(© Joan Marcus)
Kimberly Akimbo is making its way across the country.
And since we miss it here in the Big Apple, we thought it was a good time to delve into the history of the 2023 Tony-winning Best Musical.
1. There wasn't always music
Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire originally wrote Kimberly Akimbo as a play in 2001, before he and his Shrek collaborator Jeanine Tesori (which earned her second Tony Award for the score) songs added.
2. Inspiration came from a newborn
Kimberly Akimbo follows a teenage girl who navigates school, a difficult family, and new friends while dealing with an unnamed disorder that causes her to age rapidly. The idea came about after Lindsay-Abaire asked a friend how her newborn niece was doing, to which he replied: “Oh, she's amazing, she's like this little old woman trapped in the body of a baby.”
3. There's skating on stage!
The show offers a magical moment, with the actors skating for real on stage!
4. Anagrams are very present
Our heroine's name isn't actually Kimberly Akimbo; the title comes from an anagram of her name, from which Kimberly Levaco becomes Cleverly Akimbo.
5. A great adventure
One of the songs is called “Great Adventure” and the series is currently airing across North America.
