Hampstead Theatre has completed casting for the UK premiere of Kimberly Akimbo, with Maria Friedman starring in the title role. The production marks a significant return for Friedman and brings the multi-award-winning musical to London audiences this summer.

The European premiere of Kimberly Akimbo will run at Hampstead Theatre from 28 August to 7 November. Director Michael Longhurst returns with a cast led by Maria Friedman playing 16-year-old Kimberly Levaco, a teenager with a rare genetic condition causing her to age four times faster than normal.

Joining Friedman in the production are Alice Fearn as Debra, Peter Hannah as Buddy Levaco, Gilli Jones as Seth Weetis, and Niamh Perry as Pattie Levaco. Making their professional stage debuts are Sara Hajizadeh as Teresa Benton and Ronav Jain as Aaron Puckett. The cast is further supported by Robin Simões da Silva as Martin Doaty and Aviva Tulley as Delia McDaniels.

Written by David Lindsay-Abaire with music by Jeanine Tesori, Kimberly Akimbo premiered in the United States and won five Tony Awards in 2023, including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book. The narrative centres on Kimberly as she faces adolescence with the awareness of her limited time.

Longhurst praised the cast, saying he was “thrilled to have cast such amazing talent to join the legend that is Maria Friedman to play her dysfunctional family and lovestruck classmates.” He expressed eagerness to explore “David’s hilarious script and Jeanine’s incredible music” with the ensemble.

The creative team supporting Longhurst includes designer Soutra Gilmour, musical supervisor Nigel Lilley, choreographer Matt Cole, lighting designer Jack Knowles, and sound designer Matt Peploe. Casting was undertaken by Anna Cooper.

This production brings a celebrated American musical, recognised for its quirky and poignant storytelling, to the London stage for the first time, highlighting the continued interest in innovative new musicals in the UK theatre scene.