are Killing Musicals, and a documentary chronicling the extraordinary life and journey of acclaimed chef and MasterChef winner Christine Ha. She is also building a new ice cream company that celebrates Asian cultures and bridges communities through the universal joy of ice cream. In the hospitality space and the world of food, Panney is a partner in Momofuku and Niku X in Los Angeles, bringing together her passions for culture, storytelling, entrepreneurship, and shared experiences. Her civic and philanthropic leadership includes service on the board of the Drama League and the Vincent Price Art Museum, as well as serving as a Trustee of the Asian Hall of Fame and participating in global councils on women in sports and entertainment, trauma prevention, and legacy preservation.







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