Richard Skipper

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Richard Skipper but Were Afraid to Ask

Laurie Beechman Theatre, NYC, May 30, 2025

Reviewed by Jacqueline Parker

Richard Skipper opened his heart and invited the audience in for an evening of revelation, inspiration, and old-fashioned hilarity at the newly renovated Laurie Beechman Theatre last night. As he walked down the aisle to the stage, greeting friends along the way, he set a happy tone by encouraging us to “Sing!” (Joe Raposo). The show was reminiscent of television shows from the past century that had truly intriguing guests and were hosted by intelligent people who knew how to unearth interesting information during an interview. The names of Merv Griffin, David Susskind, Phil Donahue, and Mike Douglas were all mentioned as exemplars of this type of entertainment.

This ambiance was helped along by the redecoration of the room, which could have been inspired by the Rodgers & Hart song “Blue Room,” an appropriate theme for a space that hosts cabaret singers on its stage. The room still resembles the old one; the first impression is that it had been dipped into a can of shiny electric-blue paint. Shimmering curtains along the wall also evoked the set design of many of the evening talk shows. Noted architect and designer David Rockwell was responsible for this makeover and should win another Tony Award for it!

Skipper was forthcoming about his upbringing in the South, his yearning to move to New York at a very early age, and his arrival—in a black limousine—right on his self-appointed schedule. He mentioned that television was the only kind of entertainment he was exposed to as a child—hence the format for this show. He readily admitted that he wanted to be Merv Griffin, and to a certain extent, that dream was realized.

One of Skipper’s many talents is his gift for impersonation, which he did for many years as Carol Channing, eventually becoming close friends with her. There were many stories in this show that will not soon be forgotten. A few hints have been dropped in this review, so consider yourself encouraged to hear them for yourself when this show is reprised on August 22, same time and place. Make your reservations now at thebeechman.com.

With Dan Pardo accompanying him on piano, Skipper weaved in and out of singing several songs germane to the moment while focusing on his audience. He did this throughout—expressing gratitude for their coming to the show, singling out certain guests with questions or congratulatory recognition, or sharing a personal joke.

The show was directed by James Beaman, and the entire event had the air of a party. Something not often seen these days was the question-and-answer segment of this show. Cards were handed out as guests entered that encouraged them to do just as the title said, and they did. They allowed Skipper to segue comfortably and naturally from topic to topic, all the while not losing his focus on his objective, which was to give the audience a most memorable evening of pure entertainment.