Main Cast

Michael C. Palma | Artistic Director

Mike first joined COLD TOFU in the summer of 2001 and has been making things up ever since! Recently appointed Artistic Director for the company in 2023, Mike is excited to continue the long standing legacy of COLD TOFU, uplifting, promoting and supporting Asian American/Pacific Islander artists through improv and the arts. 

Recent credits include the critically acclaimed world premier musical “On This Side of the World” at East West Players; “Mamma Mia” (East West Players), and “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” (South Coast Repertory). 

When not performing, Mike is a professional photographer having worked for AMPAS (Oscars), Disney, and the Golden Globes. Mike is a portrait/commercial photographer with the distinction of having photographed numerous celebrities and world leaders. Feel free to ask him about one particular instance where his fly was down while photographing a certain famous person…

Instagram: @mpalmaphoto |  mpalmaimagewerx.com

Jully Lee | Managing Director

Jully began her career training with COLD TOFU and served as Artistic Director from 2014-2024. After her debut performance with COLD TOFU in the sketch comedy show TELEMONGOL, Jully received a direct offer for a co-star role on Reno911! Since then, Jully has gone on to work steadily in TV/film and theatre, receiving an Ovation nomination for Best Featured Actress for her performance as “Shapeshifter” in HANNAH AND THE DREAD GAZEBO. Jully was also nominated for GMA's Inspiration List: Who is Making Asian American Pacific Islander History in 2021 by Keiko Agena as a "powerhouse in the LA theatre scene."

Currently based in New York, Jully made her Broadway debut originating the role of “Ruby” in KPOP, and acts and directs regularly with PLAYGROUND-NY. Jully is also a Main Company member of IMPRO THEATRE (narrative improv) and a founding board member of IN OTHER PEOPLE’S SHOES (theatre for youth).

Jully enjoys mimicking family and friends, spending too much time on TikTok searching for 5-minute recipes and scouring Instagram for inspirational posts and reels at 2am. Pacific Time. (5am Eastern Time.)

IMDb | Instagram: @jullyleeig | jullylee.com

Robert Covarrubias | Core Performer

Robert was born in Boyle Heights California. He fell in with an acting crowd in High School where he appeared in productions of A Man For All Seasons, The Boyfriend, Once Upon a Mattress and South Pacific. This led him to the Theatre Arts Department at Los Angeles City College, where after three years there he left to join the Circus.

Things got worse when he was cast in the lowrider classic Boulevard Nights.  He later got involved with The Improvisational Theatre Project, the Resident Ensemble of the Mark Taper Forum.

Since then he has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, and logged in over 200 appearances on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

IMDb | Instagram: @coveyrubyass6

Doreen Calderon | Core Performer

Originally from Chicago, Doreen has had the privilege of performing during the “Golden Era of Improv” while working with the The Second City Touring Company, iO Chicago, UCB (before it was UCB), and Boom Chicago (in Amsterdam). She studied under John Favreau, Charna Halpern and yes, Del Close.

She was thrilled to play "Raquel Torres" in the Oscar Nominated Live Action Short, Please Hold, and can be seen as "Maureen Walker" in Paramount+'s Fatal Attraction (as well as other roles on the CW, FOX, NBC, ABC, TNT, Amazon, HBO, and Apple TV+). Doreen has been certified as an Impact Catalyst by one of the top thought leaders in the world and bestselling author, Michael Neill. She is the founder of The Recognized Actor, a coaching resource for artists.

IMDb | Instagram: @doreen_calderon | TheRecognizedActor.com

Kurt Yamamoto | Core Performer

Kurt has been training with COLD TOFU since 2010 and joined the Core Performing Cast in 2019. For the last ten years, Kurt has performed with COLD TOFU 's Ensemble cast and in COLD TOFU’s mainstage shows. Most recently, Kurt performed in SCRIPT TEASE, an improvised full-length play inspired by the first 2-pages of an original scripted play by Los Angeles Asian American playwrights (a virtual co-production with Cold Tofu and Impro Theatre).

His hobbies include surfing, skateboarding, playing guitar and acting. He has understudied in theater productions SUN SISTERS at Company of Angels and CHING CHONG CHINAMAN with Artists At Play. He performs in a Beatles cover band THE FOB FOUR and has performed at the Nisei Week Festival and has also opened for Cold Tofu's mainstage shows. You can catch him in the ocean, at a skatepark, or onstage performing improv and playing guitar.

Kari Vanegas | Cast Member

Kari began her improv training with COLD TOFU in 2018.  She joined the COLD TOFU Company as an Ensemble Member and has performed in multiple Cold Tofu shows including, the comedy showcase, “It’s Gonna Be… May the 4th Be With You,” and “Theatresports Night.”  Additionally, Kari works with Outside In Theatre, actively participating in narrative improv training and has performed in their improvised narrative comedy, “The Story Goes.”

In addition to being an improv enthusiast, Kari helps keep Los Angeles County departments in line by day, auditing with a keen eye for details.  Despite being allergic to dogs, she’s the go-to cuddler for fur babies.  When she’s not auditing or hugging a dog, catch her amateur rapping at karaoke.  Keep your receipts, and maybe a mic handy for a duet.