🧭 Overview

Green Card is an original Off-Broadway production written and directed by Dimo Hyun Jun Kim, exploring the lives of young immigrants pursuing the American dream in New York City. The show premiered in 2016 at the Theatre at St. Clement’s and was later restaged in 2018 at Dongseo University in Busan.

Set against the backdrop of Harlem’s vibrant yet unforgiving streets, the musical portrays Han, a South Korean art student whose visa is nearing expiration, and Mia, an aspiring American singer struggling to make ends meet. Desperate to remain in the U.S., Han proposes a marriage of convenience — a decision that sets off a chain of emotional, moral, and cultural conflicts.

The story uses humor and empathy to illuminate the unseen struggles of international students, immigrants, and dreamers who confront systemic barriers and cultural isolation while searching for belonging.

🎼 Artistic Vision

Blending contemporary pop and jazz influences, the score by Bryan Michaels and TaeHo Park brings an energetic and youthful tone to the narrative. Under Kim’s direction, the production balances lighthearted scenes of urban life with poignant reflections on identity, legality, and love.

The show’s multicultural cast — featuring performers from over ten nationalities — mirrors the diverse reality of immigrant life in New York City. The musical’s bilingual exchanges, shifting from English to Korean and back, underscore the tension between assimilation and authenticity.

Produced by Soo Ro Kim (Asia Bridge Contents) in association with S.M. Entertainment, Green Card was developed as part of “The Kim Soo-ro Project: New York,” a creative initiative supporting Korean theatre artists working abroad.

🩵 Synopsis

Han, a struggling Korean art student in New York, faces deportation as his visa expires. Mia, a free-spirited singer burdened by debt and a turbulent past, meets him by chance at an open mic night. Out of desperation and mutual need, they strike a deal: a fake marriage in exchange for money and a second chance at their dreams.

As their sham relationship evolves, Han’s girlfriend Kim — still in Korea — and Mia’s criminal ex-boyfriend complicate their fragile plan. Meanwhile, a suspicious immigration officer shadows their every move, adding tension to an already unstable arrangement.

Through moments of comedy and heartbreak, Green Card examines the thin line between survival and integrity, asking whether love can emerge from deception and whether freedom is ever truly free.

🕯 Reception

Green Card opened at Theatre at St. Clement’s in New York City in August 2016, drawing notice for its youthful cast and its frank depiction of immigrant realities in contemporary America.

On Show-Score, the production maintained a solid 75 percent audience rating based on over 100 member reviews — a positive outcome for a small Off-Broadway debut. Viewers described it as “ambitious, entertaining, original, disappointing, funny,” reflecting a mix of enthusiasm and critique.

Many praised its relevance and sincerity in addressing the immigrant experience, while others noted uneven pacing and over-ambitious staging. Several reviewers described it as “a heartfelt work-in-progress” with “a good story and music that could grow further.”

Critics also recognized the sensitivity of its central theme — a fake marriage for U.S. residency — and credited the production for focusing on emotional truth rather than sensationalism.

A fuller perspective appeared in 8Asians, where reviewer Lily called it “an energetic musical with young talent and a provocative story in need of telling.” The review highlighted strong performances by Daniela Benítez (Mia) and Myoungjin Choi (Cathy, understudy), noting authentic chemistry during ensemble and karaoke scenes.

Despite structural flaws, Green Card stood out for its sincerity and for placing Asian and Asian American identities at the center of the Off-Broadway stage — an approach still rare at the time.