A Productive Pipeline
The national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical, “Kimberly Akimbo” arrives here for the first time next month but the creator of the show, David Lindsay-Abaire has had a special relationship with Richmond for more than 15 years. Photo by Joan Marcus
Originally published by Style Weekly
by David Timberline
October 16, 2025
Richmond benefits from the long-standing relationship between Cadence and David Lindsay-Abaire.
Anna Senechal Johnson was a fan of David Lindsay-Abaire before his plays were produced on Broadway, before he won a Pulitzer Prize, before she had even met him.
“He was in an acting class I was in,” remembers Johnson, the artistic director of Cadence, a Richmond theater, film and arts education organization. Both she and Lindsay-Abaire attended Sarah Lawrence College. “He did this beautiful monologue and I was transfixed. Then I saw him in a main stage production at Sarah Lawrence and he was brilliant.”
When Lindsay-Abaire started dating one of Johnson’s best friends, eventually marrying her, a friendship began that has continued to grow over the more-than-30 years since. It’s a friendship that benefits the Richmond theater community in an ongoing way.
This weekend, a developmental premiere of a new play called “WitchDuck” will open at the Firehouse Theatre. This stage adaptation of the true story of Virginia’s last convicted witch, Grace Sherwood, was written by local actor and playwright Eva DeVirgilis as part of Cadence’s Pipeline New Works Program.
Lindsay-Abaire and his wife, Chris, founded the Pipeline program and Lindsay-Abaire acts as a mentor to its participants. He also connected Johnson with TV actress Enid Graham, resulting in Cadence’s powerful production of Graham’s play “Smoke” that ran this spring.
“Smoke” is one of three shows nominated for a Best Original Work award at this year’s Richmond Theatre Community Circle awards, all of which involved mentorship from Lindsay-Abaire.
David Lindsay-Abaire won a Pulitzer Prize for his play “Rabbit Hole” and two Tony Awards for his work adapting “Kimberly Akimbo” into a musical. Photo care of David Lindsay-Abaire
Even with all of the ways Lindsay-Abaire has bolstered the local community, the playwright says his long-standing relationship with Richmond isn’t a one-sided one.
“I get a lot out of it,” he says, calling from his home in Brooklyn. “On the most personal level, when Anna does one of my shows, it’s incredibly gratifying to have a really solid production led by really brilliant artists.” Cadence has produced three of Lindsay-Abaire’s plays, most recently staging the show that earned him the Pulitzer, “Rabbit Hole,” in 2017.
“There’s this amazing haven in Richmond and I want to send every one of my students down there if possible.”
“Beyond that, her support of new work is deeply important to me,” continues Lindsay-Abaire. “There’s nothing more important to me than supporting the next generation of writers.” He does so, not only through the Pipeline program, but also through his job as co-director of the playwriting program at The Juilliard School.
Cadence’s production of the play, “Kimberly Akimbo,” was the first of Lindsay-Abaire’s works that the company staged and featured many local favorites including Irene Zeigler (left) and Matthew Mitchell. Photo by Jay Paul
“It’s hard for writers to get opportunities just to develop new work, let alone ultimately having it produced,” he says. “There’s this amazing haven in Richmond and I want to send every one of my students down there if possible.”
After first making a splash in the theater world with his play “Fuddy Meers” that debuted off-Broadway in 1999, Lindsay-Abaire’s profile has continued to grow, earning his first Tony Award nomination for writing the book for “Shrek: The Musical” in 2009 and winning a Tony last year for adapting his play, “Kimberly Akimbo” into a celebrated musical.
Both the play and the musical versions of “Kimberly Akimbo” center on a girl suffering from a fictional disorder that causes her to age abnormally fast, appearing to be well over 50 though she’s only 16. Pictured are Laura Woyasz, Ann Morrison as Kimberly and Jim Hogan. Photo by Joan Marcus
“Kimberly” was the first of Lindsay-Abaire’s plays that Johnson directed for Cadence in 2011 and she still considers it one of her favorite productions ever. “I just loved it the first time I read it; I thought it was so hilarious and heartwarming at the same time,” she says.
“Then seeing it adapted into a musical, it was exhilarating,” Johnson continues. “It brought tears to my eyes when I saw it on Broadway. I was so proud.”
The national tour of “Kimberly Akimbo” arrives in Richmond early next month but Lindsay-Abaire won’t make it to town to attend. He is preparing for his first new play in 10 years to premiere on Broadway: “The Balusters” will debut at the Manhattan Theatre Club next spring.
Irene Zeigler played “Kimberly” in the 2011 Cadence production of the play. She currently has a musical in development called “Safety” that she wrote while in the Pipeline program co-founded by Lindsay-Abaire. Photo by Jay Paul
Also, in a tradition that goes back more than 10 years, Lindsay-Abaire is busy decking out his Brooklyn home with an elaborate display featuring a full light show, ghostly projections, and dozens of animatronic figures.
“We’re the only folks [in our neighborhood] that really go out,” he says. “Last year when a tour bus pulled up to the house, I thought, maybe this is too much. I’m concerned about my neighbors. They have been incredibly kind and supportive; I don’t want to push it so far that they start picketing my event.”
“WitchDuck” runs at the Firehouse Theatre, 1609 West Broad Street, Oct. 17-18. Tickets and more information can be found at https://www.firehousetheatre.org/events.
“Kimberly Akimbo” will open on Nov. 4 at the Altria Theatre as part of the Broadway in Richmond series. Tickets and information found at https://broadwayinrichmond.com/.
