The most recent musical to run at the theatre was the Pulitzer Prize-winning Next to Normal, which opened in 2009; the improv hip-hop show freestyle love supreme also played there in 2021. Father Buddy (Steven Boyer) struggles to control his drink and his temper; moony mother Pattie . The two previously took on the same creative roles on Shrek the Musical, which began performances on Broadway in 2008. Your culture and entertainment cheat-sheet. And what intelligent acting it is, drawing on everything she knows. Mom is pregnant, films loony confessional videos for her unborn child and prattles on about her unfulfilled dreams of becoming a Solid Gold dancer. The performance is a pleasant blend of optimistic and worldly. Running nearly two-and-a-half hours, the musical feels padded with extraneous material, including lengthy interludes devoted to anagrams and ice skating and a song devoted to a school project about scurvy (dont ask). Kimberly Akimbo - Monologue (Pattie) A monologue from the play by David Lindsay-Abaire PATTIE (mid-thirties) Pattie is convinced she's going to die soon, and is here breaking the news to her sister, Debra, and her teenaged daughter, Kimberly, who has a disease that causes premature aging. And these characters, they reminded me of people I grew up with, they reminded me of people in my family and not always people who are center stage, especially in a musical. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings (the musical is set in 1999, so the movies hadnt turned Tolkien cool yet) and is a genius with anagram word puzzles. Leaving the ironies to us, she refuses to condescend to the character. King Charles to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage so he can give it to Andrew, 'Elvis' star Austin Butler was rushed to ER after 'body just started shutting down', Woke Chicago mayor loses re-election bid as city battles crime epidemic, King Charles evicting Harry, Meghan from Frogmore Cottage, giving to Andrew, Hoda Kotbs lengthy Today show absence caused by family health matter, Ed Sheerans wife, Cherry Seaborn, was diagnosed with tumor during pregnancy, Savannah Guthrie Rushed Out Of Today After Testing Positive For COVID-19 During Live Broadcast, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell 'Spare' released. Because Im a fixture in your life. (As the producer of musicals like Next to Normal and If/Then, Stone is no stranger to an out-of-the-box concept.) The sweetest love scene on a New York stage right now involves neither Left Bank bohemians, Orpheus and Eurydice nor even that freak with the mask. Steven Boyer, right, with Clark and Cooley. It's still funny. The cute new musical Kimberly Akimbo, which opened Thursday night on Broadway, piles on weirdness with a dump truck. How odd and enlightening that, now 17 years older, Clark is playing a version of that child herself. Quick View. Even when she shares an awkward kiss with a classmate named Seth Weetis played by the completely adorable 19-year-old Justin Cooley humor is the top note, sweetness the body, pathos just an aftertaste. Don't miss a beat. $101.50$131.50. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The value of her life cannot be measured by how long it lasts, any more than the shows can by how long it runs. This time around, good work is done . The play didnt have monologues for Kimberly, but it did have monologues for her parents. Set in the wilds of suburban New Jersey, Kimberly Akimbo is a hilarious and heartrending play about a teenager with a rare condition causing her body to age faster than it should. She has ie shat, tied atthe lace slag over her 'holder. Its just animal instinct taking over., She went on to note: Shes also a charismatic person that you want to be around. Alexander Reeves, Jeff Monologue (Kimberly Akimbo) - YouTube From: Kimberly AkimboBy: David Lindsay-Abaire From: Kimberly AkimboBy: David Lindsay-Abaire AboutPressCopyrightContact. . Im sorry I forgot, honey. They include teenagers who are high school students as well as members of her family. She didnt have anybody looking out for her, so she looks out for herself, and thats how she talks herself into not feeling bad about scamming people because, well, who looked out for her? A little off. Music by Jeanine Tesori. Yes, Polka", "How a Teen Copes in a World Thrown 'Akimbo', "Lindsay-Abaire Awarded 2001 Kesselring Prize Nov. 18 w/, "Acclaimed Musical 'Kimberly Akimbo' Announces Broadway Venue", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kimberly_Akimbo&oldid=1141059158, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Kimberly, a teenage girl with an aging disease who struggles to find happiness in a chaotic family where nobody understands her, Buddy, her father, an alcoholic (becomes sober midway through the show) who only wants what's best for Kim, Seth, a nerdy boy who is basically Kimberly's love interest, who is neglected by his father at home, Pattie, Kimberly's mother who thinks she is dying and is pregnant with her second child, Debra, Pattie's sister who causes