Maria Friedman to lead UK premiere of 'Kimberly Akimbo'

Kimberly Akimbo has music by Jeanine Tesori and won five awards at the Tony Awards in 2023, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book.

Olivier winner Maria Friedman will lead the European premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire's Kimberly Akimbo, which begins performances at Hampstead Theatre on 28 August running through 7 November.

Friedman, who directed the Tony-winning revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along in 2023, was last seen on the London stage in Trevor Nunn’s revival of Fiddler on the Roof in 2019. She will be directed in the title role by Michael Longhurst.

Kimberly Akimbo has music by Jeanine Tesori and won five awards at the Tony Awards in 2023, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. It tells the story of teenager Kimberly Levaco, who lives with a rare genetic condition that causes her to age rapidly.

Friedman said: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be bringing Kimberly Levaco to life. She’s such a beautifully complex character – full of hope, humour and this fierce determination to live every moment to the fullest, even when time isn’t on her side. It’s rare to find a role that is this funny, heartbreaking and life-affirming all at once and I feel incredibly lucky to step into her world.”

Longhurst added: “An eight-time Olivier Award nominee and three-time winner, Maria Friedman is unquestionably one of our greats – so I am over the moon that she is returning to the stage to lead my production of Kimberly Akimbo – a match made in heaven for Jeanine Tesori’s Tony-winning score, and David Lindsay-Abaire’s Tony-winning book. Maria’s indomitable spirit, world renown vocals and comic elan will offer an unforgettable portrayal of this beautifully unique character in this life-affirming entertainment.”

Further cast and creatives are to be revealed.

Book Kimberly Akimbo tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Maria Friedman. (Photo by Genevieve Girling)