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- Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Richard Skipper (But Were Afraid to Ask)
Acclaimed entertainer and storyteller Richard Skipper returns to the Laurie Beechman Theatre on Friday, August 22 at 7 PM for an encore performance of his audience-interactive cabaret Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Richard Skipper (But Were Afraid to Ask). Following a sold-out performance on May 31, Skipper invites audiences to once again experience a truly unscripted evening of songs, stories, and surprises—where every show is shaped entirely by questions submitted by the audience before curtain. No two performances are ever the same. Blending heartfelt storytelling, classic showbiz tales, songs, and spontaneous moments, the show is a love letter to live performance and the communities that keep it alive. Whether you’ve followed Skipper’s journey for decades or are discovering him for the first time, this is your chance to ask, connect, and celebrate life, legacy, and laughter alongside one of cabaret’s most beloved voices. This joyfully unpredictable evening is directed by James Beaman with musical direction by Dan Pardo. Special guest appearances to be announced. "The questions posed were so thought-provoking...Richard’s answers were always intertwined with fascinating stories, songs (the man has a gift in communicating a lyric) and personal anecdotes from his 46-year career in entertainment." ~ Stephen Sorokoff, BroadwayWorld "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! Sing a Song” (Joe Raposa). The show was reminiscent of television shows from the last 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." ~ Jacqueline Parker, Cabaret Scenes Magazine
Cast and Creative team for Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Richard Skipper (But Were Afraid to Ask) at Laurie Beechman Theatre
Cast
Richard Skipper
Host / Entertainer
Richard Skipper is an award-winning entertainer, storyteller, and legacy artist whose career spans more than 46 years. Best known for his celebrated tributes to Hello, Dolly! and his longtime friendship with Carol Channing, Richard has performed across the U.S. and the U.K., bringing joy, insight, and spontaneity to every stage he graces.
A former impersonator turned truth-teller, Richard now blends memoir, music, and audience connection into one-of-a-kind live experiences. His current work is less about “performing” and more about hosting the room — inviting audiences into something honest, unscripted, and unforgettable. Whether celebrating Broadway history or sharing stories from his own journey, Richard builds a space where legacy meets presence — and where everyone leaves feeling seen.
Dan Pardo
Musical Director
Dan Pardo is a NYC-based music director, pianist, arranger, and educator, having made his Broadway debut as assistant conductor and keyboardist for Amazing Grace at the Nederlander Theatre. He also music-directed the acclaimed Netflix special, John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch. Off-Broadway credits include I Spy a Spy (St. Clements), The Office! A Musical Parody (Jerry Orbach), Found (Atlantic), Rothschild and Sons (York), Soot and Spit (New Ohio) and Skippyjon Jones: Snow What? with TheatreworksUSA at the Lucille Lortel. Other NYC credits include workshop productions of Come From Away, Mythic (as Persephone Unplugged), How to Write Dirty Books for Fun and Profit, Discovery, On Rosen Street, Marco Polo, Never Grimm, Stepchild, and The Oliver Experiment, along with numerous concerts at the Laurie Beechman Theater, 54 Below, Chelsea Table + Stage, and The Green Room 42. Dan is active in the NYC piano bar scene, playing regularly at Marie's Crisis, The Townhouse, Brandy's, and the historic Stonewall Inn. Since 2014, he has been happily married to the talented Chrissy Pardo. They have a weekly residency at the Edison Hotel and in 2025, they debuted their first cabaret together, Dreams Don't Come True in Pennsylvania
Creative Team
James Beaman
Director
James Beaman is a classically trained actor who has run the gamut of stage performance, from Shakespeare to musical theatre to the cabaret circuit. He starred as Sir Robin in the first national tour of "Monty Python's Spamalot" and has appeared on the stages of some of the finest regional theaters, from The Kennedy Center, to Goodspeed Musicals, to Shakespeare festivals from Alabama to Missouri. Beaman trained at Boston University and the Academy for Classical Acting, and has studied with some of the finest teachers and coaches in New York, including Tim Phillips, Wynn Handman, and Matthew Corozine. He coaches actors and singers for auditions and solo performance, directs cabaret acts, and has created and taught programs for young actors including the Goodspeed Musicals Audition Intensive, preparing aspiring high schoolers to audition for college theatre programs.
SUBMIT UPDATES
Laurie Beechman Theatre Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Ashley Wool in The Broadway Era (7/28/25-7/28/25)
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Richard Skipper...But Were Afraid to Ask (8/22/25-8/22/25)
Laurie Beechman Theatre is at 407 W 42nd St, New York, NY.
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