Detroit — Tony Award winner “Kimberly Akimbo” is now playing at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit from March 11-23, 2025. The book and lyrics are by David Lindsay-Abaire and the music is by Jeanine Tesori. It is directed by Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone.
Being a teenager can be rough. But when you’re 16 and have a genetic disorder of a rapid aging process is even tougher. The musical is more of a roller coaster ride of being a kid and an adult. Kimberly dreams of her family getting along (as they are dysfunctional as can be) and for her to be wanted. Her mother, Pattie (Laura Woyasz) neglects her and is pregnant by another man, and her dad Buddy (Jim Hogan) is an alcoholic.
Kimberly (Carolee Carmello) lives in New Jersey and is all about finding herself and trying to live life to the fullest. Her disease makes her want to be happy knowing she’s gonna die. Although everyone’s gonna die, she says. She talks of mortality. As the scene opens, her father forgets to pick her up from school. She obviously is not number one on his list.
But on her 16th birthday, her friends and parents throw her a big birthday party at the ice skating rink. Her parents say that they will change. Her father says he will stop drinking. Kimberly’s wish is to go on a road trip to an African safari (but in New Jersey), see Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell, and go to Disney World. But with what money???? Well her Aunt Debra (Emily Koch) is out on probation and devises a scheme to steal a mailbox and white wash checks. She talks some students to pull the job off. They go to the bank, cash the checks saying they are from her birthday.
Kimberly arrives home and finds her room was turned into a baby’s room, then decides to steal her dad’s car and take the money and go on the road trip with a boy Seth (Justin Cooley) from school. As Kimberly would say “Enjoy the time you have.”
The set design is plain and simple. One is of the ice skating rink, the other is her house and her high school. The cast is her family and several high school students. The musical had humor and hope. I rather enjoyed it, as it was fun to watch. No one fell asleep as far as I can see. There was a 20-minute intermission between Acts.
Performance times for Kimberly Akimbo at the Fisher Theatre, located at 3011 W. Grand Blvd., in Detroit are:
- Tuesday through Saturday evening at 7:30 pm
- Saturday matinees at 2:00 pm
- Sunday matinees at 1:00 pm
- Sunday evening at 6:30 pm
Ticket prices start at $35 (includes parking and facility fee) and can be purchased online at BroadwayInDetroit.com and in person at the Fisher Theater box office.