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Full Casting Announced for the National Tour of the 2023 Tony Award-Winning BEST MUSICAL KIMBERLY AKIMBO

Book & Lyrics by Tony and Pulitzer Prize-Winner David Lindsay-Abaire
Music by Tony Award-Winner Jeanine Tesori
Based on the play by David Lindsay-Abaire
Choreographed by Danny Mefford
Directed by Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone

The producers of KIMBERLY AKIMBO are proud to announce casting for the National Tour of KIMBERLY AKIMBO. Joining previously announced three-time Tony Award nominee Carolee Carmello, who will play Kimberly, will be Miguel Gil (Original Broadway Company of KIMBERLY AKIMBO), Jim Hogan (Original Broadway Company of KIMBERLY AKIMBO), Emily Koch (Wicked, Waitress), Dana Steingold (Beetlejuice, The 25^th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee), Grace Capeless (Disney’s The Lion King), Skye Alyssa Friedman (Original Broadway Company of KIMBERLY AKIMBO), Darron Hayes (Original Broadway Company of KIMBERLY AKIMBO) and Pierce Wheeler (Dear Evan Hansen National Tour). Sarah Lynn Marion, Regene Seven Odon, Marcus Phillips, Bailey Ryon and Brandon Springman will be the understudies, and Valerie Wright will be the Kimberly standby. As previously announced, KIMBERLY AKIMBO will launch a National Tour with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts on September 22 as part of the DCPA’s 2024/25 Broadway subscription season. Tickets are on sale now as well as full season subscription packages at denvercenter.org.  KIMBERLY AKIMBO plays the Buell Theatre September 22- October 5.

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 “howlingly funny heartbreaker of a show” (The New Yorker), 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.

Named BEST MUSICAL by the Tony Awards, New York Drama Critics Circle, The Drama Desk Awards, The Lucille Lortel Awards, and The Outer Critics Circle Awards, KIMBERLY AKIMBO is also the winner of 4 additional Tony Awards: Best Score (David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori), Best Book (David Lindsay-Abaire), Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical and Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. With her win for KIMBERLY AKIMBO, Jeanine Tesori made history as the first female composer to win two Tony Awards for Best Score.

KIMBERLY AKIMBO features scenic design by Tony Award winner David Zinn, costume design by Sarah Laux, lighting design by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, sound design by Tony Award winner Kai Harada, projection design by Lucy MacKinnon, and wig, hair, and make-up design by J. Jared Janas. The production’s Music Supervisor is Chris Fenwick and the Music Director is Leigh Delano. KIMBERLY AKIMBO features orchestrations by Tony Award nominee John Clancy, with additional orchestrations by Macy Schmidt. The Production Supervisor is Arabella Powell, the Production Stage Manager is Shawn Pennington and casting is by The Telsey Office, Craig Burns, CSA.

The National Tour of KIMBERLY AKIMBO is produced by David Stone, The Atlantic Theater Company, James L. Nederlander, LaChanze, John Gore, Patrick Catullo, and Aaron Glick.

Prior to the national touring 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.

KIMBERLY AKIMBO opened on Broadway to unanimous rave reviews on November 10, 2022, following its world premiere at the Atlantic Theater Company in November 2021. Upon closing on Broadway, KIMBERLY AKIMBO played 32 previews and 612 performances on Broadway.

For more information, please visit KimberlyAkimboTheMusical.com

Please follow: @akimbomusical

BIOGRAPHIES:

Carolee Carmello. Photo by Dirty Sugar Studios

CAROLEE CARMELLO (Kimberly) is a three-time Tony nominee and has appeared in 16 Broadway musicals: Mamma Mia!, Kiss Me, Kate, The Addams Family (Drama Desk nomination and Outer Critics Circle nomination), Parade (Tony nomination and Drama Desk Award), Lestat (Tony nomination and Drama Desk nomination), Tuck Everlasting, Finding Neverland, City of Angels, Falsettos, Scandalous (Tony nomination and Drama Desk nomination), The Scarlet Pimpernel, Urinetown, Sister Act, two revivals of 1776, and most recently the new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Bad Cinderella.  Off-Broadway: John & Jen, Das Barbecü, I Can Get It For You Wholesale, Hello Again (Obie Award), A Class Act, The Vagina Monologues, Elegies and the critically-acclaimed, immersive Sweeney Todd. Her screen credits include: “Dopesick,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Madam Secretary,” “Blue Bloods,” “Evil,” “The Good Fight,” “The Deuce,” “Smash,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Frasier” and “Remember W.E.N.N.” (SAG Award nomination). Ms. Carmello has toured with Les Misérables, Big River, Falsettos and Hello, Dolly! and her concert appearances have taken her across America and Europe, including engagements at Lincoln Center, Town Hall and Carnegie Hall.

