Leadership

Kyoung H. Park, Executive Artistic Director

Kyoung H. Park (he/him) is a North Korean writer and theater-maker, born and raised in Santiago, Chile, currently living in Brooklyn, New York. As Artistic Director of Kyoung’s Pacific Beat, he has written/directed three full-length plays — disOriented, TALA, and PILLOWTALK — and created over 35 community-based, experimental projects including performances for new media. His work centers stories of (im)migration, queerness, identity and the ways these intersect in communities of color; it’s described as “intensely personal” by American Theater Magazine and “very much of this moment” by the New York Times. Learn more.

Ishmael Thaahir, Producing Director

Ishmael Thaahir (he/him) is a producer, performer, and educator born in Harlem, NY. Ishmael is a trained actor who earned his B.F.A. in Theatre from North Carolina A&T State University in 2019. He currently serves as the Producing Director at Kyoung’s Pacific Beat and was KPB’s Associate Artistic Producer and Intern starting in 2018. Ishmael believes art is an invaluable component in community building and focuses on building equity in art-making and funding. Ishmael believes that art should be a resource available to anyone who desires to share their voice with the world. 

Ishmael was both an actor and assistant director in NERO, KPB’s latest production, performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Triad Stage) and toured with KPB’s PILLOWTALK (Victory Gardens). Ishmael has worked as an educator both for high schoolers (North Carolina Governor’s School West) and middle schoolers (Hunts Point Alliance for Children) and has trained actors, built reading and writing comprehension, and facilitated discussions with students on how to bridge gaps between perceived differences. 

Ishmael was a Dowdy Scholar at A&T (HBCU – Summa Cum Laude), graduate of the British American Drama Academy’s Midsummer in Oxford Program and alum of the Broadway Advocacy Coalition. Currently, Ishmael is a member of the Transition Committee for the Mosaic Network & Fund and has served on grant panels for the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) and South Arts. While not at work, Ishmael enjoys playing video games, checking out the latest K-Pop releases, and going on never-ending walks around the city.

Kaila Saunders, Marketing and Development Associate

Kaila Saunders (she/her) is a Panamanian Afro-Latina performer, arts administrator, songwriter, and audio engineer born in Connecticut and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since October 2021, she has served as the Marketing and Development Associate at Kyoung’s Pacific Beat. Kaila believes pursuing a career in art is revolutionary and centers communal and personal healing in her career. She is driven by the arts ability to inspire self-discovery, understanding, and the joy of play in the lives of both artists and non-artists.

Kaila is a graduate of the Presidential Scholar program at Brooklyn College where she received a BFA in Acting. Kaila is also a graduate of Labyrinth Theater Company’s Summer Intensive Ensemble. More recently, she graduated from the Studio Engineering program at the Blackbird Academy, where she earned a full ride scholarship through She is the Music.

Her acting work can be seen in several productions such as Young Jean Lee’s Lear (Don Buchwald Theater), Mac Wellman’s The Lesser Magoo (Don Buchwald Theater), Heloise Wilson’s La Folie (Black Lady Theater), and Ben Gassman’s 40s and Chestnuts (New Workshop Theater). Kaila also served as an audio engineer and actor for KPB’s NERO (Pregones/PRTT). While not at work, Kaila enjoys nerding out on music production, experimenting with various forms of exercise and journaling, and connecting with loved ones, including her cat, Moon.