New Orleans Saenger Theatre, Kimberly Akimbo, October 2025

SAENGER THEATRE NEW ORLEANS, LA

A Letter from the General Manager

DEAR SAENGER THEATRE GUESTS,

Welcome to Kimberly Akimbo! We’re thrilled to kick off a brand-new season of Broadway in New Orleans with this heartwarming, hilarious, and Tony Award-winning musical that reminds us all: growing up is optional.

As the curtain rises tonight, we’re not just opening a show—we’re opening the door to a season full of unforgettable stories, larger-than-life performances, and all the magic that only Broadway can deliver. Whether this is your first visit or you’re a seasoned theatregoer, thank you for joining us here at the historic Saenger Theatre.

We’re so excited about the journey ahead, and Kimberly Akimbo is just the beginning.

Here’s what’s coming up this season:

• A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical – A feel-good celebration of a music icon. Sweet Caroline? Absolutely.

• Back to the Future: The Musical – Great Scott! Travel through time with Marty, Doc, and a DeLorean that truly defies gravity.

• Hell’s Kitchen – Inspired by Alicia Keys’ own story, with all the soul, sound, and strength you’d expect from her incredible songbook.

• Hadestown – An underworld love story like no other. Dark, dazzling, and deeply moving.

• Water for Elephants – A sweeping romance set under the big top, told with stunning stagecraft and imagination.

• The Phantom of the Opera – Yes, he’s back beneath the chandelier. The music of the night returns to New Orleans.

• The Great Gatsby – A new musical take on the timeless tale of dreams, decadence, and jazz-age glamour.

• SIX – The six queens of Henry VIII remix history in this high-energy, chart-topping musical event.

• The Book of Mormon – Still brilliantly funny, still wildly entertaining. A true modern classic.

• Monty Python’s Spamalot – A riotous musical comedy quest filled with outrageous fun and absurd delights.

It’s going to be a season to remember—and we’re so glad you’re here to experience it with us.

Thank you for being part of the Broadway in New Orleans family. Here’s to a spectacular season ahead!

See you at the theatre, David Skinner

General Manager, Saenger Theatre

New Orleans, LA

KIMBERLY AKIMBO CREATORS DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIRE AND JEANINE TESORI ON HOW THE PLAY GREW UP TO BE A MUSICAL

STORY BY Darryn King

After Shrek The Musical opened on Broadway in 2008, playwright and lyricist David Lindsay-Abaire and composer Jeanine Tesori knew they wanted to collaborate on another project. When it came to deciding what it would be, Tesori literally pulled it off the shelf.

Written in 2000, Lindsay-Abaire’s play Kimberly Akimbo was about a teenage girl with a rapid aging disease. The play premiered in 2001 at South Coast Repertory in California before an Off-Broadway run in 2003 at Manhattan Theatre Club. “She said, ‘I think this one sings,’” Lindsay-Abaire told Broadway.com Managing Editor Beth Stevens on The Broadway Show.

Premiering Off-Broadway in 2021 at Atlantic Theater Company ahead of its 2022 Broadway transfer, the resulting musical certainly did sing—to the tune of five Tony Awards including for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. (These were Lindsay-Abaire’s first Tony wins; Tesori previously won for her score for Fun Home.)

As Tesori explained, Lindsay-Abaire’s story of a young girl trapped in the body of a much older woman—whatever its biological implausibility—felt emotionally true. “When my grandmother was in her late eighties, she would look at the mirror and she would say, ‘God, I’m so surprised I’m not 12,’” she said. “It’s about how we stay the children we were.”

It was also a story, Tesori felt, with the right, rich balance of tragedy and comedy, beauty and absurdity. “That’s what life is, so much of the time,” said Tesori.

The long process of creative development began with a complete rewrite. “One of the things that we are deeply invested in is looking at work like you didn’t write it at all,” said Tesori. “We sat in this room and we started at page one—and I mean: Punctuation. Stage directions.”

For Lindsay-Abaire, revisiting and reexamining Kimberly’s story two decades later was a lot like seeing his life flash before his eyes. “Whoever I was 20 years ago, that’s who wrote that play,” he said. “My concerns were whatever they were at the time; I connected more with the teenage characters. And now, all these years later, I’m a dad with two boys and I have a different relationship with child and parent stuff. To reinvestigate it from this new place is a pretty major thing.”

Ultimately, Kimberly Akimbo the musical feels like something different than Kimberly Akimbo the play. “That’s just the magic of music and what Jeanine brought to it,” said Lindsay-Abaire. “It’s a completely different animal—it’s more dimensional and it’s more emotional.”

For extended cuts of this interview and others, head over to Broadway.com.

NICK

FRADIANI BRINGS CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF NEIL DIAMOND TO A BEAUTIFUL NOISE

STORY BY DARRYN KING

Nick Fradiani, the singer-songwriter and Season 14 “American Idol” winner, was three or four years old when he first saw Neil Diamond live—his first concert experience.