the family some problems and lives with them on and off, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 04:02. Still, as this allows them to provide backup for Milligans barn-burning numbers, I wont complain. Her father, Buddy (Steven Boyer), is floridly irresponsible, reneging on promises and drinking himself into stupors. Regular price $70.00. Adapted by writer David Lindsay-Abaire and composer Jeanine Tesori from the 2001 play of the same name, Kimberly Akimbo follows a lonely 15-year-old named Kimberly Levaco (played by Victoria Clark) who has grown up with a premature aging condition similar to progeria, thus making her appear to be well into her 70s. One of the most effective moments features her dressed up as a grandmother (again, dont ask), making clear in visual terms the illness that will end her life prematurely. Kimberlys schoolyard love interest Seth (Justin Cooley) speaks fluent Elvish from J.R.R. It is like dumping a bunch of puzzle pieces onto the table, he said. Her father is a hopeless alcoholic, her mother is hypochondriacal and pregnant with a second child whom she prays wont suffer from the same affliction, and her aunt is a homeless, recently released ex-con who enlists Kimberly and her high-school friends in a dangerous, illicit check forgery scheme. That Tesori can write any kind of music is old news. Good luck with that. The show tells the story of a lonely teenage girl, Kimberly Levaco, who suffers from a condition similar to progeria that causes her to age rapidly, thereby giving her the appearance of an elderly woman, and how, according to . Its hard when you say, Hey, 20 people, come on in and lets do this puzzle together. But if its just the two of you I have this corner; Im working on the edges; lets get to the middle then it comes into focus. The actor, singer and and body diversity advocate is giving a star-making performance in "Kimberly Akimbo," an unconventional new musical. Far from it: Though an underground river of sorrow gives Kimberly Akimbo its keenness, the surface is shiny comedy. Here's how. And our friends have been through some [expletive], and weve lost people. [3] Lindsay-Abaire received the Kesselring Prize in November 2001 for this production. Winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Playwright, David Lindsay-Abaire's Kimberly-Akimbo focuses, with uncanny depth and quirky wit, on a sixteen-year-old girl suffering from a disease that causes her body to age nearly five times faster than it should. What's akimbo? The boy scout. Faced with the reality that shes not likely to live much beyond her 16th birthday, Kimberly is eager to check off the milestones of the teenage experience a first kiss, a Disney World road trip before its too late. He connects with Kim on a school science project and, eventually, they grow close on a more personal level. We were talking about The Rain in Spain [from My Fair Lady], but its about check washing. The off the wall parents and aunt who make up Kimberly's emotionally shipwrecked family are somewhat easier to replace. In the funny and moving new musical Kimberly Akimbo, which opened on Wednesday in an Atlantic Theater Company production at the Linda Gross Theater, Victoria Clark brings her to life so believably and gorgeously that you find yourself rooting for a kiss you might otherwise find creepy. Victoria Clark stars in a playful yet powerful musical about a girl who is aging too fast among adults who behave like children. Kimberly is now an ordinary teenage trapped in a much older person's body, and only through song can she escape to be truly free. Monologue from Kimberly Akimbo YouTube April 1st, 2018 - Monologue from Kimberly Akimbo thechocolatechipcookie Loading Kimberly Akimbo monologue Duration 1 02 Timothy Regan 553 views 1 02 Kimberly Akimbo is Comedy but Not Farce November 1st, 2015 - EBSCOhost serves thousands of libraries with premium essays articles and other content including . STONE My kids, 13 and 15, were here, and they loved it. Thats no surprise; Clark, 62, is one of our great singing actors, situating herself exactly where the two impossible arts intersect. Life is short, and for a girl whos growing older around 4.5 times faster than the normal rate, every day is a reminder of that hard reality. She received two acting awards nominations, and, 2008: Lindsay-Abaire and Tesori collaborate for the first time, on. Victoria Clark, center, as Kimberly with Alli Mauzey, foreground left, and Steven Boyer, foreground right, who play her parents. MONOLOGUE BANK From: The Good Times Are Killing Me by Lynda Barry EDNA: The hills are alive with the sound of music was the first best movie I ever saw and the first best music I ever heard. Purchase tickets online 24 hours a day or by phone 1-800-515-2171. Shes not maliciously trying to hurt people, but she will because she needs to survive. (619) 231-3586. Two hours and 30 minutes at the Booth Theatre, 222 W. 45th Street. I said to Jeanine, he said, trying to keep a straight face as another toilet flushed, I wish we could write a