Character guide
Buddy Levaco
from Kimberly Akimbo
Buddy Levaco is a supporting character in Kimberly Akimbo, the 2022 musical by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire, portrayed as Kimberly's well meaning but alcoholic father.
- Show
- Kimberly Akimbo
- Broadway premiere
- 2022
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Jeanine Tesori
Who is Buddy Levaco?
Buddy Levaco is Kimberly's father, a man who genuinely loves his daughter but is worn down by drinking and the strain of a marriage to a wife absorbed in her own anxieties. He is not portrayed as cruel, but as someone falling short of the parent Kimberly needs, caught between affection and his own limitations.
His relationship with Kimberly carries some of the show's quiet sadness, illustrating how ordinary human failings can complicate even a loving family, especially one already under the pressure of Kimberly's condition.
Buddy's role in Kimberly Akimbo
Buddy is a supporting role that requires a performer able to balance warmth with weakness, making his shortcomings believable rather than simply unlikeable. His scenes are often quieter than the show's more comic ensemble numbers, focused on the strained, tender dynamic between him and Kimberly.
Audiences remember Buddy for humanizing the show's depiction of a struggling family, a father whose love for his daughter is real even when his choices let her down.
Buddy Levaco: frequently asked questions
What show is Buddy Levaco from?
Buddy Levaco is a supporting character in Kimberly Akimbo, which opened on Broadway in 2022.
Is Buddy Levaco a lead or supporting role?
Buddy Levaco is a supporting role, appearing as Kimberly's father.
Who wrote the music for Kimberly Akimbo?
Jeanine Tesori composed the music, with David Lindsay-Abaire writing the book and lyrics.
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