If Fradiani was too young to remember the concert all these years later, he has many distinct memories of bonding with his musician father over a shared love of Diamond’s music. “My whole life was going out and watching my dad gig and play at different places—he would always do Neil Diamond music,” Fradiani told Tamsen Fadal on The Broadway Show. Diamond’s The Christmas Album was big at home around Christmastime too, the singer’s smooth, earthy tones and distinctive phrasing making a big impression on the young Nick. “Me and my dad would jokingly sing in the Neil voice: ‘O come, o come Emmanuel…’”

All that childhood practice has come seriously in handy. Fradiani made his Broadway debut portraying Neil Diamond—the singer-songwriter behind such evergreen hits as “Sweet Caroline,” “Cherry, Cherry,” “Red Red Wine” and “I’m a Believer”— in A Beautiful Noise on Broadway. He now leads the national touring production, bringing those Diamond hits to theatres across America.

It’s been a good excuse for Fradiani to resume his Neil Diamond studies in earnest. He spent a year and a half analyzing videos on YouTube and absorbing Diamond’s voice (speaking and singing), mannerisms and general aura. “You want to do it justice every night.”

None of that research prepared Fradiani for the experience of meeting the man himself. “It was more just kind of being in awe,” said Fradiani. “Just being in his presence was really cool.”

If A Beautiful Noise is a culminating moment for Fradiani, the same could be said for Diamond himself. Around 1989—when Fradiani saw Diamond in concert— the singer was set to work on a film project about his experiences as a young contract songwriter, based on his album Beautiful Noise. That movie project never materialized, but the new musical explores that chapter of Diamond’s life and much more besides.

“I’m glad that people are getting to see his real story,” said Fradiani. “This is the first time it’s really been told and this is how he wanted it to be told.”

A few years after his first musical—the national tour of A Bronx Tale in 2019— Fradiani feels totally at home in musical theater. “I just fell in love with it. I’ve fallen in love with the acting side of it and the camaraderie of the cast and everything. It feels like I’m back in a band, where you have the wins together, you have the losses together—you create something together.”

Plus, Nick and his father have gotten to bond over the music, just like in the old days. “I think it’s probably been the most proud I’ve ever seen my dad— when he comes and gets to see me do these songs.”

A Beautiful Noise comes to New Orleans November 11-16 as part of the 20252026 Broadway season. For extended cuts of this interview and others, head over to Broadway.com.

CAST

(in order of appearance)

Kimberly ............................................................................................................... ANN MORRISON

Seth ................................................................................................................................. MIGUEL GIL

Delia GABBY BEREDO

Martin DARRON HAYES

Teresa SKYE ALYSSA FRIEDMAN

Aaron .................................................................................................................. PIERCE WHEELER

Buddy JIM HOGAN

Pattie LAURA WOYASZ

Debra EMILY KOCH

STANDBYS AND UNDERSTUDIES

Standbys and understudies never substitute for the listed players unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the appearance.

Standby for Kimberly—JANET DICKINSON. Understudy for Buddy—BRANDON SPRINGMAN; Understudy for Pattie/Debra—SARAH LYNN MARION; Understudy for Delia/Teresa—BAILEY RYON; Understudies for Seth/Aaron/Martin—REGENE SEVEN ODON, MARCUS PHILLIPS.

Dance Captain BAILEY RYON

SETTING

1999. Before kids had cell phones. Somewhere in Bergen County, NJ

THERE WILL BE ONE 15-MINUTE INTERMISSION.

Scan here for any updated cast replacement announcements for this performance

MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT I

“Skater Planet” Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa, Seth, Kimberly “Hello, Darling” Pattie

“Make a Wish” ...................................................................................................................... Kimberly

“Skater Planet” (reprise #1) ......................................................... Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa

“Anagram” Kimberly, Seth, Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa “Better” Debra, Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa

“Hello, Darling” (reprise)/“Father Time” .............................................................................Pattie

“Happy for Her” ....................................................................................................................... Buddy “Anagram” (reprise) Kimberly “This Time” Company

ACT II

“How to Wash a Check” Debra, Kimberly, Seth, Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa “Good Kid” Seth

“Hello, Baby” ............................................................................................................................ Buddy

“Skater Planet” (reprise #2) .............................................. Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa, Seth “Our Disease” Kimberly, Seth, Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa

“The Inevitable Turn” Pattie, Buddy, Debra, Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa

“Now” ......................................................................................................................... Seth, Kimberly

“How to Wash a Check” (reprise) ................................. Debra, Aaron, Delia, Martin, Teresa “Before I Go” Kimberly, Buddy, Pattie

“Hello, Sister” Kimberly, Seth “Great Adventure” Company

ORCHESTRA

Music Director (Conductor/Keyboard 1)—LEIGH DELANO

Associate Music Director (Keyboard 2)—RYAN EDWARD WISE Reed 1—BEN SCHONHORN; Reed 2—ALEX LEMMA; Drums—FRANK ZAMBRANO; Bass—LINDSAY ROSENBERG; Guitar—NICK RIMANIC; Cello—KEVIN IRVING

