In this dark comedy by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, Kimberly Levaco is a wise-cracking teenager with a rare genetic disorder that accelerates her aging process – she’s only 16, but has the body of someone 4X older. As she faces the complications of a dysfunctional family and her own limited time, Kimberly fights to live fully, find connection, and, maybe, experience her first kiss. Both funny and heartbreaking, Kimberly Akimbo is a story about growing up, even when you’re already growing old. This haunting and hilarious play inspired the musical that took Broadway by storm in 2022.
Run time: about 2 hours with one 15-minute intermission
**Kimberly Akimbo includes a few “swear jar” moments **
“Kimberly Akimbo is exceedingly rare and almost impossible not to love. It’s a bit like an amusement park ride: Half the fun is knowing your heart is about to get drop-kicked.”
Lettice and Lovage (SRT); Angels in America: Parts 1 & 2 (Craig Noel Award), Other Desert Cities, Spring Awakening, My Fair Lady, Dogfight, On the 20th Century (Cygnet); Sunday in the Park with George, The Light in the Piazza (CCAE); Fiddler on the Roof, Titanic, Sunset Blvd. (Moonlight); Handbagged! (Moxie); Hamlet (Intrepid); Fiddler, Hairspray, Footloose, La Cage Aux Folles, White Christmas (SDMT); Fiorello! Elizabeth and Essex (Florida Rep); Ladies at the Alamo (Actors Rep). Debra runs Debra Wanger Functional Wellness, is a best-selling author (The Resilient Actor) & recording artist. Education: CCM, Tufts, M.F.A. SDSU. xoxoCMG IG@debradiva
Jason Guffey (Buddy Levaco)
Jason is excited to work for his first time with SRT! Jason has appeared previously as Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden (Performance Riverside), as The Red Shadow/Pierre in Desert Song (Candlelight Pavilion) and most recently as Franklin Hart Jr. in 9 to 5 : The Musical. Jason last worked with director, Ted Leib, playing Sparky in Forever Plaid (OC Pavilion) back in 2006! It is an honor to work once again with Ted as well as the rest of this fantastic team! Follow along with Jason’s day job at @BankofHarmony across social media.
Reden Magtira (Jeff)
Reden is thrilled to make his Scripps Ranch Theatre debut! Select credits include: The 39 Steps (New Village Arts), Romeo and Juliet, The Merry Wives of Windsor (MiraCosta College), Story Time (CCAE Theatricals Staged Reading Festival ‘25), and Good Filipino Kids (San Diego Filipino Film Festival ‘23). When not onstage, Reden rolls D20s or is solving the Mini. He is grateful for his family, friends, and the creative team. Love to Vicky Marie.
Ruth Russell (Pattie Levaco)
Ruth is stoked to be sharing this dark comedy with you! Recent acting credits: Deirdre in I Hate Hamlet (Broadway Vista), Gina Rivers in The Jury Experience (Fever), Nan Carter in Exit, Pursued by a Bear (Coronado Playhouse), Twelfth Night of the Living Dead (Loud Fridge). Ruth last appeared at SRT as Daisy Lawrence in Return Engagements and Sami Hunt in The Hunt(s). Up next:(No) Exit to Mars with Loud Fridge (November 2025). Thank you and kudos to this wildly talented cast and production team. Follow IG: @theruthrussell for personal updates and @citydoggossd for adorable doggie daycare.
Katee Drysdale (Aunt Debra)
Katee is a born-and-raised San Diego actor who holds a BA in Acting from Sonoma State University. She is incredibly grateful to be back at SRT after a brief hiatus from the stage. Previous credits include: Cordelia in Falsettos: Staged Concert (The Roustabouts Theatre, Co), Jessie in Cry it Out (Moxie), Bella inLost in Yonkers and Patricia in The Taming (SRT). Endless thanks to her parents for their unwavering support.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Ted Leib (Director, Sound Designer)
San Diego directing credits include last season’s Fully Committed, She Loves Me, The Fantasticks, Foxfire, and The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, all for SRT; Sweet Charity, Man of La Mancha, Same Time Next Year, Picnic, Boeing Boeing, A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play, and The Musical of Musicals for Oceanside Theatre Company. Previously, in Orange County: The Pirates of Penzance (STAGES theatre); Bug (Hunger Artists); Bus Stop (Vanguard); Forever Plaid and The 12 Plays of Christmas (Orange County Pavilion). Ted’s sound design credits for SRT include Fully Committed, White, Stew, The Liar, and Chapatti, among many others.
