En route to her dream Tippie embraces NYC lifestyle in pursuit of performing
Jillian Tippie is one of the talents who earns the nickname “Triple Threat.” She is fine tuning her skills in singing, dancing and acting while living in the Big Apple.
Tippie moved to New York in August 2016 and attends the Institute for American Musical Theatre. A busy woman, Tippie has juggled the responsibilities of a student while also working, including jobs at Pokeworks and Sigmund’s Pretzels. Her jobs keep her daily schedule full as she pursues her training.
“I love all things Broadway and theatre, and New York is the place to be for that,” Tippie said. “While the city is a bit intimidating at times, for the most part, I have felt very at home here.”
Tippie lives in student housing, lodging in the New Yorker Hotel, right in the heart of Manhattan.
“Musical theatre dance is by far my favorite and my strongest ability,” she said. “I love building a character and telling a story through dance. I also enjoy ballet for the gracefulness and precision.”
How can Tippie hone her best skills while striving always to improve on any possible weakness? “Practicing – by doing exactly what IAMT is helping me do every single day. With voice and ballet three times each week, along with other dance, acting and theatre-related classes, it’s hard not to improve.” Tippie said. “IAMT is really my ‘college,’” she added.
At IAMT, students enroll in classes to learn more about musical theatre history acting, singing, dancing and exercise that helps while performing. Students enroll for two years into the structured program, much like the discipline of a conservatory.
While she was growing up in Madison, Tippie studied dance with classes in ballet, tap and jazz at The Dance Company. “During my time there, I achieved nine years of dance and was a performer in the 2005 Alamo Bowl half-time show. I loved all of my teachers, and the owners Beth Cannon and Julie George are great,” Tippie said.
In her vocal studies, she sings as a Soprano 1. “I began to be serious about singing when I auditioned for the Patriot Singers, taught by Mr. Randall Fields at Bob Jones High School,” Tippie said. Away from school, she pursued private voice training with local, respected instructors Dixie Harrison, Dr. Ginger Beazley and Luz Ladrillono. Currently, she is studying with Andrew Drost.
“My dad, Charles Tippie, passed away in 2014, but he always encouraged me to be a performer. He played the drums and the guitar,” Jillian said. “My mom and stepdad are Nan and Shawn Highsmith. They’ve both been very supportive. My mom has a background in musical theatre and started introducing me to theatre at a young age. My stepdad even once agreed to audition with me for a local production of ‘Les Miserables.’”
Her grandparents, Ken and Ann Tippie, also have been fundamental “in getting me where I am today,” Jillian said. “They would often take me to see the touring shows at the Von Braun Center, and I saw my first Broadway show with my grandma.”
Jillian’s goal is to perform on Broadway. “Specifically, I’d like to play Christine in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ someday,” she said. “Besides Broadway, I’d also love to be part of a national tour and get to see the country while performing.”
