A Woman Is...

Kiki Moritsugu is a woman who knows who she is and has spent a lot of time and effort getting there. This show is a beautiful showcase of her talent, her messy relationship with her mother, and what it takes to survive showbiz and be authentically you. Kiki has done everything right in terms of content warnings, but sometimes I wish we had more words! I found myself both seen in how she describes her relationship with her mothers death to cancer and very unprepared for the emotions that followed. As someone who is white I can’t relate to or speak on the struggle of being multi-racial in show biz (or the world) but I really appreciated learning about her experience! This show covers so much but I never found it too much, the way she weaves her story together is intricately beautiful. The addition of musical numbers felt so Kiki and so well done, and her voice is amazing and so versatile! The piano felt loud and the switching between her mic being on and off felt abrupt and distracting at times, I think it would have been better to just leave it on throughout the performance. I wore loop engage earplugs and used a stress ball. I also found myself wishing I had a sweater as Gateway Theatre can be a bit chilly. While this show invoked emotions I was not prepared for, it was beautifully done and there are a lot of people that will probably find themselves in Kiki’s story, which had me laughing as much as crying.

A Woman Is... is a deeply real one-woman cabaret that has clearly has a lot of care put into it. Kiki Moritsugu tells the story of herself, and of her mother, and how they interacted and influenced each other. Kiki presents different aspects of her life - her relationship with her mother, her experience with racism, and her relationship with motherhood, among others - all in a very raw and multi-faceted way that gives insight into not only her unique life, but the human experience as a whole. Additionally, she adds musical numbers throughout the show, and her voice is powerful, controlled, and versatile. From choreography to live piano to funny jokes, the show has a lot of parts to it while maintaining a consistent vision. I believe that anyone, but especially artists or people of colour, could relate to something in this show, and it is worth seeing!

Ari Mitchell, AYTC

This afternoon I had the joy of seeing my old friend — and fellow Asian Broadway baby — Kiki Moritsugu at the Edmonton Fringe Festival. We’ve known each other for literally four decades, and to witness this next chapter of her artistry moved me more than I can say. As Asian kids growing up in the theatre, we were always on the outside looking in, fighting to claim space in an art form that didn’t always feel like ours. And yet here we are — still here, still standing, still telling our stories. A Woman Is… is funny, raw, tender, and deeply human. It is a piece of history and a love letter to the theatre itself. Kiki takes us through the highs and lows of a life onstage — the glamour and the heartbreak, the laughter and the trauma, the resilience and the joy. It’s part Gypsy, part Stage Door, part A Chorus Line, with shades of Terms of Endearment — but it is also entirely her. Classic and old-school, yet modern and grounded. A beautiful, honest performance, full of tradition and love. What shines most is her humour and her heart. She reminds us what it truly means to be an artist: once it’s in you, it never lets you go. The spotlight can break you, but it can also keep you alive. For me, as an artist of color, this show felt like legacy. Kiki’s story is uniquely her own, yet universal in every way. Every theatre lover should see it. Every artist will recognize themselves in it. And everyone will leave empowered by the reminder that our lives, our families, our art — all of it — is worth celebrating. Kiki, my friend, you are radiant. Thank you for this gift. 🎭 Go see A Woman Is…!