We recently connected with Kai Xing Mun and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kai Xing, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I’ve always loved cartoons, fairy tales, mythology, television, and movies. Growing up, I often imagined my own characters to be in those stories. Watching Glee and getting into Broadway musicals, I believed that being an actor would be the life for me. Actors were like superheroes to me. They were the change you want to see in the world. A life of excitement, traveling everywhere, experiencing different lives and worlds, and getting to create magic on stage and screen.
After school, I took lessons in acting, singing and dancing at Abrons Arts Center where I had the privilege of performing in Off-Broadway spaces. Then I graduated in theatre arts from Marymount Manhattan College. I could talk about playing theater games, learning about different acting techniques, and studying Shakespeare and Greek theatre in an academic setting…but I want to talk about what I learned about acting in my writing.
Writing and acting are like two sides of the same coin to me. Writing and acting are two mediums that are intrinsic together. After all, isn’t it all storytelling? Writing is how I get to dive deep to name emotions, reflect on my experiences, and ask questions to try to seek out answers for the story and my life. I apply all that to acting as well. It’s not just so I can become a better actor, it’s also to better myself too.
Most important of all I learned the power of the voice through acting. I don’t just mean physically projecting my voice on stage, but the importance of making a stand. I love using my voice because whenever I get to speak or create a story, it’s all mine. It belongs to me, no matter what anyone may think or say. That’s putting my own truth and experience in a world regardless if anyone else can understand me or not. In a world full of corruption and violence, at least I took the chance to take up space to speak a piece of my mind.
Acting has brought me love and community which nourishes my soul. The art of acting taught me to honor myself, my boundaries, and my dreams. It’s teaching me not to just feel in my acting, but to cherish my life beyond the stage too.

Kai Xing, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Kai Xing Mun (she/they/he) is a Malaysian-Chinese American actor who writes their own stories. Born and raised in Lenapehoking, also known as NYC, Kai has grown up performing Off-Broadway while training in acting, singing, and dancing at Abrons Arts Center. They became a theatre arts graduate of Marymount Manhattan College and have since appeared in theatre, film, and television. As an actor, Kai pursues the strength and vulnerability of the story, transforms characters on page into multi-faceted beings on stage, and works to help create a space for community and love.
While working towards their goal of having their own film and theatre production company one day, Kai performs burlesque and drag all over New York at night.
Highlighted original plays they’ve written include: “Calico” (Moxie Arts 2023 Finalist, The Nest by In Full Color), “Anna May Wong: PERSONA” (SheNYC Semi-Finalist, The Athena Project, Queerly Festival by FRIGID New York, Frank Silvera Workshop), Astral (IHRA Festival at The Tank, screenplay adaptation with “Unfinished Works” by Asian American Film Lab), and Devour (Queer Scare Festival by East Village Playwrights at The NYC LGBT Center).

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I always thought the goal was to get an Oscar, and then keep winning more Oscars. When I’m not cast, I have learned to take control of my life and find other ways to keep and incorporate elements of acting in my life. I do that through writing, burlesque, and drag. As validating as it might feel to be represented by an agency or win awards, I know I’m an actor no matter what. When you go into acting, it better be for something beyond awards. You need a will to do whatever it takes, especially when you’re not a nepo-baby and have no connections. Besides, I have a feeling that trophies will not validate me or heal me.
I do believe that love will. It never mattered if I felt unloved, because I knew that I still had the ability to love. So by giving my love and devotion to acting, I learned to embody love. That means being compassionate to myself, being courageous when things look bleak, and always living with an open heart and mind.
I believe I can be very content and happy with my life if I can have my own film and theater production company one day. I would love to be able to act whenever I want (even if I have to cast myself), develop stories I always wanted to see and never expected, and amplify others’ voices and talents too. Till then when I do create an official production company, I hope it can also be a home for many friendships and happy memories for many.
On that note, I want to urge support for indie theater and independent producers presenting work (not just Broadway). Come out to drag shows and burlesque shows at local bars and businesses, not just fancy-schmancy places. Please value safety, boundaries, and transparent communication for artists and performers.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I valued my film class in high school, but we were always watching and learning about white Golden Age actors such as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. While studying theatre in college we always focused on Shakespeare and Greek plays. I had only one day in the entire course where the class briefly talked about theatre from around the world like Noh theatre, and Peking opera. Now more than ever, I am focusing on studying non-white actors and the theatre history of marginalized groups. One of the first and biggest ways I’m doing that so far? Constantly researching and learning all I can about Anna May Wong who I’ve known about since middle school. She has always been my dream role and proof that dreams come true. I’ve bought, read and reread several of her biographies to learn more about her, her acting friends, and co-stars. That’s how I began learning more about actors of color such as Paul Robeson, Philip Ahn, and Sessue Hayakawa.
I’m interested in learning about the acting techniques these actors practiced. I know that Anna grew up practicing facial expressions to crying on cue in front of the mirror. In one documentary, I learned that apparently to prepare herself for one crying scene she listened to violin music.
It’s also because I’ve been working on writing a play about her.
It all started out as a monologue I wrote about her character as part of In Full Color’s showcase in 2019 and published in “In Full Color: The First Five Years Anthology.” Then I spent the last few years writing and rewriting a play as a tribute to her life.
I’ve been blessed with the accomplishments my script “Anna May Wong: PERSONA” has made so far. The script became a SheNYC semifinalist in 2023. I’ve had play readings with the Read & Rant series by The Athena Project, Queerly Festival by FRIGID New York, and an upcoming virtual play reading with the Frank Silvera Workshop on Feb 25. I am grateful to everyone who has supported me, worked with me, and given this story a chance. I hope whenever I complete it, that she’ll like it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kaixingmun

Image Credits
Mike Drake Armani Cooper The Tank In Full Color Billie B Photography