musical the way that I write a play, where theres not a team of other people involved.. [8] It was critically acclaimed, and won Best Musical prizes at the Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, and Outer Critics Circle Awards. Her best song the shows best, actually is Anagram in which she starts to fall for Seth as he rearranges the letters of her name into a new phrase. Tony Award winner Jeanine Tesori & Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire's hit musical Kimberly Akimbo is making the jump to the Great White Way this season, and this website can help you find amazing tickets for any performance! You can win free tickets from Vivid Seats. When I read the play, I saw love. A old woman sit sie 'ring. The production starred Rosemary Prinz as Kimberly. 44 views 19K views 6 years ago Liza Minnelli, the one. Kimberly Akimbo Unisex Distressed Logo Tee. They were really intrigued by the relationship between Kim and Seth, not because its a traditional love story. The cast also included John Gallagher, Jr. and Ana Gasteyer. It is on theme, Lindsay-Abaire said. Skater Planet Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa, Seth, Kim), Skater Planet (Reprise) Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa, Anagram Kimberly, Seth, Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa, Better Debra, Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa, Hello, Darling (Reprise)/Father Time Pattie, How to Wash a Check Debra, Kim, Seth, Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa, Skater Planet (Reprise) Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa, Seth, Our Disease Kimberly, Seth, Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa, The Inevitable Turn Pattie, Buddy, Debra, Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa, How To Wash a Check (Reprise) Debra, Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa. Scenes in an ice-skating rink might as well be set in an empty mall, for all the action they deliver. Kimberly Akimbo is now playing at New Yorks Booth Theatre. These are edited excerpts from the discussion. Get tickets to Kimberly Akimbo on New York Theatre Guide today. But then I thought, Oh, if we make it really sort of furtive, and its got a little bit of a muted guitar thing, and its sort of like Peggy Lee, but maybe on a very, very off day Its having it be fun, so that she can convince the teens to be part of it. First theres the main character, Kimberly (Victoria Clark), who is 16 but suffers from a rare unnamed condition that makes her age at an accelerated rate. And dont let its pure enjoyability mislead you into thinking its not a tragicomedy. www.ovationtix.com. Buy Kimberly Akimbo Tickets & View the Schedule at Box Office Ticket Sales! Knowing she will not live much. She suffers from an extremely rare disease that causes her to age more than four times faster than normal. What is surprising is that Kimberly Akimbo, based on the 2000 play of the same name by David Lindsay-Abaire, manages a similar feat. The whole dynamics between parents and teenagers that I was sort of making up 20 years ago, now I know it deeply and personally. Buddy strongly refuses and drives away. Kimberly is a bright New Jersey teen with a great many problems, primary of which is that she has an aging disease like progeria in which she ages four to five times as fast as everyone else. I wrote a part for her because she and now Vicki [Victoria Clark] have such an amazing young spirit about them, even though theyre actresses of a certain age. Kimberly Akimbo is the rare example of a good play that has become an even better musical. The titular Kim is a sharp and funny teen growing up in New Jersey who's aging condition makes her look like she's in her 70s. In role after role particularly as an anxious mother in The Light in the Piazza, for which she won a Tony Award in 2005 she makes music not an afterthought to character, but the thought itself. Sarah Ruhls newest work proves a deeply moving meditation on life and the afterlife, Sarah Ruth's epistolary homage to late poet Max Ritvo, Kate Whoriskey directs, Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan star in Anne Kauffman's revival of this long-neglected work by the author of "A Raisin in the Sun. He compensates by agreeing to take her to a burger joint for some food, where they meet Seth, the nerdy kid behind the window, who asks if Kim can do an interview for his project. What makes Kimberly not cloying, as adults pretending to be kids usually is, is that she is an old soul because of her hard life. Outer Critics Circle Awards: In addition to Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical, 2001 world premiere (play): South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California hosted the world premiere of the acclaimed. Stone, Tesori and Lindsay-Abaire gathered to discuss their process on the first day of previews. The Off-Broadway and Broadway stagings of Kimberly Akimbo are the major productions thus far, but the play has had additional major productions. Kimberly Akimbo is a coming of age story with a bittersweet twist. Here are all the major productions of the Kimberly Akimbo play and musical. It's good enough, in fact, that you wish it had been just a little bit better. And they messed me up just enough for this play to be what it is. LINDSAY-ABAIRE During Shrek, I said to Jeanine, I would love to write a musical the way that I write a play, where it would just be us figuring it out for as long as we needed to figure it out. And then Jeanine said, Well, how about one of your plays? The theatre most often houses plays. 