Kip's Korner

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Remembering my mama, Ann Campbell...

By Kip Driver September 18, 2024

You might have noticed that Kip’s Korner has been quiet for the last few weeks. That is because my beautiful mother, Ann Campbell, has been in hospice care and we had to say goodbye to her this past week. We had a private family “Celebration of Life” for her a few days ago at Williamson Memorial Gardens in Franklin, TN. My mother was a strong woman of faith and an extremely talented singer and musician. I like to believe that I inherited her talents and that is what made my professional career in musical theatre possible. Ann used her talents for the lord, playing piano at her church in Clanton, AL starting at the age of nine and was very active at Whitesburg Baptist Church for decades, where she sang in the choir and was also frequently featured in a trio, duets and as a soloist. I have no doubt in my mind that if my mother had chosen a different path in life, she easily could have had a career on Broadway. Which got me thinking about all the phenomenal “Mother” roles in musical t

RENEWED for Season Four: "Show & Tell" with BTL

By Kip Driver August 28, 2024

Hopefully y’all are just as excited as me that “Show & Tell” with BTL has been renewed for Season Four and will be back on the air again in October through May 2025! For those of you unfamiliar with “Show & Tell” let me break it down for you: “Show & Tell” is BTL’s morning talk show where we discuss all things that fall under the umbrella of the arts. Huntsville has a thriving arts community and we are proud that it is a place where you can experience Theatre, Music, Dance & Visual Arts everywhere here on the local level, but also with the Broadway touring productions that BTL brings to Huntsville. We are here to support and shine a light on all of it! We have a new episode every week which airs at 6am on Fox54, Monday through Friday. Episodes are also available to watch on our YouTube channel @BroadwayHuntsville. CALL TO ACTION: Go on now and subscribe to our YouTube Channel --> @BroadwayHuntsville I was only at BTL for Season Three so I will only speak on that

Jessica Rush is THE "manager" of Broadway in both The Donna Summer Musical & TINA

By Kip Driver August 15, 2024

Jessica Rush on Opening Night of TINA I remember seeing Tina Turner’s video for “What’s Love Got to Do With It” in high school and I was immediately enthralled by her. She was dressed in a black leather mini dress and denim jacket with her spiky blonde hair, just strutting her stuff around downtown Manhattan and singing her heart out. Come to find out later I was witnessing her big comeback, but to me at the time she was brand new and completely original and cool. Well, I’m super excited that Tina: The Tina Turner Musical is kicking off our new season which is only three months away. It turns out my dear friend of 24-years, Jessica Rush, was in the original Broadway cast of Tina as Rhonda Graam. So of course, I called her to hear all about her experience with the show and a whole lot more. Before I share our chat, here’s a little information about Jess: Jessica Rush is a mom, wife and award-winning actress most recently seen on Broadway as Rhonda in the original Broadway company

Alabama A&M alum returns for some “Black Couples Therapy”

By Kip Driver July 31, 2024

Last week I received a text from my bestie Jill Balch Coon, “My sweet former student is coming to town with his show! Wanna speak with him?” To which I replied, “Absolutely would love to speak with him!” And that sweet student’s name is Ansley Joseph (AJ), who graduated from AAMU two years ago, and we chatted over the phone from his home base in Atlanta. I’m always excited to talk to former Huntsvillians from our arts community, who are out there chasing their dreams and making things happen. And AJ is doing just that! He’s been touring around the country as Tyrell in the off-Broadway play, Black Couples Therapy , which will be coming to Huntsville this Saturday, August 3 rd , at the VBC Playhouse. “ Black Couples Therapy is a stage adaptation of the novel by the same name. The play tells the story of four couples, strangers to each other, that meet at a group therapy session. Each couple is dealing with their own issue. The therapist is determined to help them get beneath the sur

And the Category is… “CATS: The Jellicle Ball” Realness

By Kip Driver July 24, 2024

Upper: CATS: The Jellicle Ball (revival currently playing in NYC) Lower: CATS (Original Broadway Tour); Kip as Munkustrap; Natalie Toro as Grizabella CATS is the 5 th longest-running Broadway show in history, having played 7,485 performances, from 1982 until 2000. It was the first Broadway show I ever saw in 1987 when I was in high school, and it probably sounds cheesy, but it forever changed me. I knew that I wanted, more than anything, to be up there like those cats one day. Well, it took eleven years and more than a few auditions, but then at long last I made it to the final callbacks, which took place onstage at the Winter Garden Theatre. I had made it up there just like I dreamed about in 1987. And I also ended up getting the job! I absolutely loved performing the role of Munkustrap in the 1998 Broadway touring company. And that culminated in my access to the “Private: Invite Only” Broadway closing performance and after-party on September 10, 2000. It was not lost on me ho

Jonesing for the JIMMYS!

By Kip Driver July 18, 2024

Hey y’all, I’m back! I took a little vacation time to visit my family just outside of Fairhope and then up to Franklin. But I’ve been very eager to discuss the 15 th annual Jimmy Awards. Did you watch the livestream? Well, I just finished rewatching several video clips from the sold-out show at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre and once again I feel like I’ve been transported back to my 1980’s theatre kid version of Kip Driver! It. Was. Awesome! A little background for you as shared by the Broadway League Foundation Inc.: The Jimmy Awards invites two nominees from each local regional ceremony to New York City for a 10-day theatre intensive that includes coaching sessions, training, and rehearsals led by some of Broadway’s most accomplished professionals. All their combined efforts will lead to one extraordinary talent showcase performed live in front of an audience on a Broadway stage. This year the Jimmys took place on June 24, 2024, at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre and welcomed 102

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