The five-time Tony Award–winning musical “Kimberly Akimbo” is headed to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts this month, bringing one of Broadway’s most celebrated recent hits to South Florida audiences. Part of the Bank of America Broadway in Fort Lauderdale series, the national tour plays April 7 through April 12, offering a limited run of a show critics and theatergoers alike have embraced for its emotional depth, originality and offbeat charm.
Winner of the 2023 Tony Award for Best Musical, “Kimberly Akimbo” centers on Kimberly, a bright, determined teenager who happens to be aging at four times the normal rate due to a rare genetic condition. Recently relocated with her family to a suburban New Jersey town, Kimberly faces the everyday challenges of adolescence alongside extraordinary circumstances that force her to confront adulthood far sooner than expected. Kimberly navigates family dysfunction, her first crush and the looming awareness of limited time with a sense of humor that feels earned rather than forced. The musical does not shy away from darker themes, but approaches them with warmth and compassion.
The musical features a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, with music by Tony Award winner Jeanine Tesori. The pair previously collaborated on “Shrek the Musical,” but “Kimberly Akimbo” marks a more intimate and personal turn, inspired by Lindsay-Abaire’s earlier play of the same name. Directed by Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone, the production blends sharp wit with heartfelt moments, creating an unusual premise into something strikingly human.
Critics have been nearly unanimous in their praise since the show’s Broadway debut. “A howlingly funny heartbreaker of a show,” Elisabeth Vincentelli writes in The New Yorker. Jesse Green of The New York Times calls it “profoundly funny and heartbreaking, the season’s most moving new musical,” noting its rare ability to surprise even seasoned theater audiences.
Beyond its central performance, “Kimberly Akimbo” earned Tony Awards for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Score and Best Book. Tesori also made history with the production, becoming the first female composer to win two Tony Awards for Best Score.
The touring production maintains the creative integrity that made the Broadway run so successful. Scenic design by David Zinn evokes the ordinariness of suburban life, while costume designer Sarah Laux subtly underscores the characters’ emotional journeys. Lighting, sound and projection design work together to create a world that feels grounded yet quietly heightened, allowing the story’s themes to resonate without distraction.
The show opened on Broadway in November 2022 following its world premiere at the Atlantic Theater Company and went on to play more than 600 performances before closing. Its success on tour proves how deeply personal stories can still connect powerfully on a grand stage.
South Florida theater fans will have just six days to catch the production in Fort Lauderdale, making it a highlight of the season for anyone eager to experience one of Broadway’s most acclaimed recent musicals without traveling to New York.
For more information, call 954-468-0222 or visit kimberlyakimbothemusical.com.