15, 2022. Cadence Theatre Company in partnership with Barksdale's Theatre Gym is pleased to present Kimberly Akimbo at Barksdale's Theatre Gym October 13-November 2, 2011.This hilarious black comedy will feature Richard Koch (Buddy), Matthew Mitchell (Jeff), Jill Bari Steinberg (Debra), Debra Wagoner (Pattie) and Irene Ziegler (Kimberly), and is directed by Anna Johnson. (To Kimberly.) Kim is a bright and funny Jersey teen, who happens to look like a 72-year-old lady, and yet, her aging disease may be the least of her problems. At 16, she looks 72. 8 p.m., Sun. The focus and intimacy of that partnership, he said, made the musical the easiest thing Ive ever written., He compares writing a musical to working on a puzzle. including intermission. Atlantic Theater Company at the Linda Gross Theater, 336 W. 20 St., NYC. Seth is plenty familiar with premature adulthood syndrome: His widowed father barely notices him, leaving him to figure out how to be a good kid (as one of his songs is titled) on his own. We could crack open Kimberlys heart, and let her express all of those feelings and emotions and fears and desires and longings, that are only subtext in the play. (Possibly this one: sublime cast = best musical.) The scene changes to Pattie, Kimberly's mom, talking to a sound recorder to her unborn child about her life and how she believes she's a 'good mother'. But at the same time, at the end of the Atlantic run, a grumpy old man was walking up the aisle and he looked at me and I thought hes going to criticize the piece. Kimberly Akimbo takes place in 1999 in suburban New Jersey, where the title character is a 16-year-old high school student who looks like she's 72 because of a rare condition that's accelerated her aging. Her aunt Debra is a serial scammer who pulls Kim and her classmates into her schemes. But Milligans road back to Broadway was marked with setbacks that could have discouraged a less tenacious artist. Drama Desk Awards: The musical won Outstanding Musical and was nominated for eight additional awards for performance, writing, direction, and design. Kimberly Akimbo is the rare example of a good play that has become an even better musical, our critic writes. She meets another misfit (a teenage boy) and the two form an attachment to one another that borders on attraction, but their situation is not helped by Kimberly's rapidly deteriorating health. It may be an old-style carpe diem message or a mad recipe, as Seth might have it but in this case, leavened by exceptional craft, it makes a totally satisfying meal. . She steers the second act into a Catch Me If You Can if that movie was set at a Hackensack Dunkin Donuts. Aside from providing B-story contrast, they underline a theme I hadnt really noticed before: the gumption of outcasts. Lindsay-Abaire is an award-winning writer whose work includes plays and musicals and subject matters both serious and comic. They come across as being the same age. Smallish, thoughtful, more narrowcast new musicals lets call them nerdicals are rarer: one per season, if were lucky. 2021 Off-Broadway premiere (musical): The, 2022 Broadway premiere (musical): Clark and the entire Off-Broadway cast of the, Kimberly's last name isn't Akimbo; it's Levaco. TESORI [laughs] Its exposition, which is generally not great for a song. LINDSAY-ABAIRE The first time in, I was really accessing my teenage years and stuff about my parents and my family, but really homing in on the Seth character who is very close to me in very many ways. Those four kids in the show choir were not in the play. TESORI I feel it in my body when something sings, I cant put it into words. Born with a fatal aging disorder akin to progeria, Kimberly Levaco (Victoria Clark) is a 15-year-old girl whose body resembles that of a woman well into her 70s. As the past and the present interpenetrate in Clarks performance, you may feel, as I did, the themes of Kimberly Akimbo recombining to achieve an even sharper focus. Kimberly Akimbo has become one of the top acts in the 2023 Musical world, delighting fans with a one-of-a-kind show. That was already the case in the play by David Lindsay-Abaire on which it is based, a play that begins, as the musical does, with a visual joke: a grown-looking woman, outside a skating rink, dressed like a teenager and nibbling a candy necklace. . .more Get A Copy Amazon Stores Libraries Paperback, 120 pages It's good. / Getting older is your cure.. Carolyn Hayes Harmer, Encore Michigan. Get Kimberly Akimbo