Richard Skipper Celebrates

This episode explores how Al Hirschfeld viewed a new season. What did he draw, and what does it tell us about that season? For more than sixty years, Hirschfeld showed us the people and the productions we should look for as the season unfolded. It is not surprising that he often showed us what stage productions were about to open. Beginning in 1931 he gathered actors in new shows and created unique composites of the performers in their roles. He was a frequent visitor to rehearsals and while his contemporaries might be lying on the beach, Hirschfeld enjoyed the cool of a frequently windowless rehearsal room in late August. He was literally a curtain raiser, often taking viewers backstage and behind the curtain to see what would be soon presented at a theater near them. He did the same with film, television, and even books as you will see. Starting in 1977, the New York Times gave him the opportunity to bring all his interests together in busy composites of the personalities that held the most promise in the new season. Ten times over twelve years, Hirschfeld produced the faces of the new season as the cover of special sections for the paper that covered, theater, film, dance, television, music and the visual arts. These drawings alone told readers that a new season was about to start, and like his theater drawings, it made viewers as knowledgeable about what was going on as any expert. So get into your seats, unwrap your candy as the house lights are dimming.

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The show in which the Arts and Therapy come together to try and make sense of it all! Hosted by Dr. Judi Bloom and Richard Skipper Dr. Judi Bloom is a practical, interactive, solution-focused therapist specializing in relationships and in navigating through major life transitions. Carole Monferdini's career highlights include long runs in three Off-Broadway hits, an OBIE award for playing a man, standing by for Dame Diana Rigg with the National Theatre of Great Britain, playing a vampire with Charles Busch’s Theatre in Limbo. https://www.carolemonferdini.com/ Craig Pomranz arrived in New York like a wunderkind. The city threw open its arms to the fresh-faced triple threat, and it wasn’t long before he was playing to sold-out crowds at three clubs at once: Freddy’s, East Five Three and Mickey’s. He performed at Ted Hook’s Onstage, The Duplex, The Ballroom, The Horn Of Plenty, and (pre-comedy) Caroline’s. Café Réginette next to her famous Park Avenue nightclub, Régine’s.  https://craigpomranz.com/ With 42 years in the entertainment industry under his belt, Richard Skipper has excelled in most areas of show business. From Conway, South Carolina, he moved to NY in 1979 to pursue a career as an actor. www.RichardSkipper.com

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For two decades, Tommy Tune was the maestro presiding over a string of glittering Broadway musicals that took the tradition of complete musical staging by a director-choreographer into a new era defined by spectacle and technology. He was last in a grand lineage led by Jerome Robbins, Gower Champion, Bob Fosse, and Michael Bennett, but also provided a link to a new generation of choreographers-turned-directors like Susan Stroman, Jerry Mitchell, and Casey Nicholaw. Unlike his fellow director-choreographers, Tune also maintained a successful performing career. His nine Tony Awards (plus a tenth, for Lifetime Achievement) were earned across four categories, not only for choreography and direction, but also as both featured and lead actor in a musical, for Seesaw and My One and Only--a distinction no one else can claim. Everything is Choreography: The Musical Theater of Tommy Tune is the first full scale book about the career of this prodigious artist. It celebrates and examines with a critical eye his major projects, and summons for readers a glorious period of dance, performance, and theatrical imagination.  Now available for Pre-Order: https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Choreography-Musical-BROADWAY-LEGACIES/dp/0190090731/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KWXUZQAC37QX&dchild=1&keywords=kevin+winkler+tommy+tune&qid=1627771116&sprefix=kevin+winkler+tommy%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=8-1

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Renée Taylor was born in the Bronx, New York to Frieda (née Silverstein) and Charles Wexler. She grew up in South Beach Florida where eventually, after years of success, she was given the key to the city. She worked as a comedian in the early 1960s at the New York City nightclub BonSoir where her opening act was a then unknown Barbra Streisand. Taylor earned notice for her portrayal of Eva Braun in Mel Brooks' The Producers (1967), and continued to act in several film, television, and theater productions. However, despite an impressive 50-year resume, she is best remembered as Sylvia Fine, the overbearing, classic Jewish mother of Fran Drescher's title character in The Nanny. After marrying actor Joseph Bologna in 1965, Taylor and Bologna co-wrote the Broadway hit comedy, 'Lovers and Other Strangers' and received an Oscar nomination for writing the 1970 film adaptation. They wrote and co-starred in the romantic comedy, Made for Each Other (1971), and won an Emmy for writing the 1973 TV special, Acts of Love and Other Comedies (1973). They also co-directed and co- starred in the film, It Had to Be You (1989), adapted from their play. Their famous interfaith marriage was blessed by the Pope, the Dalai Lama and Marianne Williamson. She has one son, Gabriel Bologna (b. April 1, 1969), who directed his parents in the newly released interfaith, dance comedy film, Tango Shalom, Joseph’s last performance. The elder Bologna also co- wrote the script. Taylor currently lives in Los Angeles and recently became a great grandmother.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0853041

