Musical comedy ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ takes audiences into world of teen trapped in elderly body

The title character of “Kimberly Akimbo” is played by Tony Award-winning Broadway veteran Victoria Clark. She says the role has been life altering.

Dec 14, 2022, 1:09 PM

Updated 667 days ago

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A musical comedy now being performed on Broadway takes audiences into the world of a teenager trapped in the body of a 70-year-old woman. The title character of “Kimberly Akimbo” is played by Tony Award-winning Broadway veteran Victoria Clark. She says the role has been life altering.
“This project, I wasn't sure I could actually accomplish,” says Clark. “So it required me to dig deeper than I had to before. And I have become a meditator, I'm studying mindfulness and ways to be here now in this moment."
Clark says playing the part of a 15-year-old with a disease that causes premature aging and a short lifespan led her to think more about time and how it is spent.
“If we live each moment one at a time, then we end up going in the direction that our spirits want to move towards,” says Clark.
The play is set in New Jersey. Garden State residents and those familiar with the state will recognize the many towns that are name-checked throughout the show. Kimberly becomes the grownup in a highly dysfunctional family, falls in love with a classmate and seeks adventure before her time runs out.
While that may not sound like the ingredients for a comedy, “Kimberly Akimbo” is just that.
"It's the funniest show I've ever done, by far,” Clark says.
“Kimberly Akimbo” is directed by Jessica Stone, with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori. It premiered off-Broadway in 2021 at Atlantic Theatre Company.
Clark was recently in the recording studio completing another project, “December Songs for Voice and Orchestra.” It was written by Tony Award-winning composer Maury Yeston (Nine, Titanic, Grand Hotel). It is the first orchestral version of the song cycle which was initially commissioned by Carnegie Hall for its centennial more than 30 years ago. It features Clark's vocals backed by a 37-piece orchestra.
It is available on streaming services now.