A Korean-American woman looks back on her life in “Did You Eat?”

11/07/2025

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This is a close-up, brightly lit photograph of a smiling woman, likely an actress or performer, standing against a dark, featureless backdrop. She has dark hair pulled back and is wearing a simple, dark gray sleeveless top and what appears to be striped, patterned pants. She has prominent tattoos visible on both of her upper arms and forearms. She is holding a small, white, spherical object, which is glowing with internal light, in both of her cupped hands at her waist. The direct lighting emphasizes her face and the luminous sphere, creating a high-contrast and focused portrait. — "Did You Eat?" Zoë Kim (Photo by Emma_Zordan)

This is a dramatic photograph from a theatrical performance, likely the solo show "Did You Eat? (밥 먹었니?)". A single woman, the performer Zoë Kim, stands centered within a brightly lit rectangular frame on the stage. She is dressed in a dark, simple sleeveless top and wide-legged light trousers. Her body is mostly in shadow, silhouetted against a pale gray background within the frame, which creates a high-contrast, introspective mood. The surrounding stage and backdrop are dark black, with a projected pattern of thin white streaks (like rain or a scratchy film effect) covering the entire image. Large white text in the top left corner serves as a subtitle or projection, reading: "You know, I’m so exhausted," reflecting a moment of emotional vulnerability. At the base of the frame, a small, glowing white object (likely the symbolic orb used in the play) sits on the floor near her right foot. — “Did You Eat?” Zoë Kim (Photo by Emma_Zordan)

Playwright-actress Zoë Kim has mined the memories of growing up with her Korean parents, turning it into the sometimes funny, sometimes heart-wrenching one-woman

performance piece Did You Eat? now playing at the Public Theatre in New York. Kim’s work is the first part of a proposed trilogy examining the nature of hunger in its metaphorical, physical, spiritual, and emotional senses. Seeing Did You Eat? is like the appetizer that whets your hunger to see more from this exceptional talent.

Kim’s piece is in the style of “If I could only go back in time and tell my younger self ‘eventually, it gets better.’” She delivers her dialogue, sometimes in Korean (with English supertitles) but mostly in English (sometimes with Korean supertitles), to a ball of light representing her infant self. Kim explains that food was her mother’s love language, so that mentions of food or eating were expressions of emotional concern. Kim’s father is disappointed in and dismissive of her for not being a boy. Since Kim’s love language is rooted in receiving acknowledgement, she slowly withers, hiding her own talents and ambitions, attempting to assuage her parents’ unreasonable expectations.

This is a theatrical photograph featuring a performer, likely the same person from the previous images, standing center stage with their arms fully extended overhead and their hands open. They are wearing a dark cropped top and light, loose-fitting trousers, exposing their midriff. The stage background is a dark, minimalist wall or screen adorned with a projection of several vertical and square blocks of vibrant, abstract color, primarily shades of pink, orange, and red, creating a contemporary and dynamic visual element. A small, glowing white sphere is visible on a low white ledge behind the performer, and the dramatic lighting casts strong shadows, reinforcing the energetic and performance-focused atmosphere. — “Did You Eat?” Zoë Kim (Photo by Emma_Zordan)

Directed by Chris Yejin and choreographed by Iris McCloughan, Zoë Kim delivers a moving, captivating performance as a young woman caught in the centuries of Korean sexual stereotypes about the place of women in society, yet achingly aware of American concepts of women’s empowerment. She never allows herself to fall into petty bathos about her life, bringing her audience along with her.

She is a consummate talent, both as playwright and actress, and it is a privilege to see her perform. Hers is a talent that I will be extremely interested in seeing as it develops. For now, all I can do is be in awe of her. I strongly recommend heading to the Public Theatre before her limited engagement ends and finding out the meaning behind the simple question Did You Eat?

This photo captures a performer, likely a dancer, kneeling on a dark floor in a theatrical setting. The figure is positioned centrally, wearing a dark top and light-colored trousers, with their hands clasped together near their chest and their head tilted slightly up, conveying a sense of intense emotion or supplication. The background is highly stylized: a low white ledge runs across the scene, above which a large backdrop is illuminated in a dramatic wash of vibrant blue and teal light. A small, glowing white sphere rests on the ledge to the performer's right. The lighting is focused and moody, drawing all attention to the figure's posture and expression. — “Did You Eat?” Zoë Kim (Photo by Emma_Zordan)

This striking, dimly-lit photograph features a person, possibly a dancer or performer, standing in a stylized, minimalist space. They are centered in the frame, wearing a dark sleeveless top and light-colored, loose-fitting trousers, with their hands clasped near their chest in a focused posture. The background is a stark white or light-gray platform or wall, dramatically illuminated by a single, glowing white sphere placed to the right of the figure, which casts a noticeable shadow behind them. The overall mood is intense, dramatic, and theatrical, utilizing high-contrast lighting in shades of deep blue and white. — “Did You Eat?” Zoë Kim (Photo by Emma_Zordan)

Did You Eat? is presented in the Shiva Theatre at the Public Theatre, 425 Lafayette St., in New York City through Nov. 16, 2025. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to publictheater.org.