The Tony Award-winning musical “Kimberly Akimbo” is in its final three nights at Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center, giving audiences one last chance to experience one of Broadway’s funniest and most heartfelt recent hits.
The multi-Tony Award-winning musical “Kimberly Akimbo” made its Orlando stop during its first national tour, and Attractions Magazine was there to see what all the acclaim is about. The show follows the titular Kimberly, a teenager living with a rare condition that causes her body to age four to five times faster than normal. As she navigates adolescence, first love, and the search for identity, she does so in the body of a seventy year old woman. The result is a coming-of-age story that is equal parts hilarious and deeply affecting, with a modern sensibility that is unafraid to push boundaries.
Without revealing too much, Kimberly’s journey centers on what it means to have, or even want, a “normal” life while surrounded by a deeply dysfunctional family and a future that feels uncertain at best. Her world is shaped by her father’s alcoholism, her mother’s unrealized ambitions, and her aunt’s chaotic and often criminal behavior. Interestingly, Kimberly’s condition is never treated as the sole focus of the story. Instead, it serves to amplify the emotional stakes of otherwise familiar teenage struggles.
National Touring Company of Kimberly Akimbo.
Photo by Joan Marcus
While the premise suggests something heavy, the show balances its darker themes with a surprising amount of humor and warmth.
Performances that ground the story
The production is anchored by Ann Morrison as Kimberly, delivering a performance that is both nuanced and transformative. Despite being decades older than the character she portrays, Morrison fully inhabits the role of a sixteen-year-old girl. Her physicality, vocal choices, and emotional honesty allow the audience to see beyond the character’s appearance and connect with Kimberly on a deeply human level.
Emily Koch is another standout as Aunt Debra, bringing chaotic energy and sharp comedic timing to every scene she enters. Her brash personality and physical comedy provide some of the show’s biggest laughs while still contributing to the story’s underlying emotional complexity.
Simple design, effective storytelling
From a technical standpoint, “Kimberly Akimbo” leans into simplicity. Set pieces move in and out fluidly to suggest different locations without overwhelming the stage, allowing the performances and storytelling to remain front and center. An ice skating sequence stands out as particularly inventive, leaving the audience wondering exactly how it was achieved. The score is pleasant and supportive of the narrative, though few songs linger long after the curtain falls. Instead, the music serves the story first, reinforcing emotional beats rather than aiming for standalone hits.
Final Thoughts
“Kimberly Akimbo” is the kind of show that reminds audiences why live theater matters. It is funny, uncomfortable, heartfelt, and honest, often all at once. While it is not suitable for younger audiences due to strong language and frank discussions of topics such as abuse, crime, sex, and death, it offers a deeply rewarding experience for those willing to engage with its themes.
Laura Woyasz, Ann Morrison & Jim Hogan in the National Tour of Kimberly Akimbo.
Photo by Joan Marcus
The ending arrives somewhat abruptly, with several late revelations that are not fully explored. Yet that lack of neat resolution ultimately feels intentional. The show resists easy answers in favor of something more truthful. Life rarely ties itself up cleanly, and “Kimberly Akimbo” embraces that reality. What lingers is not a single moment or message, but a quiet reminder that the time we have, however long or short, is defined by the choices we make and the connections we choose to hold onto.
“Kimberly Akimbo” is running now through April 19 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida. For tickets or to find a tour stop near you, visit KimberlyAkimboTheMusical.com.
Please note that our writer received these tickets as part of a hosted media group.
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