“Ice cream.” “Water fights.” “Peeing in the ocean and nobody knows.” A boy’s handwritten list to cheer up his despondent mom becomes a surprisingly funny and poignant ode to humanity…
Queer Korean actor and writer Daniel K. Isaac is about to take audiences on a transcendent and tender coming-of-age journey that reminds us to pay attention to life’s smallest joys – and to each other – as he steps into the starring role of Every Brilliant Thing, a one-person play written by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe. The production will run September 14 – October 15 at LA’s Geffen’s Playhouse, with previews beginning September 6.
Every Brilliant Thing will also be the Geffen’s 2023/2024 season opener, as well as the first play the venue has produced in the round.
As an actor, Isaac is a Drama Desk Award nominee and has been seen in Off-Broadway productions such as You Will Get Sick and The Chinese Lady. His film and television credits include Comedy Central’s The Other Two, HBO’s Too Big to Fail, and CBS’ Person of Interest, but his best known role is playing Ben Kim throughout all seven seasons of Showtime’s Billions.
Instinct had the opportunity to catch up with Isaac and talk more about Every Brilliant Thing and making his Geffen Playhouse debut. He also touches on why he wanted to be involved with the show, his passion for entertaining, and other upcoming projects.
Check out the full video interview below.
Daniel K. Isaac…
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Click HERE for more information and to purchase tickets for Every Brilliant Thing.
I really enjoyed According to my Mother if anyone remembers it was a short movie he made about his life. A few years ago Daniel began posting conversations, texts, and emails he had with his mother, Esther Lee, on Facebook and Instagram. Daniel is a gay Korean American actor slash artist living in New York City and Esther is an ultra-conservative, uber-Christian Korean immigrant living in Southern California. ‘Dramedy’ doesn’t even begin to cover it…Based on a true relationship. Isaac, who is gay, was in conversion therapy from the ages of 13 to 16, and his sexuality has strained his relationship with his ultra-conservative mother. “According to My Mother is about how to reconcile with your own family member, who has opposite beliefs and opposite value systems, and yet you deeply love each other,” I particularly liked it because I can relate to having a strained relationship w my parents because of my sexuality.