Kimberly Akimbo, A Play Written By David Lindsay-Abaire
About Kimberly Akimbo
Kimberly Akimbo is a play written by David Lindsay-Abaire which tells the story of a teenage young girl who struggled with a disease similar to progeria.
The disease causes the young girl to age four and a half times faster than usual, making her look older than a typical young person at her age.
The two develop a connection that verges on affection once she meets another misfit (a teenage boy), but Kimberly’s rapidly declining health does not help their position.
Kimberly’s family soon becomes emotionally devasted after becoming involved in some wild money schemes.
Who are the characters in Kimberly Akimbo
Below are the characters for Kimberly Akimbo;
- Teenage Kimberly, who suffers from an aging sickness, battles to find happiness in a dysfunctional household where no one can relate to her.
- Buddy, Kimberly’s drunken father, only cares about what’s best for his daughter.
- The father of Jeff, a timid boy who ends up falling in love with Kimberly, neglects him at home.
- Sister of Pattie, Debra, resides with the family intermittently and always appears to cause issues.
- Kimberly’s hypochondriac mother Pattie, who is expecting her second child,
Production of Kimberly Akimbo
From April 13 to May 13, 2001, the drama was first performed at the South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California. Marylouise Burke played Kimberly in the cast, which was headed by David Petrarca.
For this play, Lindsay-Abaire won the Kesselring Prize in November 2001. In 2001, the play won the LA Drama Critics Circle Award for Writing.
On February 4, 2003, the Off-Broadway production of Kimberly Akimbo opened at the Manhattan Theatre Club New York City Center Stage 1 and ran through April 6, 2003.
Marylouise Burke played Kimberly, John Gallagher, Jr. played Jeff, Ana Gasteyer played Debra, Jodie Markell played Pattie, Jake Weber played Buddy, and Daniel Zaitchik played Jeff in the David Petrarca-directed film.
Rob Ruggiero was the director of Kimberly Akimbo, which was performed at Hartford, Connecticut’s TheaterWorks from January 21 through March 6, 2005. Rosemary Prinz played Kimberly in the play.
Kimberly Akimbo Storyline
The scene changes to Kimberly waiting for her father, who has been drinking and is running late to pick her up.
In order to make amends, he offers to take her to a burger restaurant where they run into Jeff, the geeky youngster behind the window, who requests that Kim conduct an interview for his project. Buddy vehemently rejects and drives off.
The scene switches to Pattie, Kimberly’s mother, speaking to her unborn kid on a tape recorder about her life and why she thinks she’s a “good mother.” As Jeff is learning about progeria, Kimberly phones him later and they decide to meet for the interview later at the library.
Kimberly Akimbo soundtrack
In November 2021, the Atlantic Theater Company debuted a musical version of the play with music and lyrics by Jeanine Tesori and a book and script by David Lindsay-Abaire.
It received favorable reviews and was recognized as the Best Musical at the Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, and Outer Critics Circle Awards.
On November 10 at the Booth Theatre, it made its Broadway debut after starting previews on October 12 of that year. It won Best Musical on June 11, 2023.
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