Associate Music Supervisor: Brian Ge

Orchestra Contractor: Antoine Silverman

Electronic Music Design: Billy Jay Stein and Hiro Iida for Strange Cranium Music Preparation: JoAnn Kane Music (Kyle Brenn, Russell Bartmus, Jessie Rosso)

WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST

ANN MORRISON (Kimberly). Broadway: Mary Flynn in the legendary original Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical, Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Hal Prince (1982 Theatre World Award), Hal Prince’s LoveMusik, Children and Art. London’s West End: Peg in the original musical Peg. Off-Broadway: Lizzie in the original Goblin Market (Drama Desk Nom.) Ann has starred in dozens of musicals and plays, concerts, and cabaret performances throughout the country and the U.K. Select recordings: Merrily We Roll Along, Lady be Good, Goblin Market, and many more. Recent honors: NY Bistro Award for her solo musical Merrily From Center Stage, and United Solo Best Actress for her Linda Lovely Goes to Broadway

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). NYC: Follies (Carnegie Hall), The Jimmy Awards (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). Venezuela is in the house! IG @Miguelito.Gil

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 (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

LAURA WOYASZ (Pattie). If this is a dream, please don’t wake me, because this is a dream role! Broadway: Wicked (Glinda), For The Girls. She has done 5 Off-Broadway shows, 3 National Tours, 4 TV appearances, and many regional shows. She is an advocate for senior dogs and is a Reiki healer. Laura is obsessed with Dolly Parton, tiny homes, and Doritos. Thank you to HCKR, the creative team, Telsey, Matt Farnsworth for this opportunity. As always, for my niece & sister. www.laura-woyasz.com

GABBY BEREDO (Delia) is overjoyed to be part of this production! National Tour: Matilda. Regional: Annie (Papermill Playhouse). Media: Global Girls Alliance launch video with Michelle Obama (Featured Soloist). She is a proud Filipina and New Jersey native! Sending love and gratitude to her family, friends, CarsonAdler Agency, and CCM MT. @gabbyberedo

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 (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 (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

JANET DICKINSON (Kimberly Standby). Broadway: Anastasia, Bullets Over Broadway, How The Grinch…, Happiness at Lincoln Center. Little Dancer (Mary Cassatt) - The Kennedy Center/World Premiere. Chasing Rainbows - Flat Rock/World Premiere. Tours: Billy Elliot (Mrs. Wilkinson), 9 To 5: The Musical. Off-Broadway: Fat Camp, Forbidden Broadway’s Rude Awakening. TV: “High Maintenance,” “Billions,” “Feud: Capote vs the Swans.” Janet is originally from Bemidji, MN. Love to Doug and the team at Carson/Kolker. Something funny is happening on Instagram @Anticstasia.

SARAH LYNN MARION (u/s Pattie, Debra). First National Tour! OffBroadway: Ordinary Days. Regional: Kinky Boots, Beehive, All Shook Up. TV: “Law & Order SVU,” “High Maintenance.” BFA University of Michigan. Jimmy Award winner. Don’t take yourself too seriously. @sarahlynnmarion

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. @regeneodon

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 (Dance Captain, u/s Delia, Teresa). Broadway/National Tour: OBC Matilda The Musical (MatildaTony recipient). How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (Cindy-Lou Who). James

Madison University BA: Musical Theatre. Thanks to my friends and family! Representation: Evolve Talent Management. www.bailey-ryon.com

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.

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 (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 opened 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 three Tony Award winners for Best Musical: Kimberly Akimbo, Dear Evan Hansen (also Olivier, Best Musical) and Fun Home. Direction: a national tour of Shrek and three upcoming projects: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Kennedy Center, The

Gorgeous Nothings and The Fitzgeralds of St. Paul. Choreography highlights: Titanic, Love’s Labour’s Lost, February House, Miss You Like Hell, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, The Sound of Music and Good Person of Szechwan TV: theatrical sequences for “Rise” on NBC, “Dickinson” on AppleTV+, and “Fleishman is in Trouble” FX. MFA in Acting from Brown University/Trinity Rep.

DAVID ZINN (Scenic Design). Broadway: scenic design for Stereophonic, The Notebook, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Funny Girl, The Minutes, Diana, Torch Song, The Humans; scenic/costume design for Choir Boy, The Boys in the Band, SpongeBob SquarePants, Amélie, Fun Home, The Last Ship; costume design for Enemy of the People, Almost Famous; A Doll’s House, Part 2; Airline Highway; …the vibrator play; Xanadu. Also: Playwrights Horizons, Atlantic Theater, The Public Theater, NYTW; National Theatre and Young Vic (U.K.); Theater Basel; and the Berlin Staatsoper. Tony, Obie, Drama Desk, Hewes awards.

SARAH LAUX (Costume Design). Broadway: Prayer for the French Republic, The Band’s Visit, Fully Committed, The Humans. Selected OffBroadway: Dead Outlaw (Audible); Wish You Were Here (Playwrights Horizons); The Wanderer (Paper Mill Playhouse); Prayer for the French Republic (MTC); Kimberly Akimbo, This Ain’t No Disco, The Band’s Visit (Atlantic Theater Company); Jerry Springer: The Opera (New Group, Obie Award); A Play Is a Poem (Taper Theatre); Before the Meeting (WTF). Film: Not Okay, The Sixth Reel, Freakshow Television: “High Fidelity,” “Godfather of Harlem” S2-4.

