Thank you to the Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund for sponsoring this event and providing this opportunity for students entirely free of charge.

JM artists travel to the Durham Performing Arts Center for the national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical “Kimberly Akimbo.” This event is part of our 2024-25 Pinnacle of the Arts series providing an opportunity for JM students to experience world-class arts. And thanks to the Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund, there is no charge for anyone to attend this event.

A new musical about growing up and growing old, Kimberly Akimbo is the winner of five 2023 Tony Awards including Best Musical. It features Tony Award-winning book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire (Shrek), a Tony Award-winning score by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), choreography by Danny Mefford (Dear Evan Hansen) and direction by Tony-nominated director Jessica Stone.

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.

Our new Pinnacle of the Arts series provides an opportunity for JM students to experience world-class arts regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. We’re also working to arrange some post-performance opportunities at each event to meet the artists and learn more about what students just experienced..

About 30 students attend each event entirely free of charge. This includes excellent seating locations, travel and a meal. “Kimberly Akimbo” is offered to everyone free of charge thanks to a contribution by the Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund. Others sponsoring Pinnacle of the Arts events this season are The Wren Foundation and Chip and Rose Pate.

Pinnacle of the Arts events this season include an international tour stop by contemporary music legend Herbie Hancock, Carolina Ballet’s renowned production of “The Nutcracker,” the North Carolina Symphony performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, and this national Broadway tour of “Kimberly Akimbo.” We also are offering a daylong, behind-the-scenes exploration of the North Carolina Museum of Art.

👉 If you, your business or your nonprofit might be willing to sponsor an event next season, please contact us. This is a remarkable opportunity to shape the lives of young artists.