Described as a new musical about growing up and growing old, Kimberly Akimbo is the winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical. The show tells the story of Kimberly, a teenage girl about to turn 16 who suffers from a rare genetic condition that causes her to age rapidly. The average life expectancy for people with that condition: 16.<\/p>\n
Combine that with a dysfunctional family and typical high school struggles, the show is full of dark humor that keeps the audience laughing. Think science project on diseases complete with skits on scurvy and Kimberly\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n
If you haven\u2019t heard of the latest Broadway in Orlando show before, you are not alone! Kimberly Akimbo is relatively new, first premiering off Broadway in December 2021. I must admit, after reading a variety of on-line reviews beforehand, I was a little apprehensive about what we were about to see.<\/p>\n
The show was not only funny, but also heartfelt as the characters navigate relationships and mortality. As the Dr. Phillips Center notes, ever the optimist, Kimberly is determined to find happiness and embark on a great adventure, with a stop to Disney World, of course! The main message, life is short, live it to the fullest.<\/p>\n
News 6 anchor Lisa Bell and friends before seeing Kimberly Akimbo (Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n
I had the opportunity to see the show with several close friends, and we all left feeling uplifted with a renewed appreciation for our own relationships, good health and the importance of living in the moment. Not once did we feel the show was slow and while the music and choreography may not compete with jukebox musicals like Cher <\/a> or MJ The Musical<\/a>, we found Kimberly Akimbo numbers catchy, meaningful and memorable.<\/p>\n Kimberly Akimbo is showing April 14-April 19, 2026 in the Walt Disney Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center. <\/p>\n