Six Questions Special Edition: The Multi-Talented, Multi-Faceted Richard Skipper

In these extraordinary and uncertain times of COVID-19, with venues closed and live performance at a halt, NiteLife Exchange is reaching out and covering the effect the crisis is having on performing artists

The ever-optimistic, ever-energetic Richard Skipper is an entertainer, raconteur, arts advocate, theater historian and promotions/marketing expert. Under the aegis of Richard Skipper Celebrates!, he has conducted over 700 interviews celebrating people in the arts, including Linda Purl, Melissa Manchester, Lesley Ann Warren, Loretta Swit, Rich Little and David France, author of How To Survive A Plague. He recently completed a successful artist-in-residence series at The Laurie Beechman Theatre in NYC where he presented a monthly talk/variety show called Richard Skipper Celebrates, produced by Russ Woolley. Skipper also wrote and starred in his one-man show, An Evening with Richard Skipper: From Conway to Broadway, Off Broadway at St. Luke’s Theatre, which was subsequently performed in his hometown of Conway, SC, where it all began, at The Theatre of The Republic.

Skipper has now begun a #StayHome campaign. He will be sharing the campaign on his various media platforms and is reaching out to individuals to film a 30 second PSA encouraging people to STAY HOME. (“Be as creative as you can,” he suggests.) The PSA should mention the campaign: #RichardSkipperCelebrates #Stay Home. The finished product should be sent to Richard@RichardSkipper.com. The intention is to flood social media with these messages. And… please share on https://youtu.be/jM3OmeOPe_E

NiteLife Exchange (NLE) asks Richard Skipper (RS) Six Questions:

NLE: You’ve always been on the cutting edge of technology and reaching out. How long did it take you to mobilize in response to the required quarantine and cancellation of live performance?

RS: I was really paying attention to the news and what was happening in China and Italy prior to the shutdown in New York. I was scheduled to do a show on March 19 at the Laurie Beechman theater. It was a guest appearance with Pamela Morgan and directed by Mark Nadler with musical direction by Gregory Toroian. I had already had a rehearsal in the city, two actually. I had a rehearsal scheduled on Thursday the 12th. All day on Wednesday the 11th I had an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach about doing the show on the 19th.

After grappling with my uneasiness all day, I contacted Pam and told her that under the circumstances I felt a need to drop out of the show. You can say many things about me but a quitter I am not. She understood my decision and then afterwards I called to cancel attending Broadway Backwards which was scheduled on March 16. I cleared out my entire schedule for the entire month of March and I wrote to several clubs asking them to shut the doors until we had a better grasp of what was going on. Many of the cabaret community listened to me and followed suit and there were a few that wanted me to shut up. I get that and I understood everyone’s frustrations. I just felt that it was the right thing to do. Fortunately, the cabaret community did the right thing by shutting the doors. My concern is that if some clubs had remained open, I feel that many still would’ve continued to do their shows. It is a difficult decision to ever make to cancel a show. My concern is for my friends and family in this community.

In response to the times we are going through, I have utilized a weekly Facebook LIVE to just touch base with everyone who wants to turn in and just try and be as positive and upbeat as we possibly can be at this point. I also have a podcast and write a blog where these concerns are discussed.

I love the fact that so many are putting their art online and I try to share as much of it as possible. My advice to everyone who reads these words to be a little patient. None of us know how long this will go on. In this political climate, and now with this, we just need to hold each other up a little bit more. I want to be there for as many of my friends, as I possibly can be.

NLE: Is there anything you’re doing differently now in your communication and outreach efforts?

RS: Not really. I’ve just beefed up all that I do to reflect what we are going through. I am committing to thinking outside the box and try and do so daily.

NLE: How do you remain positive and celebratory in this dire situation? How are you coping?

RS: It’s not easy. I am fortunate to have a husband and three pets (a new puppy we got seven weeks ago). Danny is working from home, so we are together a LOT. Lucky that we have a house with a back yard. I’m going for walks. Social media keeps me in touch with everyone. I have a confession, however. I cry A LOT! I’m not suffering. I feel for those who are.

NLE: What’s your advice for folks to keep positive and optimistic?

RS: Focus on others! We are all in this together. Those who know me know that I have a daily ritual of reaching out to a different friend each day. Just to see how they are. That usually lifts me up.

NLE: You live about 20 miles away from the epicenter of the virus––New York City. How does that affect your view of the crisis and how it might challenge those of us in the city, especially those very dear to you?

RS: God, I miss the physical contact with my friends! As of this writing, except a few journeys to the supermarket. I have now been home 20 days. I’m a social butterfly! This is difficult, but necessary!  Living here in Rockland, we are hit hard too. Rockland is one of the hotspots. I can’t imagine my friends who are in studio apartments! I’m only a phone call away, everyone!

NLE: When the pandemic is over, do you think positives will come out of the crisis? If yes, what?

RS: I’m a very spiritual person. I believe this is a HUGE wake up call. We can never again take our friends for granted EVER AGAIN. We can’t take our art for granted EVER AGAIN. We cannot take even attending shows and supporting each other for granted EVER AGAIN. This is an equalizer. It has hit all of us and we ALL are in the same boat.

One of my intentions for 2020 was to step out of my comfort zone. Boy, am I out of it! Stop sweating the small stuff, and most of it is! I hope that more people will take more chances when this is in our rear-view mirrors. We truly have nothing to lose! This is a chance to go INSIDE instead of outside. Work on your art and in six months, God willing, I hope there is a whole new artistic renaissance.