Maria Friedman to star in UK premiere of KIMBERLY AKIMBO

About Kimberly Akimbo

Lonely New Jersey teen Kimberly Levaco has a rare and unusual disease that causes her body to age at four times the normal rate, which means she's forced to navigate high school looking like a woman in her seventies while playing the adult to her immature parents Buddy and Patty. But it also means her time is running out, and Kimberly is determined to make the most of it. Soon she's swept into an odd friendship with awkward nerd Seth and a white collar crime scheme hatched by her freewheeling Aunt Debra.

Based on a 2001 play of the same name, Kimberly Akimbo first premiered off-Broadway in 2021 before transferring to Broadway the following year. It has won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Leading Actress in a Musical.

Maria Friedman

Maria Friedman has won numerous accolades include three Olivier Awards and eight Olivier nominations plus recognition from the WhatsOnStage Awards, Evening Standard, Critics’ Circle Awards and many others for her work across both the West End and Broadway. Recently she appeared onstage in Trevor Nunn's Fiddler on the Roof in 2019, and made her Broadway debut in 2005 in The Woman in White.

On taking on the iconic role of Kimberly, Friedman said, "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.”

The creative team

Written by Tony Award-winner and Pulitzer Prize-winner David Lindsay-Abaire with music by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Titanic), Kimberly Akimbo will be directed by Michael Longhurst.

On Friedman's casting, Longhurst said, "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 will be announced in due course. Kimberly Akimbo will play the Hampstead Theatre from 28 August to 7 November 2026.

Kimberly Akimbo Tickets