One thing is for certain: Kimberly Akimbo is unlike any musical you’ve ever seen before. Family secrets, vibrant (and, sometimes, quite possibly toxic) personalities, anagrams, and check fraud schemes abound…yet while its plotlines are unique, the show’s message is truly universal. At the heart of the story lies high schooler Kimberly Levaco (Ann Morrison), a young girl growing up in 1999 New Jersey with a rare, unnamed genetic condition that causes her to age four to five times as fast as usual. Kimberly longs for connection, belonging—and maybe even a trip to Six Flags Great Adventure. Still, it isn’t so easy for Kim to follow her dreams when she’s also dealing with parents (Brandon Springman and Laura Woyasz) who wish she were someone different, along with the impending arrival of a baby sister who could be the “normal” child they’ve always wanted, an aunt (Sarah Lynn Marion) who’s trying to rope Kim and her friends into her criminal plans, a crush on Seth (Marcus Phillips), her project partner from biology class—and the project itself, where he’s managed to convince her to present on her disease. Can Kim truly make the most out of life when not even time might be on her side?
This national tour of Kimberly Akimbo, directed by Jessica Stone,comes on the heels of an acclaimed Broadway run, for which the show won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. As one watches the production, it doesn’t take long to see why it was met with such success from the very start! The show is based on the 2001 play of the same name by David Lindsay-Abaire, who also wrote the book and lyrics for the musical. As such, Kimberly Akimbo’s roots as a play can be seen throughout; for instance, its cast is smaller, consisting of a nine-person company.
Nonetheless, every single person on the cast delivers an impressive, impactful performance. Morrison is fully believable as teenaged Kimberly, in her every nuance and mannerism, capturing not only the youthful innocence that comes with her chronological age, but also the reflective wisdom from someone who’s had to grow up a lot faster than many of her peers. Phillips’s Seth is earnest and heartfelt—his upbringing has also been far from easy, but he and Kim are finally able to find comfort and support in each other. Springman and Woyasz demonstrate that Kim’s parents, Buddy and Pattie, are harboring their own struggles, too, although the characters can be physically and emotionally neglectful to her more often than not. Sarah Lynn Marion shines as eccentric yet charismatic Aunt Debra, showing how the characters get roped into her wacky endeavors. Adding extra humor and wit to the show are a group of teens who eventually befriend Kim and Seth; there’s Delia (Gabby Beredo), Martin (Darron Hayes), Teresa (Bailey Ryon), and Aaron (Max Santopietro), whose adventures with unrequited love, class projects, and show choir performances will have you laughing throughout.
The show’s numbers, with music by Jeanine Tesori and orchestrations by John Clancy and Macy Schmidt, strike a balance of hilarious and heartfelt, just as the story overall does. It’s difficult to name only a few standouts—for one, “Anagram,” wherein Kimberly discovers her feelings for Seth, who has a penchant for making anagrams (which is also where the show’s title derives from, as “Cleverly Akimbo” is an anagram Seth devises of Kim’s name). Others include “Better,” about Debra’s exciting—and “slightly illegal”—opportunity to make a lot of money; “Our Disease,” during which Kim helps present the biology project and realizes that getting old is her malady, whereas it’s the rest of her class’s cure for the awkwardness of adolescence; the touching and tearjerking “Before I Go;” and finally, the production’s uplifting conclusion, “Great Adventure,” a cheerful reminder to live life to the fullest.
The set design, helmed by David Zinn, helps convey the minutia of suburban teenage life. The show covers a few important locations, including the Levaco home and Kimberly’s school, but my personal favorite was Skater Planet, the ice skating rink where Seth works and many of the other characters frequent. In one particularly fun, well-executed scene, Seth throws Kim a surprise sixteenth birthday party, during which the cast ice skates on stage. The video design, by Lucy Mackinnon, was another highlight, adding to the level of immersion into the story, especially during the show’s final number.
If you are in search of a musical that will leave you smiling, look no further than Kimberly Akimbo! While is certainly a bittersweet story, and doesn’t shy away from sensitive topics, it is ultimately heartwarming and life-affirming, its message and tone outweighing the heaviness of some of its themes. It reminds us all to find the beauty in the everyday, live authentically, and appreciate the present moment—after all, life is one big “great adventure,” and it’s up to us to sit back, embrace the journey, and enjoy the ride.
Kimberly Akimbo runs at the Kravis Center through November 16. Purchase your tickets here.
Samara Smukler is a recent graduate of the University of Miami, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English (with a concentration in Creative Writing) and Psychology. Her work has appeared in a variety of student publications, including The Miami Hurricane newspaper and Distraction Magazine, the university’s premier arts and lifestyle magazine. More recently, she served as a Senior Editorial Intern for Girls’ Life Magazine, where she interviewed rising stars in the entertainment industry and reported on various topics in the pop culture, entertainment, beauty and lifestyle areas. She is thrilled to combine her passion for storytelling and love of theater as a writer for South Florida Theater Magazine!
