Cold Tofu

Description

COLD TOFU was founded in 1981 when four actresses, Marilyn Tokuda, Denice Kumagai, Judy Momii and Irma Escamilla, got together to explore comedy. At the time, the group did not know what Asian American comedy was -- they were entering unexplored territory. They wanted a place to do comedy that encompassed a variety of universal themes that people from every community could relate to. COLD TOFU first came together under the direction of Ann Bowen, an affiliate of the Second City Revue in Chicago. Stocked with six-packs and chips, the core group met at each other's homes on a regular basis. They were willing to try anything, and as a result, COLD TOFU began to take shape. Even the name, COLD TOFU, came about in a brainstorming session. "Someone said 'COLD TOFU,' and we said 'that's it no question about it,'" recalls Marilyn Tokuda, COLD TOFU's founding Artistic Director. "We just thought it was funny. It has no significance. It just sounded good and fit our group." COLD TOFU's goals are to present Asian American life from a new perspective and bridge the gap between performer and audience through pure entertainment and comedy. Asked what COLD TOFU is interested in portraying, Tokuda replies: "Human beings. That Asians growing up in America are like anyone else. Hopefully, the audience will come away a little less judgmental and more political aware, and be entertained and have a good time, too...

Fact sheet

Companies nearby