Miguel Gil

MIGUEL GIL, he/him (Seth) is making his National Tour debut. Broadway: Kimberly Akimbo. Regional: Bye Bye Birdie (The Kennedy Center), In the Heights (The Muny), The Jimmy Awards nominee (2021).  Shoutout to his friends, family, CESD, Luber Roklin and The Telsey Office. Miguel holds a lot of gratitude for this opportunity (and for you being here). He’s thankful for all his teachers who’ve helped this dream come true. Venezuela is in the house! IG @Miguelito.Gil

Jim Hogan

JIM HOGAN (Buddy). Broadway: Kimberly Akimbo (OBC). National Tours: Waitress, The Phantom of the Opera, Spring Awakening. TV: “America’s Got Talent” with vocal group, T.3 (@t.3official). Their debut album, Option Up, is available on all streaming platforms and they’re currently touring a city near you! Many thanks to 321, the Kimberly Akimbo creative team, CGF Talent, Telsey, family and Emily, who’s playing Debra. Despite what she does on stage, she’s actually pretty cool in real life. @jimhogan220

Emily Koch

EMILY KOCH (Debra). Broadway/National Tours: Elphaba in Wicked, Waitress, Kimberly Akimbo. Regional: The Full Monty (North Shore) The Secret Garden (Broadway Sacramento), Godspell (Berkshire Theatre Group), Little Women (Palo Alto TheatreWorks), Violet (FPAC), In the Bones (APAC). Proud Interlochen Arts Academy, Carnegie Mellon alum. Many thanks to 321, BRS/Gage, the Kimberly creative team, Telsey, Matt Farnsworth, Sarah Brown, her parents, and Jim Hogan who plays “Buddy” in this show, Emily’s boyfriend of seven years. @embkoch

Dana Steingold

DANA STEINGOLD (Pattie). Original Broadway Casts of Beetlejuice (Girl Scout) and The Cottage (Dierdre). First National: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Logainne). Off Broadway/New York: Avenue Q (Kate/Lucy), The Visit (Otillie opposite Chita Rivera), Saturday Night (Mildred), Anyone Can Whistle (City Center Encores!). Regional Includes: Paper Mill Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre, George Street, Weston, KC Rep, North Carolina Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, Barrington Stage. TV: “Inventing Anna” (Netflix), Saraline Timbers on Nickelodeon’s “Welcome to the Wayne.” @dsteinface

Grace Capeless

GRACE CAPELESS (Delia).  Broadway/NYC: Disney’s The Lion King, Matilda, A Christmas Story (OBC), Radio City Christmas Spectacular, 30 Years of Stephen Flaherty Carnegie Hall. Film/TV: “Lost Girls,” Beaches, Landing Up, Frozen Fever, “The 67th Annual Tony Awards.” Current MT major at CCM. Love and thanks to my Family, Mara Entertainment, CESD, and Telsey. Socials: @gracecapeless

Skye Alyssa Friedman

SKYE ALYSSA FRIEDMAN (Teresa). National Tour Debut! Broadway: Kimberly Akimbo, Annie. Off-Broadway: The Lucky Star (59E59), Kimberly Akimbo (ATC). Regional: The Audience (MJT). Film: Lemonade Blessing (upcoming), Busybody, Mute. TV: “I Am Frankie” (Nickelodeon). Pace University BFA Acting graduate. Eternally grateful for this “great adventure” and everyone in it. www.skyealyssafriedman.com; IG: @skyealyssafriedman

Darron Hayes

DARRON HAYES (Martin). Broadway: Kimberly Akimbo. Australian Theatre: Pharus in the Australian Premiere of Choir Boy with The National Theatre of Parramatta. Off-Broadway/New York: I Can Get It for You Wholesale, The Gospel According to Heather, Notes From Now, Love Around the Block. TV/Film: “FBI: Most Wanted” and “American Idol.” All the love! Instagram: @darronhayes_

Pierce Wheeler

PIERCE WHEELER (Aaron) recently finished his junior year at New York University after traveling with the National Tour of Dear Evan Hansen. Pierce is overjoyed to collaborate with such generous creatives and a beautiful cast, especially with this story. Gargantuan thanks to his family, friends, mentors, and The Telsey Team for their support! @pierce_wheeler

Sarah Lynn Marion

SARAH LYNN MARION (u/s Pattie, Debra). First national tour! Off Broadway: Ordinary Days. Regional: Kinky Boots, Beehive, All Shook Up. TV: “Law & Order SVU,” “High Maintenance.” BFA University of Michigan. Proud auntie and cat mom. Don’t take yourself too seriously. @sarahlynnmarion

Regene Seven Odon

REGENE SEVEN ODON (u/s Seth, Aaron, Martin). National Tour Debut! This is for Mommy Rose. Eternally grateful for Take3Talent, Rebel, and The Prep. Thanks to Michelle, Natasha, Shannon, Jimmy, Nicky, and Theresa. Endless love to Mama, Papa, Jilian, Jillaine, and my friends.

