Today we’d like to introduce you to Chaeyeon Kim.
Hi Chaeyeon, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi, I’m Chaeyeon Kim — a performer and actress working internationally.
I began my journey with rigorous training in voice and acting, drawn to the stage by a deep curiosity about human complexity. What started as a love for performance gradually evolved into something more intentional: a desire to embody layered, emotionally precise women and to tell stories that linger beyond the curtain call.
Over time, my work expanded across borders, allowing me to collaborate with diverse creatives and audiences. Navigating different cultural landscapes sharpened my artistic voice and made me more conscious of the kinds of stories I wanted to champion — particularly those that reflect the depth and nuance of Asian and Asian American experiences.
That vision led me to co-found Sync Stages with my creative partner, Sooyeon. We created the company to celebrate and elevate Asian American narratives with sophistication and ambition — producing work that feels both intimate and expansive.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all. This industry is built on “no.”
No after no after no — rooms where you walk in hopeful and walk out unseen. Early on, I realized that rejection isn’t occasional here; it’s constant. You develop resilience not because you want to, but because you have to.
But what changed everything for me was understanding that one “yes” is enough. If there is even one person who believes in you — or one moment that feels aligned — you keep going. The “no’s” stopped feeling like walls and started feeling like direction.
In many ways, rejection pushed me into courage. When doors didn’t open, I stopped waiting outside them. I began creating my own work, developing my own projects, and ultimately co-founding Sync Stages. If the space didn’t exist for the kind of stories I wanted to tell, I decided to build the space myself.
So no, it hasn’t been smooth. But every “no” sharpened my voice. And that voice is now mine — fully, unapologetically, and by design.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an actress and performer working across stage and screen, with a foundation deeply rooted in live performance. My work lives in intimate, emotionally charged spaces — whether that’s a theatrical stage, a cabaret room, or a film set.
I both produce and perform my own cabarets, including AAPI Playlist: Volume 1 at The Green Room 42. I’ve also performed at some of New York’s most respected venues — New York City Center, 54 Below, and Don’t Tell Mama — spaces known for celebrating refined, high-caliber musical storytelling. Cabaret, for me, is not just performance; it’s authorship. I curate the narrative, shape the emotional arc, and invite the audience into something personal and immediate.
On the theatrical side, I’ve led Off-Broadway productions including Blue Blind, Nine Shadows in Bloom, and Five Times in One Night. These projects allowed me to step into complex female leads — women navigating longing, restraint, desire, and quiet rebellion. I’m drawn to roles that require emotional precision and stillness as much as power.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is simple but unforgettable.
Every Sunday, my dad would take me to an amusement park. It became our ritual — just the two of us. We would run straight to the roller coasters, and I remember the feeling of holding his hand tightly as the ride climbed higher and higher. The drop was terrifying and thrilling at the same time, but I always felt safe because he was next to me.
Afterward, we would share churros — still warm, covered in sugar — laughing about who screamed louder. It wasn’t extravagant, but it felt magical. Those Sundays taught me joy, courage, and how to embrace the thrill of the unknown.
Looking back, I think those roller coasters were my first stage — fear, excitement, surrender — and the lesson that even when your heart is racing, you hold on and enjoy the ride.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chaeyeonkim.net
- Instagram: @iamchaeyeonkim
