A SHORT BIOGRAPHY...
RICHARD SKIPPER
RICHARD SKIPPER is a two-time winner of the MAC (MANHATTAN ASSOCIATION OF CABARET AND CLUBS) Award, a winner of the Back Stage Bistro Award for Outstanding Achievement in Impersonation, a nominee of an IRNE (Independent Reviewers of New England), and the 2006 recipient of THE IGCITA (INTERNATIONAL GUILD OF CELEBRITY AND TRIBUTE ARTISTS) CLONY AWARD for OUTSTANDING TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND in Las Vegas. In addition to serving on the board of MAC (MANHATTAN ASSOCIATION OF CABARETS AND CLUBS) he has also served on the boards of TRU (Theatre Resources Unlimited), IGCITA (The International Guild For Celebrity and Tribute Artists), and THE TIMES SQUARE GROUP (bringing the arts to inner city kids/schools).
Skipper has taken his tribute to Carol Channing around the world and from coast to coast. Recent highlights include the NATIONAL THEATRE WING tribute to Carol Channing, Tommy Tune and James Earl Jones, a benefit performance for the DR. CAROL CHANNING/HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS with Carol and Harry in attendance and guest star NEIL SEDAKA; performing on board WindStar Cruise Lines from Rome to Athens, and a return engagement in celebration of Carol Channing's birthday at Washington DC's National Theater.
In June and July of 2006, he sold out his entire run at THE HIDEAWAY ROOM at HELEN'S in NYC with his critically-praised, CAROL CHANNING IN CONCERT STARRING RICHARD SKIPPER! which included a five piece band and three back-up singers. Past appearances include the Venetian Room at The Fairmont Hotel in SF, the SOUTH SHORE AIDS PROJECT at The Lindon Pond Fireplace Lounge in Hingham, Massachusetts, and he was the key note speaker at the annual IGCITA in Las Vegas & for The New Crown And Anchor in Provincetown, MA (http://www.provincetown.com); other highlights include Carnegie Hall, LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN, as the "Weather Girl" on NY's Channel 11 with Linda Church, and an appearance with Carol Channing and the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Skipper has taken his amazing tribute to Carol Channing successfully to Atlantic City with three long-running engagements (twice at Trump's Taj Mahal, and at The Hilton). He played three engagements at CASINO WINDSOR in Windsor, Ontario and also at The Windsor Hilton for their annual Christmas Party. Other engagements include The Ice Palace on Fire Island (for which he won two Mikey Awards for best act on Fire Island AND set new attendance records); WESTCHESTER BROADWAY THEATRE; THE BRADSTAN INN (also three engagements); GEORGIAN COURT COLLEGE (with Dody Goodman); THE OCEAN'S INN in Provincetown, MA; and as the featured performer for CABARETFEST (also at The New Crown And Anchor in Provincetown, MA). Richard Skipper has also performed at the request of Arlene Dahl (on more than one occasion!); at The Regent (special performance for Carol Channing!); at Le Cirque for Joey Adams' 85th Birthday; on numerous occasions for Cindy Adams; as a guest star in "The Impersonators" with Jamie deRoy at The Friars Club; The New York Historical Society with Clare Bloom, Donna McKechnie, Hayley Mills, Tony Roberts, and George Shearing; The New York City Gay Men's Chorus and Sam Harris at Carnegie Hall; as host of a "GET OUT AND VOTE" Rally for New Jersey's Senator Lautenberg which included Dr. Quinn's Chad Allen, Activist James Dale & Rue McClanahan; he has also shared the stage with Celeste Holm.
Richard Skipper often donates his time for benefit performances, including fund-raisers for the DR. CAROL CHANNING/HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS, BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS, THE ACTORS' FUND, Makar Caring Community, and Presbyterian Camp, to name a few of his favorite charities. In addition to the above-mentioned awards, Richard was named one of the top cabaret performers of the year by Cabaret Hotline, and he won the Leonardo daVinci Award for "Carol Channing's Broadway!"