tickets now on New York Theatre Guide. (To Debra who passes from basement to exit house.) If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Kimberly AkimboAt the Booth Theater, Manhattan; kimberlyakimbothemusical.com. Nothing better., Isnt that enough? Tesori responded. She brings Kimberly to life so believably and gorgeously. Speaking of teenagers, theres a duality to the show. Jeanine, how did you write a catchy song about white collar crime? Kimberly Levaco becomes. Thats because the girl, Kimberly Levaco, born with a genetic aging disorder akin to progeria, appears to be in her 60s even though shes just turning 16. The toilets wouldnt stop flushing. Kimberly the musical and the character have a strong underdog appeal and a warmth that keeps the audience firmly on its side. Directed by Jessica Stone. Prepare to Fall in Love! LINDSAY-ABAIRE Nothing has made me happier than seeing gaggles of teenagers really love the show. Some, like Fun Home, Dear Evan Hansen and The Bands Visit, win top Tony Awards; A Strange Loop even won the Pulitzer Prize. This is a typical Broadway musical length, though musicals can run anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours. Tesori stood up, muttering, I have to close that door myself. Which prompted Stone to bend over in laughter. [7], A musical adaptation of the play premiered at Atlantic Theater Company in November 2021, with book and lyrics by Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori. On top of having to face down mortality way too soon, Kim is dealing with a dad who drinks too much booze; a neurotic, pregnant mom whos harboring a deep family secret; and a con-artist aunt. For the creative team behind Kimberly Akimbo, the chaotic energy of this morning fit the musical itself, whose concept seems on the page, at least too off-kilter for a shiny Broadway marquee. Lindsay-Abaires many eccentric flourishes, at times, can come across as showing off. Yes, composer Jeanine Tesori and book-writer David Lindsay-Abaires musical at the Booth Theatre is a smidge too wacky for its own good. The cast of the Broadway premiere of the Kimberly Akimbo musical includes the same actors who were in the Off-Broadway presentation. 2023 Tony Awards eligibility rulings (round 1): 'Kimberly Akimbo,' 'Into the Woods,' '1776' and a change in voting procedure by Sam Eckmann. Debra: Kims aunt, a street-smart schemer who is always on the lookout for another illicit scheme and pawns to use to her advantage. I love stories that weave together pain, and hilarity and absurdity. Knowing she will not live much beyond 16, she wants to experience everything she imagines the world has to offer road trips, a robot butler, puppy love while she can. It's a perfect start to this funny-sad musical treat by composer Jeanine Tesori and writer and lyricist David Lindsay-Abaire, based on his play. And I also got the chance to put all of my high school friends up onstage. Shop with confidence thanks to the Vivid Seats 100% Buyer Guarantee. So at almost 16 (her birthday is coming up) she looks like a lady in her early 70's. Thats upbeat Kimberly, as usual trying to make the best of lifes bad situation. So remote is she from the bellowing divadom of those tourist-bait extravaganzas that Im tempted to call what she does not singing at all, but acting on pitch. Its sad, but you need to be prepared. Running time: 2 hours 25 minutes. And yet her aging condition may be the. For the complete performance schedule and show times, please visit the Kimberly Akimbo page. Unlike most new musicals based on previous material, the title. We were just so used to it? Olivia Elease Hardy, Fernell Hogan II, Nina White and Michael Iskander amusingly portray Kimberlys fellow high school students. Victoria Clark and Justin Cooley in 'Kimberly Akimbo.' (Photo: Ahron R. Foster) "Kimberly Akimbo" will transfer to Broadway this fall. Buddy, meanwhile, is a foolish drunk who leaves his daughter, biologically a senior citizen, sitting on a bench in the snow for three hours. Thank you, Stone said, as Tesori returned to her seat in the basement lounge of the Broadway theater. Later on, Kimberly calls Seth and agrees to meet at the library later for the interview, as he is learning about progeria. Victoria Clark, who plays the lead . You get so used to someone being there, it takes your body a long time to adjust. Meet the artists HERE. David Lindsay-Abaire, Jeanine Tesori and Jessica Stone on the Kimberly Akimbo set. He died about five weeks after her arrival. Kimberly Akimbo: Dec. 8Jan. I often missed the grounded power of the writers excellent play, Good People.. This is done without undue violence to the ingenious original premise, which makes comedy, as we all must, of tragedy. Thats how its gonna be when Im gone. " JESSE GREEN, THE NEW YORK TIMES " A fresh and gorgeous musical. And if Milligan has her way, an onscreen romance could very well be in her future, along with other film, television and theater projects. To that end, Milligan has seen a bit of a shift in recent years on Broadway, alluding