KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - A rare genetic condition, dysfunctional family and possible criminal charges - all struggles faced by a 15-year-old girl in the Tony award-winning musical "Kimberly Akimbo."
The heartwarming musical is coming to the Tennessee Theatre in January, and WVLT had the chance to sit down with one of the actors before opening night.
Laura Woyasz plays Pattie, Kimberly's hypochondriac mother.
Woyasz got her start on Broadway as Glinda in Wicked, where she performed as a cast member for 5 years. During that time, she became a volunteer for The Ronald McDonald House in New York City.
"At that point, I was on Broadway, and they had this event where they asked me to go and sing to the kids," Woyasz said. "Just walking in that place and seeing these kids who are very sick, it just sort of changed me. I said to myself, 'I want to be here more. How can I be here more?'"
After volunteering with sick children, Woyasz's current role has her playing the mother of a sick child.
"Pattie is trying her best in this circumstance; she has a daughter that has a rare genetic disorder where she ages four times faster than an average human," Woyasz said. "She's 16 in the script, but she is played by a woman in her late sixties. So she looks like she's a 70-year-old woman, but she's my daughter."
Despite the heavy subject, Woyasz said the musical is heartwarming and funny. She said audiences of all types will be able to relate to the story.
"There's such humor in it, and I think it's a very relatable story, everyone can see themselves in the show. I don't think that happens a lot in musicals where you're laughing your face off, but then you're crying because you're so moved, and I just, it's really, really, really a special, special story."
The musical will be playing at the Tennessee Theatre from Dec. 30 until Jan 4. Tickets can be purchased online.