Token Theatre
Token Theatre aims to change the narrative and shatter the false constructs about Asian Americans. We create new stories, reimagine classic works, and empower artists to reshape the American identity.

Board Members

 

BOARD MEMBERS

ERIK KAIKO

Founding Board Member

Erik is extremely grateful to work with Token Theatre to provide opportunities for Asian American artists in Chicago. Currently the Director of Marketing & Communications at Writers Theatre in Glencoe, he previously served as the Marketing Associate at New York Theatre Workshop where he was involved in a number of exciting productions including the world premiere of folk opera Hadestown, Lazarus by David Bowie and Enda Walsh, and Othello featuring David Oyelowo and Daniel Craig. After studying Theatre and Sociology at Northwestern University, he was an active member of the Chicago theatre community (performing with Marriott Lincolnshire, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Porchlight Music Theatre and Silk Road Rising, among others) before moving to New York to earn his MFA in Theatre Management and Producing from Columbia University. Erik has been a guest lecturer at Hunter College, and acted as Company Manager for Snug Harbor Productions and General Manager of Invisible Wall Productions in NYC. He is a co-founder of Token Theatre and acted as Managing Director until 2021.

HELEN YOUNG

Founding Board Member

Helen is excited to be a part of and watch Token Theatre grow into an institution that provides amazing opportunities for Asian American artists in Chicago. Helen is an actor and director. Recent works include workshop readings of the one-woman show from SoloChicago's Hello Kitty Must Die (actor), Silk Road Rising's New China Festival play reading series (lead director), Sue Pak's The Fixer (director) for Our Perspectives and Chicago Dramatist play reading series. Other directing and related credits include: Wild Boar (Dir., Silk Road Rising), American Hwangap (Dir., A-Squared/Halcyon), The Audience (Assoc. Dir., TimeLine), Hundred Flowers Project (Asst. Dir., Silk Road Rising) along with readings at Silk Road Rising, TimeLine, Artistic Home, Artemesia, Broken Nose, Polarity Ensemble. As an actor, Helen has worked with SideShow, TimeLine, Goodman, Steppenwolf, Polarity Ensemble, Muse of Fire, Side Project, Stage Left. Helen has also worked in Film and Television and is a member of SAG/AFTRA.