Meet the Cast of "Coleman ’72"

Coleman ’72 by Charlie Oh takes you on a journey across America and across the generational divide with one Korean American family. And the talented cast embarking on this journey is a mix of SCR veterans and newcomers. Directed by Chay Yew, Coleman ’72 makes its world premiere April 23-May 14 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.

Paul Juhn makes his SCR debut as the family patriarch, James. His credits include Good Person of Szechwan (Public Theater), The Great Wave (Berkeley Repertory), Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land, Hannah and the Dread Gazebo, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Winter’s Tale, Antony and Cleopatra (all at Oregon Shakespeare Festival) and The Importance of Being Earnest (La Jolla Playhouse) among others. His television credits include “The Blacklist,” “Law & Order,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “30 Rock,” “Quantico” and “Person of Interest.”

Jessica Ko makes her SCR debut as the family’s middle child, Michelle. She spent four seasons at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival—where she first worked with Yew in the world premiere of Hannah and the Dread Gazebo, originating the role of Shapeshifter. Her other OSF credits include Dou Yi in the U.S. premiere of Snow in Midsummer, Rosalind in As You Like It and Princess Katherine/Boy/Montjoy in Henry V. Ko has appeared at regional theatres all over the country, including Berkshire Theatre Group, Cleveland Play House, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Trinity Repertory Company and Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Along with acting, Ko is a talented playwright. Her play was presented at the Kirk Douglas Theatre last September as part of Center Theatre Group’s 2021-22 Writer’s Workshop and is currently a semifinalist for the 2023 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference.

An Ovation-nominated actor, Jully Lee makes her third appearance on SCR’s stages as Annie, the family matriarch, following her role as Carnelia in Aubergine(2019) and Ama Mituki in tokyo fish story (2015). Lee made her Broadway debut as Ruby in KPOP the Musical. Her other theatre credits include The Joy Luck Club(national tour), Hannah and the Dread Gazebo (Fountain Theatre/East West Players), Ladies and Colony Collapse (Boston Court Pasadena), 36 Views (PCPA) and Mexican Day (Rogue Machine), among others. Lee’s numerous television credits including recurring roles on “Young Sheldon,” “The Kicks,” and “Gang Related,” along with guest appearance on “S.W.A.T.,” “This Is Us,” “Jane the Virgin,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Veep,” “Rosewood,” “Henry Danger,” and “The Kominsky Method.”

Tess Lina makes her SCR debut as the oldest child, Jenn. Most recently, Lina played in the L.A. Theatre Works national tour of Seven. Her credits include stops at major regional theatres across the country, including Mark Taper Forum, Guthrie Theater, Indiana Repertory, La Jolla Playhouse, Laguna Playhouse and at Denver Center for the Performing Arts, where she appeared in Tantalus as part of a co-production with Royal Shakespeare Company. Lina’s television credits include “CSI,” “NCIS,” “House,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “S.W.A.T.,” and the upcoming “For All Mankind.”

Ryun Yu returns to SCR as the youngest child, Joey, after his hilarious portrayal of four characters (Tzi Chuan/Melvin/Dad/General Tso) in last spring’s production of Tiger Style! by Mike Lew. Before that, Yu last appeared at SCR in 2015 as Takeshi in tokyo fish story, a role he originated. He also originated the role of Gordon Hirabayashi in Hold These Truths at East West Players, Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., Pasadena Playhouse and San Diego Rep, where he won a Craig Noel Award for best solo performance. Yu’s television credits include the recurring character of Pastor Daniel Kwon on the FX show “Baskets”, as Larry on “Fuller House”, and as DHH in David Henry Hwang’s Yellowface, the first adaptation of a major play for YouTube.