Review Roundup: KIMBERLY AKIMBO National Tour

The national tour of Kimberly Akimbo, led by Carolee Carmello, is now underway! Read the reviews for the touring production of Kimberly Akimbo here!

Joining Carmello in the production is Miguel Gil, Jim Hogan, Emily Koch, Dana Steingold, Grace Capeless, Skye Alyssa Friedman, Darron Hayes, and Pierce Wheeler. 

Sarah Lynn Marion, Regene Seven Odon, Marcus Phillips, Bailey Ryon and Brandon Springman are the understudies, with Valerie Wright as Kimberly's standby. 

Kimberly Akimbo, winner of five 2023 Tony Awards including BEST MUSICAL, was the most critically-acclaimed musical of its season.

Kimberly is about to turn 16 and recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey. In this new musical, Kim is forced to navigate family dysfunction, a rare genetic condition, her first crush…and possible felony charges. Ever the optimist, she is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure.

Kimberly Akimbo will launch a National Tour at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts on September 22.  Prior to the premiere, the musical will run technical rehearsals and preview at The Stanley Theatre in Utica. The 80-week tour will play more than 60 cities across North America.

Lisa Kennedy, The Denver Post: Carmello takes on the beautifully daunting and tricky work of being 16 going on 70. It’s an illusion that one buys into or doesn’t quite. I didn’t when I saw a very good understudy do the role on Broadway (and still loved the show). I did here.

Alex Miller, On Stage Colorado: At the center of the story, Kimberly is a decent person with a heavy burden she’s reluctant to share with her new friends. Carmello is tremendous in the role, juggling the mind of a teen with the body of an octogenarian and landing just right in the middle. As her newfound friend, Seth, Gil creates a character so sweet and pure that we completely believe how he’s able to draw Kimberly out and allow her to share her pain.

Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune: The touring production is a carbon copy of the Broadway show in scenic and costume design, which were both directed with humor and poignance by Jessica Stone, but with an all-new cast. The touring show is just as funny and the characters are just as odd and lovable. But the tour lacks the two vocal powerhouses who stole the show in New York: Victoria Clark as Kimberly and Bonnie Milligan as Debra — who both won Tony Awards for their performances.

ErinMarie Reiter, BroadwayWorld: Carolee Carmello leads the show as Kimberly, a girl who not only looks older based on her disease but also has to act as the main grown-up in her family since her dysfunctional parents seem to live in a stunted existence. Dad is an alcoholic, and Mom is a narcissist. Carmello's voice and performance are undeniably strong (she’s a three-time Tony nominee for a reason), and she so thoroughly captures the enthusiasm for the life of a young girl that it is genuinely shocking when she comes out in the second act in an all-to-convincing disguise.

Andrew Child, BroadwayWorld: The show gets off to a rocky start. The opening number feels disconnected from the rest of the action, and it isn’t until the dialogue begins in the first scene that the audience begins to settle in and enjoy ourselves. That said, you would be hard pressed to name a more solid, feel-good piece of musical theatre from the last decade.

Talia Sajor, Daily Bruin: Against the writing shortcomings of “Kimberly Levaco,” the music holds a strong chance of redeeming it, but ultimately does nothing to leave a mark on viewers. Similarly to “Before I Go,” numbers such as “Good Kid” miss the emotional nerve, while others like “Better” are comically entertaining yet do not implant an earworm once the curtains close. Every lyric and musical composition feels generic and provides nothing remarkable or new to make it stand out from other contemporary musical soundtracks.

Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times: The lesson of ‘Kimberly Akimbo,” as expressed in the final number “Great Adventure,” is that we’re all “sailing to a distant shore,” so “just enjoy the view, because no one gets a second time around.” Sometimes, however, second chances do come about. Although I admired the heralded Broadway production, I found myself more open to the quirky charms of “Kimberly Akimbo” at the Hollywood Pantages.

Jay Barmann, SFist: The Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 2023, Kimberly Akimbo, is already on tour. And in an opening night performance at San Francisco's Curran Theater on Thursday, star Carolee Carmello brought down the house in the hard-to-pull-off lead role.

Lily Janiak, San Francisco Chronicle: But within that humble frame, David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori’s Tony Award-winning musical illuminates the ultimate human mysteries. It places the devastations and delights of being alive side by side and doesn’t force one to cancel out the other. Moreover, though Kimberly (Carolee Carmello) is sick, with a disease that ages her four times as fast as everyone else, meaning her 16-year-old self can pass for a 60-ish grandma, the show doesn’t force her to be angelic and subdued or punish her for not being that way. Instead it simply thirsts for life — and in so doing seems to expand your own.

Linda Hodges, BroadwayWorld: Though Kimberly Akimbo is brought to life by a cast of just nine performers, the musical has the heart, gumption, and power of a grand production. At first glance, one might wonder how such a compact ensemble can have the sweeping impact of a Broadway show. But the magic lies in the intimacy of the storytelling—each actor, with incredible depth and authenticity, contributes to a performance that is as expansive as any large-scale production.

