The Seattle-born actor has been with the rock musical since its 2003 developmental run at the North Shore Music Theatre, in Beverly, MA, where he originated the role of Southern radio DJ Huey Calhoun. He also appeared in the pre-Broadway engagements of Memphis at the La Jolla Playhouse and the 5th Avenue Theatre in 2009.
Kimball earned a 2010 Best Leading Actor in a Musical Tony Award nomination for Memphis. His co-star, Montego Glover, who continues with the Broadway production, also earned a Best Leading Actress in a Musical Tony Award nomination for her work as singer Felicia Farrell. The two also preserved their performances in the live film of Memphis, which was screened in theatres and is available for streaming on Netflix, as well as on DVD at the Shubert Theatre.
Original Rent star Adam Pascal will step into the role of Huey Calhoun beginning Oct. 25.
Kimball's other Broadway credits include Lennon, Into the Woods, The Civil War and Good Vibrations, and his Off-Broadway credits include Finian’s Rainbow, My Life with Albertine and Godspell. He is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory.
Memphis, which centers on the interracial love affair between a white DJ and black singer in the 1950s segregated South, earned Tony Awards for Best Book, Best Score and Best Musical. The musical began previews Sept. 23, 2009, and officially opened on Broadway Oct. 19, 2009. It recently celebrated its second anniversary on Broadway. Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) directed the musical that has Tony Award-winning book and lyrics by DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and a Tony-winning score and lyrics by Bryan of Bon Jovi fame. The two also collaborated on the musical The Toxic Avenger.
Songs in the production are "Underground," "The Music of My Soul," "Ain't Nothin' But a Kiss," "Everybody Wants to Be Black on a Saturday Night," "Make Me Stronger," "Colored Women," "Someday," "She's My Sister," "Radio," "Say a Prayer," "Big Love," "Love Will Stand When All Else Falls," "Stand Up," "Change Don't Come Easy," "Memphis Lives in Me" and "Steal Your Rock 'n' Roll."
Memphis is produced on Broadway by Junkyard Dog Productions, Barbara and Buddy Freitag and Kenny and Marleen Alhadeff with Latitude Link, Jim and Susan Blair, Demos Bizar Entertainment, Land Line Productions, Apples and Oranges Productions, Dave Copley, Dancap Productions, Inc., Alex and Katya Lukianov, Tony Ponturo, 2 Guys Productions, and Richard Winkler in association with Lauren Doll, Eric and Marsi Gardiner, Linda and Bill Potter, Broadway Across America, Jocko Productions, Patty Baker, Dan Frishwasser, Bob Bartner/Scott and Kaylin Union, Loraine Boyle/Chase Mishkin, Remmel T. Dickinson/Memphis Orpheum Group and ShadowCatcher Entertainment/Vijay and Sita Vashee.
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