https://www.tangoshalommovie.com/

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PUNCILITIS and Other Diseases…Curable of Course by Punicillin (The Three Tomatoes Book Publishing, October 2021) is the brainchild of two clever, creative, and very accomplished octogenarians who came together to create their first book. Emmy® and Ace Award-winning TV producer Alyce Finell’s witty and clever puns, combined with the illustrations of Ed Kurtzman, one of the foremost fashion illustrators, has given birth to a book that will make you smile, laugh, and be happy! Some people consider a pun to be the highest form of humor. Some people consider a pun to be the lowest form of humor. You decide. This book is perfect for all occasions. An excellent hostess gift. Keep a couple on hand for emergencies. Excellent for your favorite reading room! More About the authors Alyce Finell is an Emmy® and Ace award-winning TV producer and writer who’s held major network TV executive positions. She was responsible for the development and production of more than 40 TV series. THE THREE TOMATOES BOOK PUBLISHING – PUNCILITIS AND OTHER DISEASES by Alyce Finell has created a musical fantasy titled “Mabel’s Place,” her own love song to the cabaret community. It has been described as “American Idol meets The Fantasticks and Ed Sullivan!” Ed Kurtzman is a graduate of the Philadelphia Museum College of Art and established himself in New York as one of the country's foremost fashion illustrators. His work has been featured in ads for many luxury retail stores, national magazines, and Vogue Patterns.

http://https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/puncilitis-and-other-diseases-alyce-finell/1140383942

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Just concluded my conversation with Richard Skipper as the subject of his Celebrates series.(11/7/21) So much fun to do, and Richard has the knack of asking insightful questions leading to forgotten yet cherished moments of my life. Bravo!

Matthew Ward, NYC

 

Matthew Martin Ward has played in the Broadway orchestras of many shows, including Avenue Q, Tarzan, La Cage Aux Folles, Urinetown, Tommy, State Fair, and Blood Brothers. He was the musical director of two editions of the long-running Off-B’Way hit Forbidden Broadway (Strikes Back and Cleans Up its Act) and can be heard on those cast albums (DRG). Other Off-B’Way hits include Whoop-Dee-Doo (RCA records), Nunsense and Ruthless. His longtime collaboration with Christine Pedi has taken him all over the world including London, South Africa (3 times!) and cruises on the Baltic and Mediterranean seas. He is the music director for her two albums Great Dames and Good to Mama. Mr. Ward is the composer of After the Fair, (book & lyrics Stephen Cole) which has been produced here at the York Theatre (Outer Critic’s Circle nom.), Dallas (multiple Leon Rabin Awards) London, Chicago, Seattle and more. The cast album featuring the York cast has been recorded on Fynsworth Alley. Casper (w/Cole) about the ghost, toured with the legendary Chita Rivera as star, and was later adapted for the Cincinnati Children’s Theatre. The Lady in Penthouse B (book and lyrics Peter Napolitano) was presented at the York Theatre and Urban Stages with Tovah Feldshuh, Nancy Dussault and Klea Blackhurst in the title role.

https://www.facebook.com/matthew.m.ward.1

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During a thirty-year tenure at ICM, Douglas represented books, plays and musicals by Tennessee Williams,Arthur Miller, and many literary giants. He represented memoirs by Shelley Winters, Lana Turner, Maurice Evans, Eva Le Gallienne, Eartha Kitt, Lillian Gish, Peter Marshall, Hermione Gingold, Michael Crawford, Rose Marie, Judy Carne, the 21 original cast members of A Chorus Line (On the Line: The Making of A Chorus Line). and biographies by J. Randy Taraborrelli(including the current best seller, Elizabeth (Taylor), Anne Edwards, Hollis Alpert, Elaine Dundy, Jonny Whiteside, Charles Higham, Roy Moseley, Maurice Zolotow, Peter Brown, Al DiOrio and Robert and Jan Lowell on the lives of Vivien Leigh, Judy Garland, Cary Grant, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Shirley Temple, Ronald Regan, Margaret Mitchell, Richard Burton, Marilyn Monroe, Howard Hughes, Elvis Presley, Jane Russell, Rose Maddox,Johnny Ray, Queen Elizabeth, Maria Callas, Barbra Streisand, and Maria Callas.Calvin Mitchell (Mitch) Douglas passed from metastatic brain cancer on November 5th, 2020 at Calvary Hospital, Bronx, NY. He was 78 years old. Virtually, many of his friends, family, and colleagues will join me to celebrate a rich life and legacy. Mitch was born on March 27, 1942 in Middlesboro, Kentucky. Beginning in an entry level mailroom job, Mitch Douglas quickly rose up the agency ladder and became a veteran literary agent, spending 30 years as a literary agent at International Creative Management (ICM).  Mitch also championed many Off-Broadway successes, including Nunsense, Boobs! The Musical, Bat Boy and Song Of Singapore. 

