Meet Cold Tofu Improv from Los Angeles

We’re excited to introduce to you Cold Tofu, the Nation’s longest running and oldest Asian American Improv and Sketch comedy group, as per our conversation with its current Artistic Director, Michael C. Palma.

Hi Michael, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
COLD TOFU was founded in 1981 by Marilyn Tokuda and Denice Kumagai who joined forces with Judy Momii and Irma Escamilla to start the nation’s first and longest running Asian American improv and comedy troupe. During a time when comedy was not a viable path for Asian American performers, these four founding members wanted to provide opportunities for Asian American actors to perform and explore comedy. Stocked with six-packs and chips, the core group met regularly at each other’s homes exploring new territory – Asian American comedy. Though touted as being the first Asian American improv group, COLD TOFU’s roots are multicultural. Early members include Amy Hill, Joey Miyashima, Phil LaMarr, Jerry Tondo, Scott Nagatani, Jim MacNerland, Geoff Rivas, and Robert Covarrubias.

The group built its foundation by working with noted directors and coaches such as Stephen Book (founder of Improvisational Acting Technique, and co-worker of Viola Spolin), Gary Austin (creator of THE GROUNDLINGS), and Andy Goldberg (director of OFF THE WALL at The Improv). COLD TOFU has continued performing improv and sketch comedy throughout their 40-year history.

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I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
With any company or organization, I think a couple of challenges Cold Tofu faces is funding and member retention. For the most part, we’ve been going strong – 44 years and counting, because of the uniqueness of organization. Over the years, members have been very supportive of Cold Tofu’s mission, and I attribute that to the camaraderie, similar backgrounds, and trust that our members continue to share.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Cold Tofu is the longest running Asian American comedy improv and sketch group in the nation. During its onset, there were very few opportunities for Asian American actors to showcase their comedic abilities. From those early days of its inception, Cold Tofu has developed curriculums to train up and coming artists through the medium of improv. What sets us apart from other improv companies is our history and how we were created by four women of color who wanted to show the world that Asian Americans are funny and talented in the world of comedy. Cold Tofu continues to thrive because there is a sense of community not only amongst the members, but also in where we are based, in the historic Little Tokyo district in Los Angeles. We partner with other organizations to lead workshops, perform, and help out in community events.

This sense of history and community is what makes us strong and unique, as we continue to bring up the next generation of Asian American artists and performers. Today, we perform short form and long form improv shows in Southern California and provide improv workshops for performers, as well as professional development opportunities in the corporate world.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
One of our most unique characteristics is that we are primarily an organization of color. Coming from similar backgrounds, our members feel at home knowing that we all share similar histories and stories. Because of this, there is a strong sense of community and belonging amongst our members, which helps to build a strong and extraordinary ensemble.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.coldtofu.org/
• Instagram: @coldtofuimprov
• Facebook: Cold Tofu Improv

Image Credits
All images by M Palma Photography