Lily Janiak, San Francisco Chronicle: But within that humble frame, David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori’s Tony Award-winning musical illuminates the ultimate human mysteries. It places the devastations and delights of being alive side by side and doesn’t force one to cancel out the other.

Tim Shawver, BroadwayWorld: Broadway veteran Carolee Carmello tackles the challenging title role with remarkable skill. Her physical performance captures teenage restlessness trapped in a body that won't cooperate, while her emotional journey avoids every potential pitfall of sentimentality. It’s a star turn in a role that requires nothing less.

Tyler Hinton, BroadwayWorld: Carolee Carmello as Kimberly is absolutely brilliant. She encapsulates teenage angst and complex feelings of abandonment and grief, along with the savoring of simple joys. And her signature sound comes through in her glorious singing even while completely immersing herself in the role.

Courtney Symes, BroadwayWorld: Central to the show’s success is the incredible range of Carmello. It hinges on her ability to be a believable teenager which, somehow, she excels at. Her performance of “Make a Wish” makes one think. If you knew you had limited time left, what would you wish for? Two hours of Carmello is never a bad choice.

Jay Irwin, BroadwayWorld: Now, here we are in 2025, and that same show is at the Paramount, and while I found it a tighter show and certainly adorable and charming, I still have issue with the lack of memorable songs and, honestly, its Tony win especially when stacked up against some other shows that season.

Krista Garver, BroadwayWorld: Carolee Carmello delivers a wonderful performance as Kimberly – striking just the right balance between someone who’s acutely aware of her own mortality and a teenager who just wants to be a teenager. And Miguel Gil brings the perfect blend of adolescent awkwardness and genuine kindness to the role of Seth. But the entire cast is strong – many of them performed or understudied their roles on Broadway.

Michael Quintos, BroadwayWorld: And buoyed by an incredibly likable ensemble cast led by three-time Tony Award nominee Carolee Carmello in the title role and adorable newcomer Miguel Gil as the nerdy boy-next-door, the musical's smile-inducing national tour production continues performances at OC's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through February 2, 2025.

Taylor Clemons, BroadwayWorld: Kimberly is played on tour by three-time Tony nominee Carolee Carmello, and she gives what is truly a marvel of a performance. The role of Kim is very unique; it’s the kind of contemporary role that doesn’t get written for mature actresses very often. Carmello embodies the spirit and attitude of a high schooler in many ways, but she gives so much care and nuance to the role. Carmello is always wonderful, but this role truly fits her like a glove, as she slowly peels back the layers of this character.

Greg Kerestan, BroadwayWorld: If you're familiar with Shrek, the musical and lyrical style of Kimberly Akimbo can be described as 'that, but more so.' The songs swing back and forth between intensely melodic and catchy pop-meets-showtune, and densely lyrical patter/recitative sections which are conversational, unrhymed, and packed with stream-of-consciousness verbiage. It's not an easy style to do well and make sound effortless, but the cast, Carmello and Woyasz, take to it like second nature.

Gary Graff, Morning Sun: All of that makes “Kimberly Akimbo” bold, thoughtful, thoroughly original and deeply compassionate — a kind of antithesis to the jukebox musicals and film adaptations that dominate the stage anymore. It’s as much of a must-see as the Fisher has hosted this season, and even good enough to even worth a second time around.

Rob Levy, BroadwayWorld: Anchoring the ensemble is three-time Tony nominee Carolee Carmello as Kimberly. Her performance mixes heart and humor, giving audiences a character whose warmth, inner strength, and tenacity are inspirational. Onstage Carmello is a powerhouse who singlehandedly propels the musical.

Jeffrey Kare, BroadwayWorld: Starring as Kimberly Levaco is three-time Tony-nominated Broadway legend Carolee Carmello. Onstage, she very impressively feels like a teenager. Yet emotionally, she delivers tender work that also ends up being pretty heartbreaking. Not to mention that whenever she shares scenes with other teenage characters, she manages to fit right in.

Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll, Cape Cod Times: Director Jessica Stone finds just the right balance for this quirky, eccentric mix to make 'Kimberly Akimbo' deliver both heart-breaking moments and lots of laughs. It’s worth seeing how they all pull it off, and pondering the messages of Kimberly’s situation.

Don Aucoin, The Boston Globe: Directed by Jessica Stone, the touring production of 'Kimberly Akimbo' that has arrived at the Emerson Colonial Theatre is funny and heart-piercing by turns, managing to both entertain and move us, and generally achieve an emotional richness that, crucially, stops short of mawkishness.

Amy Kotkin, DC Theater Arts: Small in scale, Kimberly Akimbo (directed by Jessica Stone) tackles some of life’s biggest questions. Each of the characters yearns for a better life, but how and at what cost?... Kim and Seth, wise beyond their years, find their own way in the short time she has left. Their duet, 'Great Adventure,' speaks to the need to live in the present because 'no one gets a second chance.'

Elliot Lanes, BroadwayWorld: Kimberly Akimbo is a show that needs to be seen by everyone. The score is one of the best to hit Broadway in the last 20 years. The book is moving and funny. The cast headed by Carolee Carmello is off the skates. See what I did there?