Ted Leib
Charmaine Reed
Charmaine Reed (Stage Manager)
Charmaine loves working with the SRT family. Latest credits are SM Legally Blonde and Hadestown (Luminary Arts); SM Unnecessary Farce, Stew, Lost in Yonkers, and I Hate Hamlet (SRT); PSM for Welcome to Sleepy Hollow (OTC); SM for Lucky Stiff (SRT/OTC). Other credits include PSM for the Playwrights Project Young Playwright’s Festival 2017, 2018, at The Old Globe Theatre. She has been SM for more than 25 productions since 2013. Favorite credits include Vanya, and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Directed by Kathy Brombacher (SRT), Amazons and Their Men (Diversionary): Intern, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Old Globe). Charmaine has a Technical Theatre degree from Palomar College, and a BA from CSUSM.
Tyler C. Jiles (Co-Producer)
Tyler is excited to help bring Kimberly Akimbo to life at SRT! When he’s not wrangling schedules and production details, Tyler can be found teaching voice acting, improv, and theatre to students of all ages. He’s a professional voice actor, teaching artist with Luminary Arts, and a firm believer that laughter and storytelling can change the world. Tyler is grateful to be part of the SRT family and hopes you enjoy the show as much as he enjoyed helping make it happen!
Tyler Jiles
Natalie Gelb (Assistant Stage Manager)
Natalie is thrilled to be working with Scripps Ranch Theatre for the first time. She has been involved with many other theaters in the community. Some of her recent work includes stage managing Finding Nemo at Maraya Performing Arts, Love Among The Ruins at PowPAC, and Jasper In Deadland at Tenth Ave.
Dixon Fish (Set Designer)
Dixon is a native Californian. He holds an MFA from Arizona State University. Dixon has taught studio art, art history and photography at the high school and college levels. Besides printmaking, much of his creative time has been spent doing theatre set design and painting for a variety of professional regional theatres including Moonlight, The Avo, MiraCosta College and San Diego Junior Theater. For SRT he has designed: The Dining Room, Lettice and Lovage, She Loves Me, Fully Committed, Tiny Beautiful Things, and Mary’s Wedding. His art and design work has been recognized with awards both regionally and nationally.
Josie E. Gerk (Lighting Designer)
Josie is happy to have the opportunity to design for SRT. She has nearly 10 years of experience designing at local schools and stage managing around town. Recent design favorites include Winter Wonderettes, 13 (SDMT) Alice by Heart, Twelfth Night: The Musical (Valhalla High School) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bayfront Charter).
Duane McGregor (Props, Set Dressing, Scenic Painting)
Duane is delighted to return to Scripps Ranch Theatre. SRT credits: Mary’s Wedding, Unnecessary Farce, Stew, Vanity Fair, Fully Committed, Tiny Beautiful Things, White. Other credits include: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Carrie, Sheepdog, A People’s Cuban Christmas, Blue Period, Lonely Planet, Mugre (OnStage Playhouse) as well as a Craig Noel nomination for The Other Place. Arriving at scenic and set production design from a background in architecture and exhibit design, her work focuses on the interaction between audience and environment. Thank you to all the creative team at SRT for their never ending enthusiasm, support, and insight.
Chong Mi Land (Costume Designer)
Chong is excited to be a part of bringing this play to life. Credits include: Costume Designer for Prince of Egypt (Moonlight); Matilda, The Prom, Hello Dolly, Winter Wonderettes, Sweeney Todd, 13 the Musical, Legally Blonde, Fiddler on the Roof, Addams Family, Urinetown, Xanadu, Anything Goes, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (SDMT); 6 Characters in Search of an Author, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Show (SWC). Associate Costume Designer for Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812 (Cygnet). Costumes/Stitcher for Spamalot, Elf the Musical (Theatre at the Welk); The Little Fellow, Pride and Prejudice (Cygnet). www.landofmoon.com
John Owen (Set Construction Manager)
John had a great time building this complicated set before you. As a retired construction Superintendent with over 40 years in the construction industry, building a “Flintstones” type car was a new experience. John’s SRT credits include: Mary’s Wedding, Tiny Beautiful Things, Chapatti, Lost in Yonkers, and The 39 Steps. He spends much of his time playing board or card games, camping in the desert, and enjoying time with friends and family. Much love to his wife Diana.
Aiden Pistone (ASM)
Aiden has been working backstage on various shows for seven years (her lucky number!). Kimberly Akimbo is her debut at Scripps Ranch Theatre and she couldn’t be more excited. Although her heart is backstage, she’s excited to get back on stage one day. Aiden would like to thank the cast and crew for trusting and welcoming her to the production and her loved ones for their support. Enjoy the show!
Gwen Yaruss (Stage Crew)
Gwen is excited to join the SRT family. As an actor, she appeared in I Never Saw Another Butterfly for The Roustabouts Theatre, Co. She has performed in many JCompany musicals, including Matilda, The Lightning Thief (Luke), and SpongeBob. She sings in their musical ambassador group, On The Town. Backstage, Gwen has worked as Assistant Stage Manager for Something Rotten and has crewed several shows, working sound, spotlights and running crew. She enjoys crafting, crochet and hanging with friends.
