Kip's Korner

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...

  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...

  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 welc...