JEANETTE OI-SUK YEW (Lighting Design). Award-winning designer for theatre, dance, opera, musicals, music performances and large-scale immersive installation. The NY Times described her designs as “clever” and “inventive.”

Credits include: The Thanksgiving Play (Broadway), The Connector (MCC), King Lear (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Manahatta (The Public), Gloria: A Life

(Daryl Roth Theatre), Cullud Wattah (The Public), Golden Shield (MTC), The Nosebleed (LCT3), American (Tele) visions (NYTW), Oratorio for Living Things (Ars Nova), Snow in Midsummer (CSC), Suicide Forest (Ma-Yi), KPOP (Ars Nova), WILD: A Musical Becoming (A.R.T.), Walden (Theaterworks), Blue (Detroit Opera), Theatre of the Mind (with David Byrne). www.jeanetteyew.com

KAI HARADA (Sound Design). Broadway: Once Upon a Mattress; The Days of Wine and Roses; Merrily We Roll Along (Tony Nomination); Spamalot (co-design); New York, New York (Tony Nomination); Kimberly Akimbo; The Old Man and the Pool; Mister Saturday Night; Head Over Heels; The Band’s Visit (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award); Amélie; Sunday in the Park With George; Allegiance; Gigi; Fun Home; On the Town; First Date; Follies (Tony, Drama Desk Nominations); and Million Dollar Quartet. West End: Crazy For You; Million Dollar Quartet. Many other musicals worldwide.

J. JARED JANAS (Wig, Hair, and Makeup Design). Broadway: Our Town, Once Upon a Mattress, Mary Jane, Prayer for the French Republic, Purlie Victorious, Good Night, Oscar, Sweeney Todd…, Ohio State Murders, & Juliet, Kimberly Akimbo, Topdog/Underdog, How I Learned to Drive, American Buffalo, Jagged Little Pill, Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune, Gettin’ the Band Back Together, Bandstand, Indecent, Sunset Boulevard, The Visit, The Real Thing, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, Motown, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess.

LUCY MACKINNON (Video Design) is a projection designer and video artist who lives in Brooklyn. She is a two-time Tony Award nominee whose Broadway design credits include The Notebook, Kimberly Akimbo, A Christmas Carol, How I Learned to Drive, Jagged Little Pill, The Rose Tattoo, Lifespan of a Fact, Six Degrees of Separation, and Deaf West’s revival of Spring Awakening

THE TELSEY OFFICE (Casting). With offices in both New York and Los Angeles, The Telsey Office casts for theater, film, television, and commer-

cials. The Telsey Office is dedicated to creating safe, equitable, and anti-racist spaces through collaboration, artistry, heart, accountability, and advocacy. Please visit thetelseyoffice.com for our credits.

JOHN CLANCY (Orchestrations). Broadway: Kimberly Akimbo (Tony nom.), Mean Girls (Tony nom.), 1776 (2022 revival), Fun Home (Tony/Drama Desk noms.), Diana, The Prom, Tuck Everlasting, Shrek (Tony/Drama Desk noms.), Cats 2016 (dance arr.). OffBroadway/regional: The Karate Kid, The Notebook, The Secret Life of Bees, Gun & Powder, Becoming Nancy, Soft Power (dance arr.), The Fortress of Solitude, Jasper in Deadland, Just So.

MACY SCHMIDT (Additional Orchestrations) is an honoree of the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for her work as founder/ CEO of The Broadway Sinfonietta, an all-women and majority womenof-color orchestra. Broadway: Tina. U.K./international: RIDE, Monsoon Wedding, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical macyschmidtmusic.com | CAA

CHRIS FENWICK (Music Supervisor). Music director: Soft Power (Pulitzer finalist), Sunday in the Park With George (2017 Broadway revival), Fun Home (Tony Award, Best Musical; Pulitzer finalist), the original productions of Michael John LaChiusa’s Giant, Los Otros, Queen of the Mist and See What I Wanna See. Music supervisor: Once on This Island (Tony Award, Best Revival); Good Night, Oscar (Goodman Theatre). Founding music director, City Center Encores! OffCenter. Music director for Patti LuPone at Carnegie Hall and more.

ANTOINE SILVERMAN (Music Coordinator). Thrilled to be involved in his eighth production with Jeanine Tesori including Fun Home and Caroline, or Change. Other shows include The Secret Life of Bees, Spider-Man, Tuck Everlasting, Paradise Square, Assassins (CSC) and many more.

LEIGH DELANO (Music Director). Broadway: Kimberly Akimbo, Some Like It Hot, Spamalot, Once Upon A One

More Time. Regional: Gun & Powder (Paper Mill Playhouse), American Prophet (Arena Stage), Grace (Ford’s Theatre), Catch Me If You Can (Arena Stage), Gun & Powder - Premiere (Signature Theatre), Once Upon A One More Time (Shakespeare Theatre).

