U-M musical theater grad ('11) Alex Kip is preparing to stage his new, original, autobiographical show, "My Other Voice," at U-M's Arthur Miller Theatre, in the Walgreen Drama Center.

A press release contains complete details:

Two years after graduating from the prestigious School of Music, Theatre & Dance at the University of Michigan, an event that was immediately preceded by a terrifying diagnosis of cancer that threatened to end his career before it began, actor and playwright Alex Kip has completed a play based on his experience.

Titled "My Other Voice," the work will premiere in Ann Arbor at the Arthur Miller Theatre on the U-M campus. The show, directed by Ari Laura Kreith, will run from Thursday, August 15 to Sunday, September 1. Performances begin Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at akkipprod.com/tickets.

Kip, 25, a native of Columbus, Ohio, received his BFA in musical theatre from U-M and is also a graduate of the London Dramatic Academy. He was given a 15-30 percent chance of survival after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma as a senior at U-M.

During subsequent treatment at the U-M Medical Center, Kip lost his voice. “No longer able to speak or sing,” he said, “I had to find a new identity.” Now in complete remission, Kip wrote "My Other Voice" with the goal of providing inspiration and hope to other cancer patients, particularly young adults, whose survival rate for cancer has not improved at the same rate as other age groups. At the same time, cancer incidence among young adults has increased more than any other age group, becoming the number one disease killer in that population.

“My hope is that this play will spread awareness of the unique difficulties young adults experience when diagnosed with cancer, while also giving patients hope for the future,” said Kip. “It will also be used as a teaching tool for doctors in training, or help this underserved group secure the age-appropriate resources they need. I want it to act as a patient advocate for young adult cancer victims.”

Prior to the play’s upcoming premiere, it received several readings with industry professionals in New York City and had a staged reading in Columbus, Ohio. The Ann Arbor production will feature U-M faculty, students, and other industry professionals both on stage and behind the scenes. For more information, visit akipprod.com.

Jenn McKee is an entertainment reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.