David Lindsay—Abaire is a local treasure. The South Boston native has demonstrated a knack at combining comic wittiness and thoughtful insight in plays as different as "Fuddy Meers" and "Rabbit Hole" (for which he won a Pulitzer Prize). In recent years, he has succeeded as well in writing clever books for musicals with striking music by composer Jeanine Tesori ("Fun Home" and "Caroline, Or Change"). Their collaboration in 2008 brought lively fun to "Shrek, the Musical."

Now Hub audiences have the special opportunity to see Lindsay-Abaire's own adaptation of his 2001 play "Kimberly Akimbo" in a sometimes disarming but altogether delightful musical. The playwright's catchy lyrics and matching cleverness from composer Tesori's affecting score clearly helped this 2021 show (first Off-Broadway) win the 2023 Tony Award for best musical as well as honors for book and score. The strong tour at the Emerson Colonial Theatre does full justice to their distinctive collaboration-especially thanks to a standout performance by Carolee Carmello in the title role.

Gifted Carmello (riveting as Lucille Frank in the 1998 Broadway original staging of "Parade") has the daunting challenge of playing a 1999 Bergen County, New Jersey teenage high schooler who is aging far too fast. Kimberly ought to be relishing the arrival of her 16th birthday. Unfortunately she suffers from a rare disease known as progeria-one which makes her age four and a half times faster than normal. Complicating her growing pains all the more are dysfunctional family members. Her father Buddy drinks too much and seems to achieve too little in life. Her mother Pattie is pleased to be pregnant but appears to be paranoid about a well-kept family secret. Eventually her agenda-rich con woman aunt Debra arrives with a wild scheme involving an actual stolen mailbox and 'washing' the checks inside.

Helping Kimberly to keep her emotional balance is a serendipitous relationship with fellow classmate Seth, who becomes her boyfriend. Both the musicals inspired score and its absorbing book focus on Kimberly's stirring determination to live her life to the fullest despite her all too present mortality (as she has passed the all too common thirteen year age limit of many stricken with progeria. Nerdy Seth delights Kimberly with his wizard-like skill with anagrams (something also loved by the playwright). Four other students-Delia, Martin, Teresa and Aaron-provide important support for Kimberly, and all six share a rich appreciation of their respective feelings about being misfits or outsiders.

Thanks to David Zinn's smart scenic design, this unusual coming of age musical moves comfortably between a popular rink known as Skater Planet, the high school-where lockers revolve to become bookshelves, Kimberly's own room and the family's properly simple living room. Will Kimberly's embrace of life and adventure with Seth have a kind of ripple effect on those around her? Will Buddy turn his life around? Will Pattie find a proper resolution for her secret? Will Debra change her ways? Lindsay-Abaire's sharp book and lyrics combine with Tesori's rousing music-particularly for the closing "Great Adventure" for a very satisfying closing.

Under Jessica Stone's seamless direction, Carmello and her fellow cast members make Kimberly's transformation equally satisfying? Big voiced Carmello captures Kimberly's courage and spirit-particularly on the solo "Make a Wish." She is impressively commanding as the title aging teenager. Miguel Gil has all of Seth's boundless energy and inner strength. Emily Koch catches Debra's attitude as well as her resourcefulness. Jim Hogan finds Buddy's likeability and his maddening lethargy. Laura Woyasz has all of Pattie's vulnerability and caring for Buddy. Darron Hayes as Martin, Grace Capeless as Delia, Skye Alyssa Friedman as Teresa and Pierce Wheeler as Aaron interact convincingly and dance exuberantly the stylish moves of Danny Mefford's choreography.

Near the end of Lindsay-Abaire's rousing book, Kimberly and Seth plan for a dream adventure. Theatergoers should seize the day and head to the Emerson Colonial. The tour of "Kimberly Akimbo" is a dreamy experience in and of itself.