Show guide
Kimberly Akimbo
Kimberly Akimbo is a bittersweet comedy about a New Jersey teenager with a rare condition that makes her age rapidly, told with warmth, dark humor, and a genuine sense of wonder.
- Broadway premiere
- 2022
- Music by
- Jeanine Tesori
- Genre
- Comedy
- Setting
- 1990s
Kimberly Akimbo: quick answers
What is Kimberly Akimbo about?
- Kimberly Levaco, a New Jersey teenager with a condition similar to progeria that makes her age rapidly and look like an elderly woman, approaches her 16th birthday while juggling a dysfunctional family, a first romance, and her criminal aunt's latest scheme.
When did Kimberly Akimbo open on Broadway?
- Kimberly Akimbo opened on Broadway on November 10, 2022, at the Booth Theatre, after an Off-Broadway run at the Atlantic Theater Company, and closed on April 28, 2024, after 612 performances. It won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
What kind of musical is Kimberly Akimbo?
- It is a book musical with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, adapted from his own 2001 comedy of the same name.
Where and when is Kimberly Akimbo set?
- Kimberly Akimbo is set in Bergen County, New Jersey, and opens at a local ice skating rink called Skater Planet.
The story of Kimberly Akimbo
Set in suburban New Jersey around the turn of the millennium, Kimberly Akimbo centers on sixteen year old Kimberly Levaco, who has a condition that makes her body age about four and a half times faster than normal, giving her the appearance of a much older woman. Despite her limited time, Kimberly navigates an ordinary teenage life, including a tentative romance with her anagram loving classmate Seth, alongside her chaotic, self absorbed family.
Her father Buddy struggles with drinking, her pregnant mother Pattie is consumed by hypochondria, and her aunt Debra pulls Kimberly and her friends into a check forging scheme. The show balances that offbeat comedy with genuine tenderness, using Kimberly's shortened life span to ask what it means to make the most of ordinary time.
The music and the makers
The musical was adapted by David Lindsay-Abaire from his own 2001 play, with Lindsay-Abaire writing the book and lyrics and Jeanine Tesori composing the music. The two had previously collaborated on Shrek the Musical, and here they bring a gentler, more intimate sensibility suited to the story's small scale setting.
Tesori's score moves between wistful ballads and quirky character numbers, reflecting both Kimberly's inner life and the absurdity of the adults around her, without ever losing the show's underlying tenderness. That mix of comedy and melancholy gives the score an unusually delicate tone for a Broadway musical.
Kimberly Akimbo on Broadway
After an earlier Off Broadway run at the Atlantic Theater Company, Kimberly Akimbo transferred to Broadway's Booth Theatre, beginning performances in October 2022 and officially opening on November 10, 2022, starring Victoria Clark in the title role. The production won five Tony Awards in 2023, including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Original Score, Best Leading Actress in a Musical for Clark, and Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Bonnie Milligan.
Critically praised as one of the strongest new musicals of its season, it became a rare small scale, character driven show to win Best Musical in an era often dominated by large jukebox productions. Its success has been credited with reviving interest in intimate, original book musicals on Broadway.
Kimberly Akimbo: frequently asked questions
When did Kimberly Akimbo open on Broadway?
Kimberly Akimbo officially opened on Broadway on November 10, 2022, at the Booth Theatre.
Who wrote the music for Kimberly Akimbo?
Jeanine Tesori composed the music, with David Lindsay-Abaire writing the book and lyrics.
What is Kimberly Akimbo about?
It follows a New Jersey teenager with a rare condition that causes rapid aging, blending dark comedy about her chaotic family with a tender look at making the most of limited time.
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