By Marilyn Lester****What can you say about a five year-old on a tobacco farm in South Carolina who thinks he’s Carol Channing, and who plays to the tombstones in a local cemetery as his audience? Only that he’ll grow up to be the one and only Richard Skipper! The appellation, one and only, couldn’t be truer; known as Ricky for the first 18 years of his life, Skipper was lovingly identified in his family and in his community as unique from the beginning.
In his beautifully constructed and engaging one-man show, An Evening with Richard Skipper: From Conway to Broadway, Skipper, with candor and humor (his timing is a master class in itself) regaled with tales of his youth and the road to New York City. That road was one of determination—something he knew he wanted to do for a 
very long time. An epiphany sealed the deal when in 1974 he read “The Magic of Believing” and knew exactly what he had to do. He set his sights firmly on his goal. On August 5, 1979, with $500 and a lot of grit and gumption, 18-year old Ricky (soon to become Richard) Skipper, landed in NYC and by a hilarious quirk of fortune, arrived in Manhattan in a black stretch limo.
From Conway to Broadway is Skipper as you know him—gregarious, relaxed on stage, brimming with talent—and as you don’t know him—as Ricky. His stories are plentiful, amazing and just the tip of the iceberg! He wisely chooses to focus on the Conway segment of his life with a taste of New York. Clearly there’s enough material to make several editions of this show, and then some. In his nearly sixty years on the planet, Skipper has cut a very wide and amazing swath through life.
Much of Skipper’s success was being in the right place at the right time, with a great big dollop of good fortune. Clearly, he was born under a lucky star and born to be in show business. But Ricky/Richard never sat back. From Conway to Broadway is revealing of the Skipper character of eternal optimism, courage, grit, gumption, chutzpah and an unflagging willingness to do the work necessary to achieve.
There’s a bit of singing in the show, but not much. From Conway to Broadway is a monologue, with snippets of tunes that support the dialogue, such as “My Personal Property,” “It Only Takes a Moment” and “I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City.” Full-out singing did end the show, however, with a specially written and lovely song for the occasion, “This Minute” by Alex Rybeck (music) and Michael Colby (yrics). Lyrical and stylish piano accompaniment was by the dashing Bryon Sommers with spot on directing by the delightful Jay Rogers. The equally dashing producer, Russ Woolley, couldn’t have been more proud, and so very rightly so.
While we wait for more editions of An Evening with Richard Skipper: From Conway to Broadway—and we heartily hope, as do scores of others that more is yet to come—enjoy these photos by Maryann Lopinto.
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