Marcus Phillips

MARCUS PHILLIPS (u/s Seth, Aaron, Martin). Recent/favorite credits: Spring Awakening (East West Players), The Prom (First National Tour), Dog Man: The Musical (National Tour). BFA in Theatre & Film, #longliveL7! Love, hold, and listen to one another @who.is.marcus

Bailey Ryon

BAILEY RYON (u/s Delia, Teresa). Broadway/National Tour: OBC Matilda The Musical (Matilda – TONY recipient). How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Cindy-Lou Who). James Madison University BA: Musical Theatre. Thanks to my family! Representation: Evolve Talent Management. www.bailey-ryon.com

Brandon Springman

BRANDON SPRINGMAN (u/s Buddy). An Anagram for Thankful is “Flunk Hat.” First National Tour of Come From Away. Regional: Sacramento Music Circus, Paramount Theatre, Marriott, Chicago Shakespeare, Drury Lane. Thanks to Stewart Talent. For my Family & Michelle.

Valerie Wright

VALERIE WRIGHT (Kimberly Standby). Broadway: Kimberly Akimbo; Tuck Everlasting; Elf; Annie Get Your Gun; Damn Yankees; Steel Pier; Sally Marr and Her Escorts; Song and Dance; Cats. Numerous Regional Theater, Off-Broadway and National Tours. Film: Sleepless in Seattle, Ordinary Heroes, Second Glance, The Life List. Valerie is the recipient of two Helen Hayes Award nominations and a Jefferson Award. She is a director/choreographer and is married to actor Mark Lotito. They proudly share sons Luca and Gio.

David Lindsay-Abaire

DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIRE (Book, Lyrics, Original Play) is a playwright, screenwriter, lyricist and librettist. He received Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Book of a Musical for his work on Kimberly Akimbo. Other Broadway credits include Rabbit Hole (MTC, Pulitzer Prize); Good People (MTC, NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, Horton Foote Prize); Shrek with Jeanine Tesori (Kleban Award for Lyrics); High Fidelity with Tom Kitt and Amanda Green. Off-Broadway: at ATC, Kimberly Akimbo (Lortel, NYDCC, OCC and Drama Desk awards for Best Musical); at MTC, Ripcord, Kimberly Akimbo (the play), Wonder of the World, Fuddy Meers; at Soho Rep, A Devil Inside. Film: The Family Fang, Rise of the Guardians, Rabbit Hole, Oz the Great and Powerful, Poltergeist, Inkheart, Robots. Member: Dramatists Guild, WGA, ASCAP. David is also, along with Tanya Barfield, co-director of the playwriting program at The Juilliard School.

Jeanine Tesori

JEANINE TESORI (Music) is a composer of musical theatre, opera and film. She is a two-time Tony Award winner for Best Score, for Kimberly Akimbo with David Lindsay-Abaire and for Fun Home with Lisa Kron. Her other musicals include Caroline, or Change (with Tony Kushner); Shrek (David Lindsay-Abaire); Thoroughly Modern Millie (Dick Scanlan); Violet (Brian Crawley); and Soft Power (David Henry Hwang), which was her second work after Fun Home to be a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. Her operas include A Blizzard on Marblehead Neck (Tony Kushner); The Lion, The Unicorn and Me (J.D. McClatchy); and Blue (Tazewell Thompson). Her latest opera, Grounded (George Brant), marks Tesori as one of the first women, along with Missy Mazzoli, to be commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera and will open the 2024-2025 season. In addition to her work as a composer, Tesori is the founding artistic director of New York City Center’s Encores! Off-Center series, the supervising vocal producer of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story and a lecturer in music at Yale University. Proud member of the Dramatists Guild.

JESSICA STONE (Director) worked as an actress on and off Broadway, in television and film before transitioning to directing. Her directing career began in earnest with her all-male 2010 production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum for the Williamstown Theatre Festival. She has since been nominated for two Tony awards for her work on Broadway in Kimberly Akimbo (2023) and Water for Elephants (2024). In addition, both productions garnered nominations for Best Musical, with Kimberly Akimbo taking home the prize. She has directed all over the country at such theatres as The Old Globe, A.C.T., Shakespeare Theatre Company, Huntington Theatre Company, Two River Theater and Williamstown Theatre Festival. Productions include As You Like It, Kate Hamill’s Vanity Fair, Barefoot in the Park, Dancing at Lughnasa, Bad Dates, Ken Ludwig’s Robin Hood! (world premiere), Ripcord, Bad Jews, Arms and the Man, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Charlotte’s Web, June Moon, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Absurd Person Singular. As a performer her Broadway credits include Anything Goes, Butley, The Odd Couple, The Smell of the Kill, Design for Living, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Grease.

DANNY MEFFORD (Choreographer) choreographed the Broadway productions of Dear Evan Hansen (Tony and Olivier awards, Best Musical), Fun Home (Tony Award, Best Musical), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and The Bridges of Madison County. Selected credits: Much Ado About Nothing and Love’s Labour’s Lost (Shakespeare in the Park), Miss You Like Hell and February House (The Public), Good Person of Szechwan (The Public/Foundry) and an international tour of The Sound of Music. His work has been featured in “Dickinson” (Apple TV+) and “Rise” (NBC). He has been nominated for Drama Desk and Lortel awards. Dedicated to the memory of Darius Barnes, my friend and collaborator.