Micronesian American actor debuts on Broadway
Micronesian American actor debuts on Broadway
Kai Edgar stars in ‘Elf The Musical’ at the Marquis Theatre
When 13-year-old Kai Edgar steps on stage as Michael Hobbs in “Elf The Musical,” he’ll do so as likely as the first actor from the Federated States of Micronesia to be on Broadway. In an Oct. 9 Instagram post, a smiling Kai stands on the sidewalk outside the Marquis Theatre and points to the mega display at the theater’s entrance announcing the arrival of “Elf.”
“I can’t believe that I am about the make my Broadway debut this winter as Michael in ELF THE MUSICAL!!” Kai effuses in the post’s caption. “This has truly been a lifelong dream and I am eternally grateful.”
Kai is the son of Shannon and Earl Edgar. Earl was born and raised in Pohnpei and met Shannon in 2005 when she was a WorldTeach volunteer teaching English at PICS High School in Kolonia. In addition to Kai, the pair are parents to Kalea and Kanoa, who are also talented performers.
Kai said he’s proud to be the first actor with roots in the FSM to perform on Broadway.
“I’ve really learned about representation, especially in the arts, and it has made me so much more prouder in my identity and ethnicity. I hope that my dad and my grandma, Pahpa and Nohno, are proud of me as well as my family back in Pohnpei!” Kai told The Husk. “I love them so much, and I carry them with me on stage in my heart.”
I hope that my dad and my grandma, Pahpa and Nohno, are proud of me as well as my family back in Pohnpei. I love them so much, and I carry them with me on stage in my heart.
“Elf The Musical” is based on the 2003 comedic film of the same name that starred Will Ferrell as Buddy.
Kai’s character, Michael, is a major character in the film and the musical. As Michael, Kai will hold his own on stage alongside storied, award-winning actors. He will showcase his talents at the Marquis Theatre in New York from Nov. 9 through Jan. 4.
Kai recalled watching a show at the Marquis Theatre before, and he remembered looking around as an audience member and thinking how cool the theater was.
Now, Kai has found himself back at Marquis but on the other side of the curtain.
‘Surreal’
“It feels so crazy and surreal just looking into the audience,” Kai said. “It’s really special to be standing on the stage and looking out from the other side of the curtain and seeing the whole thing. Standing on stage and having a full view of the audience really is a sight to see. It’s gorgeous.”
Making it to Broadway has been a lifelong dream for Kai.
His debut is the culmination of years of tireless work, driven by his passion for the magic of theater and to push his boundaries as a performer.
Before he nabbed the role as Michael in “Elf The Musical,” Kai toured across the U.S. and three countries starring as Charlie Bucket in “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory.”
He’s also thrived in many dramatic plays over the years, and he’s graced the stage of many prestigious theaters across the country. He earned a role in the popular NBC drama “Chicago Fire.” He’s done voice acting work for numerous Nickelodeon productions and music soundtracks. Kai has also performed in opera productions at the Metropolitan Opera House, the Los Angeles Opera, and the Santa Fe Opera.
Last year, he also played Ralphie in “A Christmas Story” and earned glowing reviews.
The South Pasadenan noted, “Kai Edgar is a terrific Ralphie with a fantastic voice. His easy charm makes him very easy to root for.” Kai was also featured in the Los Angeles Times, shedding light on a day in the life of the kids in the “Christmas Story” cast.
In his career, Kai’s been cast in ensemble roles and leading parts, and he’s proved he’s a standout performer.
A Kane County Chronicle article spotlighted the Edgar kids recently in June. Kai told the Kane County Chronicle about his past performances and spoke about performing with his older sister. According to the Chronicle, Kai and Kalea were both cast in “The Music Man” at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Illinois.
Before all of that, back in 2018, Kai and Kalea booked roles in “A Christmas Carol” at the Raue Center for the Arts in Illinois. It was their first musical. After that, they were hooked. Looking back, it seems almost kismet that a holiday musical initially sparked Kai’s love of performing and it’s a holiday musical that will mark Kai’s historic debut. Kai subsequently landed his first professional role as Oliver in “Oliver!” — also at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire — when he was just 8 years old.
“Kai is showing up and showing the industry that as a descendant of Micronesian blood, his community exists and belongs in all spaces,” Earl Edgar said. “He is proud to represent a lineage that has often been overlooked, and it brings him immense joy to blaze a trail for future generations of Micronesians and Pacific Islanders. He knows that his presence on stage is a statement — that dreams are valid, voices are powerful, and that every child, regardless of background, deserves to see themselves reflected in the arts. Kai is not just pursuing his dream; he is uplifting an entire community, inspiring others to believe that they too can reach for the stars.”
He is proud to represent a lineage that has often been overlooked, and it brings him immense joy to blaze a trail for future generations of Micronesians and Pacific Islanders.
Kai has spent much of his young life working to sharpen his singing, acting, and dancing skills and sharing his talents on stage. His hard work and diligence have led him to Broadway, where the world’s most talented singers, actors, musicians and dancers live and breathe the art of theater.
When he found out he’d be debuting on Broadway, Kai said he was filled with excitement. He said there was an uncharacteristic three weeks of anticipation before he learned he’d landed the role.
In that time waiting for the final word, Kai thought back to his time as a kid being starstruck at the sight of a marquee in Chicago. He thought of his first trip to New York City and experiencing Times Square.
“All of those moments of joy and hoping that one day I would be on a stage, let alone a Broadway one, had really made that moment super special,” he said of being cast in “Elf.”
“Elf” will be a limited holiday engagement and tickets are available now. Kai was cast along with Grey Henson, who will play Buddy; Sean Astin, who will play Santa; Kayla Davion as Buddy’s love interest Jovie; Michael Hayden as Walter Hobbs; Ashley Brown who will play Emily Hobbs; and others, according to a press release.
‘My lifelong dream’
“‘Elf The Musical’ is the hilarious and heartwarming tale of Buddy, a young orphan child whose life is changed forever when he mistakenly crawls into Santa’s sack of toys one Christmas Eve. Raised by elves in the North Pole, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities make him realize he doesn’t quite fit in,” the release adds. Buddy then seeks his birth father in New York City, which is where he finds his family in Walter, Emily, and Michael.
As the cast and crew rehearse for the upcoming show, Kai remains focused on doing his best. “It’s hard work but I really don’t want it to ever stop!” he told The Husk. “As Buddy The Elf says, ‘I love to work!’”
It’s clear that being on stage is where Kai is most at home.
“It has been my lifelong dream to be on Broadway, and when anybody asks me about my dreams, I will always say that. Now that it is coming true, it’s a shock to the system and I don’t think it’ll hit me until I’m on stage for the first time with an audience,” he said.
As a young Micronesian artist, Kai’s journey is blazing a trail for Micronesians and Pacific Islanders, showing Indigenous youth who aspire to be on stage that their dreams are well within reach.
Support Kai Edgar
Follow him on Instagram @kaijosephedgar. Visit Kai’s website to stay updated with his latest and greatest projects at https://www.kaiedgar.com. Buy tickets for the show at https://elfonbroadway.com/tickets. Follow “Elf The Musical” on social media @elfonbroadway.
Thank you for sharing this. My name is Bill Jaynes and I'm the Editor of The Kaselehlie Press in Pohnpei. Can I get permission to share this great news in the newspaper? I'd love to hear from you soon in that regard. Thank you!