Paul Batterson, BroadwayWorld: Yet through it all, Kimberly maintains a sense of guarded optimism. In “Make A Wish,” she makes three requests to the Make a Wish Foundation of New Jersey, knowing only one of her dreams will be fulfilled. After wishing to be a super model for a day or to have an outlandish yacht cruise with 40 friends, she wants something heartbreakingly simple: “(a) home-cooked meal, a table set for three/They'll ask me how my day was. I'll mention science class/We'll end with cherry cheesecake and a little Mel Torme.” Realizing this dream is probably too much to ask for, Kimberly settles for asking for a treehouse … even though her backyard is devoid of trees.

AniKatrina Fageol, BroadwayWorld: Every performer has certain moments that stand out and I applaud each and every one of them. Some of my favorites were "Before I Go" (Carmello, Hogan, and Woyasz) as well as Koch's many dark humor moments. In the opening of the show, the teens are pining for another, though we see as the show goes on that unrequited love is another lesson in this show.

Jared Fessler, BroadwayWorld: At just over two hours (with intermission), Kimberly Akimbo delivers a satisfying and deeply human story that lingers long after the final note. The musical reminds us that life, even when cut short, can be full of meaning — and that sometimes the most extraordinary thing you can do is live truthfully, joyfully, in the time you have.

Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities Pioneer Press: And what a rare pleasure it is to experience a new stage musical that’s so unabashedly eccentric and unpredictable. What at first looks as if it’s going to take us down the well-trod path of life in an American high school veers off into one wild detour after another. And, thanks to Lindsay-Abaire’s well-sculpted, trope-defying characters, it’s a very funny and richly satisfying show.

Sheri Gross, The News Herald: Kimberly Akimbo at Playhouse Square, with its multi-talented cast, conjures up every kind of emotion: One minute, we’re laughing out loud, and the next, we may be reaching for the tissues. The show is daring and different, and it makes us appreciate the time we have on this earth while forcing us to take stock in the way we spend that time.

Roy Berko, BroadwayWorld: The script will never be compared other teen-centered musicals such as WEST SIDE STORY or DEAR EVAN HANSEN or even HAIRSPRAY, but the story is interesting, the touring-show is well performed and all-in-all, it makes for a pleasing evening of theater.

Betty Casey, Tulsa Kids: Kimberly Akimbo embodies those deep, conflicting emotions – the heartbreak, the joy and the excitement. The humanity of all the characters in “Kimberly Akimbo” shine through the melancholy and inevitable loss that we know is coming. Isn’t that what life is about – somehow finding connection and ways to celebrate despite the bad things that will inevitably happen to us? Shouldn’t we end up like Kimberly – living life to the fullest while we can?

Jonathan Netek, BroadwayWorld: KIMBERLY AKIMBO is unlike anything else on the musical stage that I have seen. It is quirky, funny, and full of heart. It takes a story that could be maudlin and makes it vibrantly alive, reminding us that life’s limitations don’t have to limit joy. And that life, no matter the length, is a celebration.

Joni Lorraine, BroadwayWorld: The production is straightforward and beautifully executed, with a fine orchestra under the direction of Leigh Delano, choreography by Danny Mefford that supports rather than overwhelms, and a design team that delivers the show with polish and precision.

Sammie Purcell, Rough Draft: “Kimberly Akimbo” has a fine line to walk, navigating a tricky balance of humor and tragedy. The show, which is playing at the Fox Theatre through Oct. 19, doesn’t always nail that balance. But this particular production features excellent performances that smooth out most of those kinks, proving that when the show falls into the right hands, it can move past the page.

Frank Schierloh, Philadelpia Inquirer: Leading the talented ensemble is Morrison who is able to embody the youthful hopes and dreams of Kimberly, while bringing an effective aged physicality to the role. Her voice, while mature, holds a youthful quality to it, making it feel like she is truly a young woman trapped in an older body.

Suzi Nash, Philadelphia Gay News: Those of us of a certain age will certainly feel the pull of nostalgia for those days of hanging out with friends at the local rink on a Saturday. This musical gives all the feels and wraps up with a montage that evokes the movie “Up” — and has the audience on its feet.

Jamie Flowers, West End Best Friend: Of course, the heart of the show is its performances. Ann Morrison’s portrayal of Kimberly is nothing short of breathtaking, as she embodies both the fragility of a teenager and the wisdom of someone who’s lived a full lifetime. The supporting cast bring an infectious energy to the stage, each character quirky in their own perfectly human way.

Samara Smukler, South Florida Theater Magazine: If you are in search of a musical that will leave you smiling, look no further than Kimberly Akimbo! While is certainly a bittersweet story, and doesn’t shy away from sensitive topics, it is ultimately heartwarming and life-affirming, its message and tone outweighing the heaviness of some of its themes. It reminds us all to find the beauty in the everyday, live authentically, and appreciate the present moment—after all, life is one big “great adventure,” and it’s up to us to sit back, embrace the journey, and enjoy the ride.

Average Rating: 83.3%