Toward the end of the spring semester, CalArts students and alums were treated to a secret show at REDCAT featuring internationally renowned comedian, actor, and CalArts alum Atsuko Okatsuka (Film/Video-Critical Studies MFA 15).
During the event, part of CalArts’ First-Year Experience Program, Okatsuka reflected on her time at CalArts and where stand-up comedy fits within the broader art world. She also brought clips from early performance art pieces and screened her moving thesis film, -In-Waiting, a 24-minute documentary about her grandmother and mother, who has schizophrenia. A Q&A, moderated by Critical Studies faculty Chris Santiago concluded with questions from current students and alums.
Okatsuka is currently on her Big Bowl Tour, with upcoming performances in New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and Asia.
In addition to live shows and the release of her second comedy special, Father, on Hulu and Disney+ in 2025, Okatsuka received the breakout comedy star of the year trophy at Montreal’s Just for Laughs festival on July 24, and the news broke earlier this week that Amazon is developing a half-hour comedy from Okatsuka and producer Josh Rabinowitz with Hiro Murai (executive producer and director of Widow’s Bay) and comedian Ramy Youssef among the executive producers.
Okatsuka also recently served as guest curator for Punchline II, an exhibition at Praise Shadows Art Gallery in Boston that explores absurdism as a form of protest while embracing color and exuberance. The exhibition is on view through Aug. 8.
Despite her whirlwind schedule, Okatsuka left time for 24700 after the REDCAT show in April to discuss her CalArts homecoming, career challenges, and what she’d like to tackle next.
Watch the video below or on our YouTube channel.