STRANGE CRANIUM (Electronic Music Design). Billy Jay Stein, CEO and founder. Hiro Iida, lead designer. Credits: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Grammy Award); The Radio City Rockettes NY Spectacular; MJ; Kimberly Akimbo; 1776; Paradise Square; Caroline, or Change; Diana; Tootsie; Mean Girls; The Band’s Visit; Fun Home; Spider-Man; Hairspray; Amélie; Tuck Everlasting; The Rocky Horror Show; Jekyll & Hyde. www.strangecranium.com

RYAN EMMONS (Associate Director). Broadway: Water for Elephants, Kimberly Akimbo, Groundhog Day, Matilda, Ghost. National Tours: Matilda and Miss Saigon. Ryan is co-artistic director of the indie theatre ensemble No.11 Productions and teaches at IAMT. Gratitude to Jane, Brandon and Beckett! www.ryanemmonsdirects.com

BRITTNEY GRIFFIN (Associate Choreographer). Credits include Kimberly Akimbo on Broadway, Dreamgirls International Tour (Associate Choreographer/Director). Film: Bolden, A Jazzmans Blues (Netflix). Special thanks to Mom, Dad, Danny, and Lucille. Love you Darius.

ARABELLA POWELL (Production Supervisor). Broadway: Kimberly Akimbo, The Lion King; What the Constitution Means to Me; The Rose Tattoo; John Leguizamo’s Latin History…, Ghetto Klown and Sexaholix; Eve Ensler’s The Good Body; Kat and the Kings. Select Off-Broadway: Kimberly Akimbo, Richard II. WNYC/Public; Théâtre de Complicité’s Mnemonic; Trumbo; Tap Dogs West End & international tour. Program member, Open Stage Project.

SHAWN PENNINGTON (Production Stage Manager). Broadway: Wicked, Next to Normal, Sondheim on Sondheim. First National Tours:

MJ, Come From Away, Bright Star, Fun Home, If/Then, Peter and the Starcatcher, Rock of Ages. Regional: Gypsy (The Muny), Up Here (La Jolla Playhouse). Love to Mom & Mark.

ABBY L. POWERS (Stage Manager, she/ her). Touring: Hamilton, Summer, School of Rock, Cinderella, Joseph…Dreamcoat, Cats, West Side Story, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof and more. “Unending love to my family and my suitcases!”

OLIVIA GORDON (Assistant Stage Manager). National Tours: Annie Regional: Anastasia, Tootsie, Titanic, 9 to 5, Something Rotten! (Maine State Music Theatre), Frozen (Fulton Theatre). Training: Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil, Shenandoah University. Sending love and thanks to her family, friends, and mentors.

JUSTIN T. SCHOLL (Company Manager). Tour: MJ the Musical, Beetlejuice, The Band’s Visit, Miss Saigon. International: Shrek, Beauty & the Beast. Broadway: Lady Day…. Board Certified member of ATPAM. Love to Mom, Dad, Sydney, Hops Alexis and Cookie.

JUNIPER STREET PRODUCTIONS

(Production Management) formed in 1998, JSP has managed more than 100 Broadway, Off-Broadway and National Tours. Currently: & Juliet, Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, Good Night, and Good Luck, Harry Potter, Hell’s Kitchen, John Proctor is the Villain, MJ: The Musical, Moulin Rouge, Picture of Dorian Gray, Romeo & Juliet, Shucked, Some Like It Hot, Stereophonic, The Great Gatsby, The Outsiders. www.juniperstreet.com.

321 THEATRICAL MANAGEMENT

(General Management). Credits include Wicked (worldwide); Purpose (Tony Award for Best Play); Death Becomes Her; The Outsiders (Tony Award for Best Musical); Kimberly Akimbo (Tony Award for Best Musical); Gutenberg! The Musical!; Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/ Underdog (Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play); A Strange Loop (Tony Award for Best Musical); Is This a Room; Dana H.; What the Constitution Means to Me; The SpongeBob Musical; War Paint; Oh,

Hello on Broadway; Fully Committed (Broadway revival and original OffBroadway); Fun Home (Tony Award for Best Musical); If/ Then; Peter and the Starcatcher; Bring It On: The Musical; Sister Act; Traces; Next to Normal; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; The Vagina Monologues; Man of La Mancha; The Graduate; I Love You, You’re Perfect; and Bat Boy.

DAVID STONE (Producer) is currently represented around the world (on stage and screen) by Wicked. He has also produced Purpose, Kimberly Akimbo, Topdog/Underdog, The Boys in the Band, War Paint, If/Then, Next to Normal, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Three Days of Rain, Man of La Mancha, The Vagina Monologues, Fully Committed, Lifegame, The Diary of Anne Frank, Full Gallop, The Santaland Diaries and Family Secrets. David serves on the boards of The Broadway League and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the advisory board of Second Stage Theater. David has lectured on theatre at Yale, Princeton, Columbia and his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania.

