Picture: Genevieve Girling
Triple Olivier Award winner Maria Friedman will take on the title role in the European premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori’s Tony Award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo in London later this year.
Directed by Michael Longhurst, the new production will play Hampstead Theatre from 28 August to 7 November.
Winner of five Tony Awards including the 2023 Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book awards, Kimberly Akimbo is the story of Kimberly Levaco, a 16-year-old girl whose rare genetic condition causes her to age four times faster than usual. As she comes of age she searches for love and meaning while knowing time is not on her side.
Looking forward to her latest stage role, British musical theatre royalty 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.”
Director 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.”
Angela Thomas
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