Speaking: Stephen Currens, J Mary Wickliffe Bishop, John DiLeo, Donald Jackson, Lawrence Leritz, Bill McCauley

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Linda Purl New York theater credits include Broadway productions of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Getting and Spending and the Off-Broadway production of The Baby Dance. Among regional productions have been Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, Hedda Gabler, The Real Thing, The Glass Menagerie, The Little Foxes, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Road to Mecca (with Miss Julie Harris), A Doll’s House, Dinner with Friends(original production), The Year of Magical Thinking (originally for ETC), Hippolytus, Camille, Same Time Next Year, The Miracle Worker, Little Murders, All the Way Home, Nora, Copenhagen, Beyond Therapy, Love, Loss and What I Wore, Oliver, Grease, On a Clear Day, Threepenny Opera And The King and I. Partial film credits include Mighty Joe Young, The Walking Major, Leo and Loree with an upcoming release of Paul’s Promise. She has had recurring roles on Homeland (Elizabeth Gaines); True Blood (Barbara Pelt); The Office, (Helene Beasley) and Hacks. She has starred in over 45 made-for-TV movies, and is especially known for Charlene Matlock on Matlock and Ashley Pfister (Fonzie’s fiancée) on Happy Days. Ms. Purl currently tours with her solo concerts and as a recording artist, has released solo albums that include Alone Together, Out of this World, Midnight Caravan, Up Jumped Spring and Taking a Chance On Love. Past concert venue appearances include Feinstein’s/54 Below, Lincoln Center Jazz, Naples Philharmonic, Catalina Jazz Club (LA), Crazy Coqs (London), Club Raye (Paris) and Satin Doll (Tokyo).

https://www.lindapurl.com/

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Dramatist and theatre artist Deborah Grace Winer is a leading expert and author on Broadway musicals and the American Songbook. The Wall Street Journal recently named her book on pioneer woman songwriter Dorothy Fields (On the Sunny Side of the Street: The life and lyrics of Dorothy Fields, Macmillan) one of the Five Best books on American songwriters of all time. She has collaborated with leading institutions such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, and top tier artists from Broadway and the music world. Her acclaimed musical revues include Baby, Dream Your Dream, a celebration of women songwriters, and New York Big City Songbook, which the New York Times called, “A triumph,” becoming a monthly highlight at New York’s Birdland Theater. For a decade she was artistic director of the 92Y’s famed American Songbook concert series, Lyrics & Lyricists, steering the 50-year-old N.Y. tradition to rejuvenated success and creating original musical shows teamed with the top creative and performing talent from Broadway and beyond. She went on to create the Classic American Songbook Series for Feinstein’s/54 Below supper club, which also ran to critical acclaim. An O’Neill finalist, her plays, including The Real Tabasco, Little Shows and others have been developed at institutions such as Lincoln Center Theatre, Primary Stages, the Women’s Project, and the Westport Country Playhouse; her work has been produced Off Broadway and regionally. 

https://www.deborahgracewiner.com/

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Meg Bussert is an award winning musical stage actor, Associate Professor, Mom, Grandmom, and Arts Advocate. In the 80’s and 90’s, Meg was a busy leading lady on Broadway and the Regions in a slew of revivals and new shows: The Music Man, Camelot, Brigadoon, H.M.S Pinafore, The New Moon, Firefly, Damn Yankees. the East Coast Premier of Phantom (Yeston/Kopit), Closer Than Ever, 24nd Street, Promises, Promises, Cabaret, Barnum,The Most Happy Fella, Firefly, The New Moon, H.M.S Pinafore. Awards and recognitions include the Theatre World Award, a Tony Nomination, and a CableACE Nomination. She shared the stage with Dick Van Dyke, Richard Harris, Richard Kiley, Ron Moody, John Reardon. In the 70’s, Meg moved from Illinois to New York and in 4 months landed a job in a Broadway chorus,. This period of on-the-job training included such shows as Lolita, My Love (a fabulous flop), a national tour of Applause, an extended out-of-town tryout prior to the opening of Irene, replaced in Lorelei, understudied in Gorey Stories and Something’s Afoot, interspersed with regional excursions with On Shiloh Hill, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Kiss Me, Kate, Hello ,Dolly, My Fair Lady, Oklahoma!, Brigadoon, Promises, Promises. In addition to this hands on training, she studied acting (HB Studios), Voice (Marge Rivingston) and Dance (everywhere). From 2001 to 2020, Meg was full time faculty at New York University / Steinhardt teaching Acting and Musical Theatre Studies in Vocal Performance programs both graduate and undergrad. Meg is continuing to give workshops, coach, and perform. Now on a more flexible schedule!