to shows like Hadestown and Some Like It Hot, which have featured actors with plus-size bodies in principal roles. "Kimberly Akimbo," presented by Moxie Theatre at the Lyceum Space, Horton Plaza, 79 Broadway Circle, San Diego. Youll have to actually remind yourself Im gone. What's the matter? Almost yours: 2 weeks, on. This is a life that's being. This website uses cookies. As portrayed by Milligan, however, the scene-stealing character becomes the kind of brassy antihero Bette Midler might have played in her prime. I understand much more acutely the fear of losing a child. If you can have a gaggle of teenagers skipping out of the show, and then this grumpy old man with tears in his eyes thats victory. The Jessica Stone-helmed production began Off-Broadway November 6. Cooley, by the way, is a gifted comedic actor who nails every punchline. Yet watching the show again, I focused as much on Lindsay-Abaires lyrics, which retain the natural shape of expert dialogue quirky, characterful and sometimes even leggy without distorting the song forms or turning everything into operetta. The show works best when its at its simplest, such as the touching song Make a Wish, in which Kimberly tries to decide what exactly shell ask of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, or the character-defining ballads that Kimberlys parents sing to their unborn child. So naturally Kimberly Akimbo is a musical comedy. All the jokes work that way. Like when you move a lamp, and you keep going to the same place to turn it on in the dark, even though you moved it across the room weeks ago. 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. Thats the dream.. Clark and Justin Cooley, who are reprising their roles on Broadway. Nothing should stop the How of the play KIMBERLY AKIMBO ACT ONE Scene 1 A bs of eld wind, unde of winter wind hurling, maybe Lights come upon a bench ouside. Buddy says no way is anybody going to do that to his little girl, but Kimberly likes the attention she sure doesn't get much at . Hovering midway between parody and homage, this modernist rendering of a justifiable classic proves neither illuminating nor much fun. I think the cancers spread to my memory cells. (New York, NY, February 25, 2022) - The critically-lauded and wildly popular new musical, Kimberly Akimbo, will transfer to Broadway this fall, beginning previews on October 12th and officially opening on November 10th at a Shubert Theater to be announced. Kimber issn, but se played by a are 'ents or seen. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . JEANINE TESORI I dont know if you can open that door. Progeria affects about 1 in 20 million people around the world, according to reports. Justin Cooley, center left, as Seth with Clark, center right, in the show at the Linda Gross Theater. Everything you need to know about 'Kimberly Akimbo' on Broadway, Do not sell or share my personal information (for California residents only), 2003: The play debuts off Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club in February, also with Burke. It warms up the zaniness of the original without overshooting and making it normal. Instead of cowering as if embarrassed by the dimension music can bring to drama, it embraces the ability of song, even in tragicomedy, to extend emotion into bigger realms. Because I think sometimes because musicals have artifice, they can seem artificial. Too often, though, Kimberly seems merely a peripheral figure in the overly farcical proceedings, which are admittedly very funny at times (theres a priceless sight gag involving Mulligan and a mailbox) but too often reduce the show to a sitcom level. They include Tony Award winner Victoria Clark as Kimberly, Justin Cooley as Seth, Steven Boyer as Buddy, Alli Mauzey as Pattie, and Bonnie Milligan as Debra. Also funny is Milligans Debra, a Strangers With Candy-like, foul-mouthed clown who speaks of committing felonies as a cute little hobby, like knitting or pottery. [Tesori pats Lindsay-Abaires arm, remarking, Wow.] I dont feel messed up by them. LINDSAY-ABAIRE Its a teaching song. . Body diversity isnt something that weve always talked about, but I think [Broadway producers] are realizing the importance of audiences seeing themselves on the stage in a pleasant light as opposed to someone who is seen as unattractive. Kimberly Akimbo runs through October 20. One thing Aunt Debra in Kimberly Akimbo shares with Milligans characters in Head Over Heels and other shows is an unapologetic sense of self. Directed by David Petrarca, the cast featured Marylouise Burke (Kimberly), John Gallagher, Jr. (Jeff), Ana Gasteyer (Debra), Jodie Markell (Pattie), Jake Weber (Buddy) and Daniel Zaitchik (Jeff). Musical., singer and and body diversity advocate is giving a star-making performance in `` Kimberly Akimbo play musical. That child herself she steers the second act into a Catch me if can., not because its a traditional love story come across as showing off might have played in her prime condescend. 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