KIMBERLY AKIMBO On Broadway - News & Discussion Thread

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/27/22 at 2:25pm

 



The cast of Broadway's likely new hit are serving up some serious déjà vu for millennials.

PEOPLE has an exclusive first look at the official show art for Kimberly Akimbo, the critically lauded and highly anticipated new musical set to open at New York City's Booth Theatre this fall.

Set in New Jersey in 1999, the show follows Tony winner Victoria Clark as the story's title character, a funny and bright teenage girl who happens to look like a 72-year-old woman, thanks to a disease that causes her to age 4½ times as fast as normal.

The Broadway company features many of the same cast members from the show's Off-Broadway premiere at the Atlantic Theater Company, where it opened to rave reviews from publications including The New York Timesand The Washington Post last fall.

In addition to Clark (The Light in the Piazza, Gigi, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), the cast includes Tony Award nominee Steven Boyer (Hand to God, Time and the Conways), Alli Mauzey (Cry Baby, Wicked), Bonnie Milligan (Head Over Heels), Fernell Hogan (The Prom, Mean Girls U.S. Tour) and four notable newcomers: Justin Cooley, Olivia Elease Hardy, Michael Iskander and Nina White.

Colleen Fitzpatrick, Skye Alyssa Friedman, Miguel Gil, Jim Hogan, Betsy Morgan, and Alex Vinh round out the cast as understudies.

Kimberly Akimbo features music by Tony winner Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Violet, Shrek the Musical, and Caroline, or Change), as well as a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire.

Based on the play of the same name by Lindsay-Abaire, the musical will be directed by Jessica Stone.

Stone also helmed the musical's debut at the Atlantic Theater Company last fall, alongside choreographer by Danny Mefford.

The show went on to win a slew of honors, including the top musical prize at the New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards, the Lucille Lortel Awards, the Outer Critics Circle Awards and the Drama Desk Awards.

Broadway performances of Kimberly Akimbo are slated to begin previews on Oct. 12 ahead of a Nov. 10 opening.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 9/27/22 at 2:34pm

Updated On: 9/27/22 at 02:34 PM

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 9/27/22 at 2:41pm

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "So what do you do on the show that you needed to start another thread on it just to post a press release?"

Not sure if you're new to these boards, but jacobsnchz14 starts a News & Discussion Thread for pretty much every major theatrical production in New York. If you skim all the threads, you'll see he starts nearly all of them. I think it helps keep the boards stay organized and streamlined.

Thanks for the new thread, jacobsnchz14! Looking forward to seeing this show next month.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/27/22 at 2:42pm

Oy. (To BORED)

 

I'm VERY excited about this one!  Can't wait to grab tickets and see it!

 

 

Updated On: 9/27/22 at 02:42 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/27/22 at 2:51pm

Thanks so much Jacob! Ignore the post below you, they are new and don't understand your incredible contributions here. Love. 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/27/22 at 2:54pm

No worries and thanks, all. They don't realize I joined the boards when I was 14 years old and in the 15 years since, I've been, like many, a daily contributor but especially one who regularly attempts to start and initiate conversations around the major productions. "Oh, p'shaw, Pippin."

Updated On: 9/27/22 at 02:54 PM

[kwoc91]

Posted: 10/6/22 at 10:50am

FYI - TodayTix is having a flash sale for tickets in October and November. I snagged some rear mezz tickets for $49/each (before fees), and if you use the code 20AKIMBO you get an additional $20 discount.

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 10/6/22 at 11:23am

I really hope this show picks up word of mouth and finds an audience. 

Can anyone advise me on seating? I haven't been to The Booth in ages. Is the mezzanine okay / would something in the back feel very far away?

[gleek4114]

Posted: 10/6/22 at 11:38am

Planning to catch this in December! Fingers crossed some discounts come out soon!

[In The Jackson Heights]

Posted: 10/6/22 at 2:18pm

I loved this downtown.  Really looking forward to seeing it at the Booth!  

[sppunk]

Posted: 10/6/22 at 9:23pm

They have 2 shows on a random Sunday in mid January (1:30 and 7). Any idea why? Thats the only one I see lies this - it’s the day before Martin Luther King Jr Day but I can’t think of why that’s make then do 2 shows on that Sunday. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 10/6/22 at 10:24pm

You can’t think of it yet you solved it…MLK Day is a federal holiday so a good majority of people have off. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 10/6/22 at 10:55pm

Actually, it only has a 3:00 show that Sunday, so not sure what they're talking about.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/7/22 at 7:31am

BCfitasafiddle said: "I really hope this show picks up word of mouth and finds an audience.

Can anyone advise me on seating? I haven't been to The Booth in ages. Is the mezzanine okay / would something in the back feel very far away?"

I sat in the last row of the mezzanine a few times at The Booth, and I have always found it to be a great view.

[sppunk]

Posted: 10/7/22 at 10:07am

TaffyDavenport said: "Actually, it only has a 3:00 show that Sunday, so not sure what they're talking about."

Ooooops! It’s &Juliet with the 1/15 two show schedule. Not sure I’ve ever seen a musical do for shows before a federal Monday holiday before. 

I like it cause I can catch the 5:15 train home with 1/30 Sunday matinees, and not wait for 8!

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/26/22 at 2:28pm

How They Assembled the ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ Puzzle

The playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, the composer Jeanine Tesori and the director Jessica Stone discuss their quirky Broadway musical, which was first a play.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/26/22 at 11:42pm

I really just adored this from beginning to end. Matinee seemed full. Audience was going wild. They seemed very into it. Curtain call was a loud standing ovation from the minute the lights went down. Victoria got wild effusive applause. 
 

It’s an odd story and pretty dark but the entire cast is top notch. Victoria Clark is sublime. Heartbreaking, vulnerable and strong. She’s has to be a front runner for the Tony. She’s a masterclass. 
 

I don’t think there is a weak link in the cast. If Bonnie Milligan doesn’t get a Tony there is no justice. My god is she good. Allie Mauzey is really a masterclass with the balance of comedy and pathos. 
 

I enjoyed the score a great deal. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/27/22 at 12:05am

I was there this evening and the show just ran the whole gamut of emotions for me - from guffawing laughter, to cringe, to sadness/crying. It’s very much in the vein of Fun Home with how it uses a Sunny, tongue in cheek approach to a lot of dark topics. I would venture to say there is also a little Matilda mixed in there.

The book and pacing do tend to sag a little bit at times but I feel like it could be together by opening night.

The cast is uniformly excellent from Clark on down to the school ensemble. They all have great comedic timing and have a good handle on the subject matter. I will say that there was quite a bit more profanity in this than I thought there would be, but it didn’t bother me. (I CERTAINLY wasn’t expecting a C-U-Next-Tuesday). I don’t know if the show has long legs but I feel like, with some groundswell support and a few Tonys, this show could have a respectable run.

Also, BONNIE MILLIGAN IS BACK ON BROADWAY AND ALL IS RIGHT WITH THE WORLD!

In terms of stage door, it was a sparse crowd (like five of us, all masked), and Bonnie and the ensemble kids all signed. Justin, Steven, and Alli quickly said hi but bopped out, and Victoria left quickly out another door. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/27/22 at 12:40am

LOVED it and planning to see it again.