ATLANTIC THEATER COMPANY

(Producer). Neil Pepe, artistic director; Jeffory Lawson, managing director. Our aim is singular: to empower simple and honest storytelling that fosters greater understanding of our shared world. Founded as an ensemble of impassioned students in 1985, we have grown into a Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning Off-Broadway company and world-renowned Acting School. As a producer of compelling new works from emerging and established artists, we are committed to uncovering and celebrating all storytellers. www.atlantictheater.org.

JAMES L. NEDERLANDER (Producer)

Credits: Purpose; Tammy Faye; The Outsiders; Kimberly Akimbo; An Enemy of the People; Some Like It Hot; Titanique; MJ; Mr. Saturday Night starring Billy Crystal; Tina: The Tina Turner Musical; The Lehman Trilogy; My Fair Lady; The Band’s Visit; On Your Feet!; The Elephant Man; I’ll Eat You Last; Next to Normal; The Color Purple; The

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Movin’ Out and many others..

LACHANZE (Producer) is thrilled to continue to serve on the producing team for Kimberly Akimbo. LaChanze has also served as producer on the lauded Purpose (Tony Award), Topdog/ Underdog (Tony Award), Here Lies Love, and Jaja’s African Hair Braiding (Tony Award nomination) and is currently a producer on The Outsiders (Tony Award). As an actor, LaChanze has starred in The Color Purple (Tony Award), Once on This Island (Tony Award nomination), Trouble in Mind (Tony Award nomination), Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (Tony Award nomination), If/ Then, A Christmas Carol and many others. With over 38 years of experience on Broadway, LaChanze is committed to producing theatre that transforms, transcends and inspires. She is the proud president of Black Theatre United, an advocacy organization dedicated to protecting Black bodies, Black talent, and Black lives on and off our stages.

JOHN GORE (Producer) has won 25 Tonys, an Olivier, and two Emmy Awards. He is a British producer who is Chairman, C.E.O., and sole owner of the John Gore Organization family of companies, including Broadway Across America, Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Broadway Brands, and Group Sales Box Office. The company has produced and invested in shows on Broadway, in London’s West End, Japan, China and presents in over 45 cities across North America. Presentations include The Phantom of the Opera, Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon and Hamilton. Recent Broadway credits include The Outsiders, Purpose, Buena Vista Social Club, MJ, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

PATRICK CATULLO (Producer) is a multiple Tony and Olivier Award-winning producer. Recent credits include; Sunset Blvd.; Merrily We Roll Along; An Enemy of the People; Here Lies Love; Illinoise; Gutenberg! The Musical; Kimberly Akimbo; Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man &

The Pool; David Byrne’s American Utopia (Special Tony Award and Emmy nomination); Girl From the North Country; Fleabag; Network; The Boys in the Band; 1984; Oh, Hello on Broadway; Fully Committed; Gypsy (West End); The Elephant Man; Hedwig and the Angry Inch; If/Then; Next to Normal; and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Upcoming: Oedipus; Dog Day Afternoon starring Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach and West End premiere of Sam Hunter’s Clarkston starring Joe Locke.

AARON GLICK (Producer) is a Tony and Olivier Award-winning producer. Broadway, Touring and West End Credits include: Spelling Bee (Off Broadway), Purpose (Tony Award), A Wrinkle in Time (Arena Stage), Next to Normal (West End), Hello, Dolly! (West End), Sweeney Todd (Tony Nomination), Kimberly Akimbo (Tony Award), What the Constitution Means to Me (Tony Nomination), & Juliet (West End only), The Boys in the Band (Tony Award), Fully Committed, Gypsy (Olivier Award), and The Old Man and the Old Moon. Aaron is also a producer with David Stone and has worked on such shows as: Three Days of Rain, Wicked, Next to Normal, If/Then, War Paint, and the TonyWinning Topdog/Underdog. Aaron is a Full Member of the Broadway League, a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, and the recipient of Hal Prince’s T Fellowship.

