Adventure Theatre Names Chil Kong as New Artistic Director

Chil Kong
Photo | Erin Quill

Chil Kong has been named Adventure Theatre’s new artistic director, succeeding Michael Bobbitt who announced his move to the New Repertory Theatre in the Boston area.

Kong is a ten-time Helen Hayes Award recipient with over 10 years’ experience as co-artistic director for the critically acclaimed Lodestone Theatre Ensemble, a non-profit Asian American theater organization. He brings a strong vision and passion for the art of theater for young audiences in addition to a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Kong has multiple awards for his innovative reimagining of American classics and developing groundbreaking new works as artistic director of theater companies in Boston, San Diego, Seattle, and in Los Angeles.

Following his work with Lodestone, Chil transitioned to film and TV with his pilot adaptation of the critically acclaimed book Screening Party by Dennis Hensley in “Fashion Police” (Entertainment Television). After directing two feature films (“The Mikado Project” and “QWERTY”) and multiple short films (“Pollen,” “The Oh-Malley’s,” and “The Walk”), Kong was tapped as the creative director of a film fund which focused on English based stories for the Asian market. He currently has a live-action feature in development at Disney Channel.

Kong says of his new position with Adventure Theatre, “As a kid growing up in Woodbridge Virginia, I often had to explain my existence. Always the ‘other,’ I found myself trying to understand my place in the diverse tapestry of the American experience. So I left Virginia behind and traveled the country to grow as an artist and find my place.”

Kong goes on to say, “And now I come full circle to my hometown and to where my artistic journey began, a different person then when I started. Realizing, after all this time, that the very thing that inspired a misfit kid from Woodbridge, was and is the same inspiration I see in my son’s eyes when I take him to the theater. It’s that joy that I want to share with every child, regardless of age. It’s amazing I had to travel the country only to discover what I was looking for back home.”

According to a statement from Adventure Theatre, they received more than 100 applications for the position. Leon Seemann, Adventure Theatre Managing Director said, “Chil not only brings the experience, but the joy and community engagement that Adventure Theatre is known for.”

Seemann continues to say, “The fact that Chil reflects a segment of our community not currently represented is a wonderful bonus. From our quick research, Chil is the only Asian American Artistic Director in the DMV and the only Asian American in a leadership role in any major TYA theatre in the U.S. right now. We know Chil’s will build upon our work in promoting diversity and racial equity across all cultures.”

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