STAFF FOR KIMBERLY

AKIMBO

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

321 THEATRICAL MANAGEMENT

Nina Essman Rachel Kaufman

Amy Merlino Coey Marcia Goldberg

DIRECTOR OF TOURING

Ken Silverman

COMPANY MANAGER

Justin T. Scholl

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Ryan Emmons

ASSOCIATE CHOREOGRAPHER

Brittney Griffin

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

JUNIPER STREET PRODUCTIONS

Hillary Blanken Hannah Wilson Z Zurovitch

Guy Kwan Ana Rose Greene Victoria Bullard

Ross Leonard Sadie Alisa Abby Filiaggi

Carolyn Bonaccorsi Chris Childs

Laura Zamsky Burkett Horrigan

MARKETING & PRESS REPRESENTATIVE ALEMAN PR

Phillip Aleman Justin O’Neill

LEGAL COUNSEL

KLARIS

Doug Nevin Edward Klaris

Brandon Taylor

TOUR BOOKING THE ROAD COMPANY

Stephen Lindsay Brett Sirota

Shawn Willett Natalie Rine

Gracie Lewis Quinn Wasson

AnaBella Kalish Jacob Hoffman Shane Parksmith trc.nyc

CASTING THE TELSEY OFFICE

Craig Burns, CSA Jimmy Larkin

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER SHAWN PENNINGTON

Stage Manager Abby L. Powers

Assistant Stage Manager Olivia Gordon

Assistant Company Manager J. Kenneth Anthony

Stone Productions Assistant Grant Albright

Associate Scenic Designer Teresa L. Williams

Associate Lighting Designers Alex deNevers, Kirk Fitzgerald

Lighting Assistant Zijun (Neil) Wang

Associate Sound Designer Isabella Curry

Associate Video Designer Dylan Uremovich

Associate Costume Designer Jessica Worsnop

Costume Shopper .............................. Michelle Ridley

Associate Hair and Makeup Designer Eric Miralles

Production Assistants Olivia Gordon, Olivia McQuerry

Production Carpenter Chad Woerner

Advance Carpenter Jack Anderson

Production Electrician Eric Norris

Production Sound Mike Wojchik

Advance Sound Douglas Graves

Production Props Supervisors JR Goodman, Ray Wetmore

Assistant Production Props Jennifer A. Kramer

Production Video Supervisor ........ Chelsea Zalikowski

Moving Light Programmer Bridget Chervenka

Advance Video Supervisor Alexandra Lenihan

Video Programmer Ido Levran

Head Carpenter Chad Fenimore

Assistant Carpenter Flyman Sam Vettrus

Assistant Carpenter Deck

Head Electrician

Assistant Electrician Followspot

Assistant Electrician Video

Head Sound

Assistant Sound

Chase Dietrich

Kathleen Cole

Gabrielle Blackburn

Javier Calderon

Matt McShane

Kayla Chen

Head Props Kendall Barbera

Assistant Props

Crew Swing

Wardrobe Supervisor

Ashley Clark

Keefe Kennedy

Katherine Kraus

Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor Teacora Sherrill

Hair & Makeup Supervisor

Jakey Hicks

Advertising Serino Coyne

Online Marketing Situation Interactive

Broadway Publicist .......................... Tom D’Ambrosio

Community Engagement & Culture Strategist Alexander Consulting Group/ Christina Alexander

321 Theatrical Founding Partner Nancy Gibbs

321 Theatrical Finance Director KeriAnne Murphy

321 Theatrical Business Manager Rebecca Peterson

321 THEATRICAL MANAGEMENT

Michael Altbaum, Kendall Booher, Yang-Yang Chen, Maddy Cohen, Theresa Cooper, Katherine Engel, Madison Goldberg, Marissa Gonzales, Jason Haft, Jen Harris, Jaide Malone, Logan Craig McDonald, Liam Millward, Marjorie Murillo, Esmé Maria Ng, Erica Norgaard, Emily Powell, Steve Quinn, Jenelle Russell, Roseanna Sharrow, Viraj Shriwardhankar, Spencer Smith, Emmy Steele, John Tupy, Emily Witham, Jasmine Zang

Accountant

WithumSmith+Brown/ Robert Fried, Karen Kowgios, Scott Bartolf, Anthony Moore, Lara Waldner, CPAs

Banking City National Bank Payroll Service Checks & Balances

Insurance Claudia Kaufman/Elena Sleys AON Insurance Services, Inc.

Production Photographer Joan Marcus

Video Footage HMS Media

Physical Therapy Neurosport

Merchandise

Housing

The Araca Group

Debco Travel, Inc.

Travel Premier Travel

kimberlyakimbothemusical.com @akimbomusical

SPECIAL THANKS

Annie MacRae, Pamela Adams, Camron Parker, Stephanie Hernandez, Alejandra Izquierdo, Tyler Siems, Ken Benson

CREDITS

Scenery built and painted by Global Scenic Services and PRG Scenic Technologies, a division of PRG Broadway LLC. Lighting equipment provided by PRG Broadway. Sound equipment provided by Masque Sound. Video equipment provided by 4Wall Entertainment. Props provided by More Good Productions, R.Ramos

Upholstery, and BrenBri Properties. Custom pregnancy padding by Sarah M. Reever. Kimberly costumes built by Colin Davis Jones Studios.

ATLANTIC THEATER COMPANY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair Olaf Olafsson

Vice Chair Carol Auerbach

Treasurer Kevin R. Lyle

Secretary Betsy Pitts

Chris Boneau, Joy Bunson, Jennifer Danielson, Suzanne Friend, Clark Gregg*. Wolf Hengst, Hilary Hinckle*, Blair Husain, Roger E. Kass, Jane King, Scott Korf, Katie Leede, Monique Long, Mary McCann*, Ilona Nemeth Quasha, Hilary Edson Polk, Mahlet Seyoum, Michael Slosberg, Mary Turner Minard, Claudia Wagner, Manny Weintraub, Joanne R. Wenig, Susi Wunsch *Atlantic Theater Company Ensemble members

Kimberly Akimbo was rehearsed at Baryshnikov Arts Center.

Kimberly Akimbo is dedicated to the memory of Darius Barnes, our friend and collaborator.

THE ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS EMPLOYED IN THIS PRODUCTION ARE MEMBERS OF ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, THE UNION OF PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

The musicians employed in this production are members of the American Federation of Musicians.

The Director and Choreographer are members of the STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS SOCIETY , a national theatrical labor union.

The designers at this theatre are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA 829 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

Backstage and Front of the House Employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (or I.A.T.S.E.).

ATPAM, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers represents the Press Agents and Company Managers employed on this production.

DRAMATISTS GUILD

The writer/s of this production are members of the national trade association of professional playwrights, composers, lyricists, and liberettists.

This production is produced by a member of The Broadway League in collaboration with our professional union-represented employees.

General Manager

Deputy General Manager

Senior Marketing Director

Director of Marketing - Broadway

Digital & Marketing Manager

Marketing Coordinator

Director of Group Sales

Box Office Manager

SAENGER THEATRE

An ATG Entertainment Venue

David Skinner

Jacques Jackson

Kym Martinez

Emily Walker

Alexis Manuel

Alexandra Oster

Katy Tackett

Paddy Brennan

Assistant Box Office Manager .........................................Mason Burch

Box Office Representatives Lisa Cooks, Glenda Griffin, Victor Griego, Janelle Jefferson, Aiden Keller, Sean McCreavy, Alexis Rey, Tim Sowell, James Wyrtzen

Director of Operations ............................................................ E.P. Miller

Assistant Director of Operations

Building Engineer

House Artist

Bernard Annis

Kevin Jackson

Angelie Alciatore

Porters Benjamin Adams, Keith Carter, Terrence L’Herisse, Wendy Koster, Beverly Showers, Renard Fournette, Jonique Johnson

House Security Sinatra Jones, Thomas Smith, Joe Smith, Deron Toledano, Phil Williams

Technical Director

Scott Stewart

Assistant Technical Directors Erin “Jade” Crowley, Tony Tardieu

Director of Theater Services. ....................................... Jennifer Hayes

Assistant Director of Theater Services Chanel Gusman

Senior House Manager Kerri Brunson, Amanda Davis

House Managers Janet Andrews, JoAnn Bland, Tanya Bondy, Alena Boucree, Nathaniel Brooks Jr., Vanessa Chavis, Mary Davis, Zelda Davis, Joshua Dudley, Tracy Duplessis, Elionder Harmon, Angela Jackson, Angel Lawrence, Lindell Lee, Nikita Marshall, Elizabeth McGill, Cynthia Moore, Natalie Polk, Henri Reed, Kenyetta Sewell, Lillie Shelburne, Kimberly Smith, Seritha Spadoni, Evelyn Stanley, Cynthia Stephenson, Catina Stewart, Michelle Stokes, Rachel Swords, Trellis Thomas, Cordelia Townsend, Kimberly Townsend, Dwyn Turner Event Security Michael Baker Natisha Beardon, Troy Brown, Richard Colar, Carolyn Craft, Da’Shawn Elliott, Erander Guss, Caleb Haley, Monique Jackson, Adam Jacob, Natoshia Lowe, Sinatra Jones, Stacey Mason, Darlene Richardson, Thomas Shelburne, Alex Thompson, Deron Toledano, Joseph Washington, Tracy Washington, Arthur Watson, Phil Williams

IATSE House Crew Glenn Gandolini (Steward), John Davi, John Dunn, Jay Barocco, Chuck Golden, Brantley McClendon Director of Food & Beverage. Dean Phillips Deputy Director of Food & Beverage Tianne “Tank” Morales Director of Parking Keyvon Scott Safety Officer................................................................. Joe Maumus

ATG ENTERTAINMENT

Group Executive Leadership Team

Chief Executive Officer

Group Content & Creative Director

Ted Stimpson

Michael Lynas

Chief Operating Officer and UK CEO..................................................................................................................................... Nick Potter

Chief Financial Officer

Chief Human Resources Officer

Chief Product & Technology Officer

John Oldcorn

Sofia Fleming

Richard Zubrik

Chief Marketing Officer Phil Lloyd

Chief Legal Officer............................................................................................................................................................... Lisa Butler

CEO Central Europe

CEO North America

ATG ENTERTAINMENT North America

Lori Hotz, Chief Executive Officer

Kristin Caskey, Chief Content Officer

Erica Schwartz, VP, Theatrical Programming

Bee Carrozzini, Producer, ATG Productions

Jason Miller, SVP, Music, Comedy and Event Programming

Adam Ball, Chief Financial Officer

Mitchell Klein, VP, Ticketing

Stephen Santore, VP, Marketing & Sales

David Neves, VP, Hospitality

Sandra Toste, VP, Property and Operations

Lisa Hauptman, VP, Human Resources

John Rogers, General Counsel

Josh Fuhrer, VP, Business Development

Rainier Koeners, VP, Regional Venues

Sally Shen, Chief of Staff

Joachim Hilke

Lori Hotz