Richard Skipper Celebrates

The extraordinary story of a transformative decade on Broadway, featuring gripping behind-the-scenes accounts of shows such as Rent, Angels in America, Chicago, The Lion King, and The Producers—shows that changed the history of the American theater. Michael Riedel has been the theater columnist for the New York Post since 1998. New York magazine has called his column a “must-read” for the theater...

"What Do You Do with a Chocolate Jesus?" is the funny and skeptical, yet genuine exploration of the Christian history they don't teach in Sunday school. It finds humor, irony, and occasional insight amid the inconsistencies, absurdities, hypocrisies, and flat out weirdness that too often passes for eternal truth. Like a history of religion as done by The Daily Show, it humorously explores the fact...

Warren Schein, has been entertaining audiences on stages throughout the US and Europe. He has played leading roles Off-Bdwy, Regional Theater and in Summer Stock productions which include Micky in Sugar Babies, Max Bialystock in The Producers and Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, and most recently as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, just to mention a few. He has been performing his one-man shows, Rem...

Dori Berinstein is a four-time Tony-winning Broadway producer, an Emmy-award-winning director, producer and writer of film and television and the founder and CEO of The Broadway Podcast Network. Dori’s most recent Broadway production is The Prom (Best Musical – Drama Desk Award). Dori is partnered with Ryan Murphy on the Netflix adaptation, starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Cordon, Keega...

Robert Viagas, founding Editor in Chief of Encore Monthly magazine, is an author, journalist, lecturer, podcaster and professor with more than thirty-five years’ experience, much of it working on Broadway with Playbill Inc., the iconic theatre program company. The founding editor of Playbill.com, Playbill’s theatre news website, Viagas served as editor of the "Playbill Broadway Yearbook" annual fo...

Luke Yankee (yes, it’s his real name) is a writer, director, producer, actor and teacher. He is the author of the memoir, Just Outside the Spotlight: Growing Up with Eileen Heckart (published by Random House, with a foreword by Mary Tyler Moore). His play, The Last Lifeboat, is published by Dramatists Play Service and has had more than 50 productions in North America. His other plays include Maril...

Ray DeForest is a 42-year professional actor/singer/model/commercial theater and TV producer, who has spent years performing on stages around the world and appearing in TV shows on The Food Network, Lifetime, HGTV and through his syndicated design show. Ray created his character Doris Dear, a multiple Award winning mid-century modern gal known as “America's Perfect Housewife" after his mom passed...

Dedicating her life to the friendly citizens and responsible merchants of her hometown of Richfield, Minnesota, “where butter is a spice and gravy is a beverage”, Miss Richfield 1981 is one of America’s national treasures. This Midwestern maven is winning over theater audiences around the country with an interactive format that combines homespun warmth and edgy improv, leaving audiences in hysteri...

Elaine Ballace is a Native CALIFORNIAN! She became a Professional Ice Skater at age 8. Along with her Professional Ice Skating she began acting in Commercials by age 9. Some of her more recent credits include: FERN on the AWARD-WINNING Comedy "The RICH and The RUTHLESS." DARED, the highest-viewed series on YouTube, and FREE LUNCH EXPRESS, which is awaiting a release date. https://www.imdb.com/name...

Dr. Judi Bloom and Richard Skipper have joined forces to address the issues facing those in the entertainment industry in the new world we now find ourselves in. This is the show in which therapy and entertainment come together to show artists how to not only cope in the age of COVID but also how to keep creating. This week's episode topic will focus on Film and Television Production in the Age of...

Devanand Janki is an award-winning director-choreographer based in New York City. His credits include Off-B’way: Zanna, Don’t! (Winner Lortel, Callaway and GLAAD Awards), Junie B. Jones, Henry and Mudge, and The Yellow Brick Road. The All Star Broadway concerts for the Actors Fund: Hair, Funny Girl, Dreamgirls (Assoc.) and Seth Rudestky’s Broadway 101. Lincoln Center: Amahl and the Night Visitors,...

Penguin Rep Theatre in Stony Point, New York founding artistic director Joe Brancato is Richard Skipper’s guest. His credits include critically acclaimed productions of McKeever's DANIEL'S HUSBAND and AFTER which transferred to Off Broadway from Penguin Rep, as well as Erasmus Fenn's DROP DEAD PERFECT at Theatre at St. Clements; Angelo Parra's THE DEVIL'S MUSIC: THE LIFE & BLUES OF Bessie Smit...

Richard Gayzur has lived within 30 miles of ‘Don’t Tell Mama’s’ his entire life. He’s a screenwriter, a copywriter, a composer/musician, the founder and on-air commentator of ‘Center Left Radio: The Progressive Voice of Hope Politics and Jazz’, a video producer, a novelist, an attorney… and another incorrigible optimist. These days, he gets to see Hudson River sunsets from a hillside in Westcheste...

Cynthia Basinet (often called “C” by her friends) has had a colorful and successful life in several fields. She is an exquisite and glamorous singer with a highly expressive voice and a real feel for American standards. Cynthia’s natural musical abilities, along with a very good vocal coach, resulted in her making her first recordings including the now iconic, “Santa Baby” in 1997 and two years la...

Here is the complete inside story on the making of Psycho, the forerunner of all psycho thrillers. Stephen Rebello takes us behind the scenes at the creation of one of cinema’s boldest and most influential films. From Hitchcock’s private files and from new in-depth interviews with the stars, writers, and technical crew we get a unique and unparalleled view of the master at work. Rebello’s carefull...

A deeply researched warning about how the digital economy threatens artists' lives and work―the music, writing, and visual art that sustain our souls and societies―from an award-winning essayist and critic There are two stories you hear about earning a living as an artist in the digital age. One comes from Silicon Valley. There's never been a better time to be an artist, it goes. If you've got a l...

Judi Mark was born in Chicago to a musical family who encouraged her to express herself creatively. Her dynamic range of training included ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap, acting, vocals and piano which set the stage for a successful performance career spanning over decades. She has appeared on concert stage, regional theater, cabaret, and the high seas. While studying acting with Bill Hickey, she...

Robert W. Schneider is an award-winning director and producer based in NYC. He currently holds the titles of Original Programming Producer at Feinstein’s/54 Below, Artistic Director of The J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company, Host of the podcasts Behind The Curtain: Broadway’s Living Legends (w/Kevin David Thomas) and Gay Card Revoked (w/Robbie Rozelle), and faculty member at Penn State Universit...

Called, “a true force of nature,” and "in a league of her own," by Clive Davis of The Times (UK) in his TWO five-star reviews of two different London appearances, Natalie Douglas is a Nightlife, two-time Backstage Bistro, twelve-time MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs) & BroadwayWorld Best Cabaret Vocalist Award Winner and recipient of the Donald F. Smith & Margaret Whiting A...

Critics have called Geoffrey Mark a walking encyclopedia of show business history. Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised all over the country, Mr. Mark has spent his entire life in one part of show business or another. His books are the bestselling The Lucy Book, and Ethel Merman: The Biggest Star on Broadway, as well as The Family Affair Cookbook. His newest book is Ella: A Biography of Legendary Ella...

Roslyn Kind is a dynamic, multi-talented entertainer who has forged a successful career in all facets of entertainment from critically acclaimed recordings to sold-out performances on Broadway and in top concert venues and nightclubs the world over. Ms. Kind recently performed with her sister, Barbra Streisand, during an 8 city US/Canadian tour and a 6 city International tour, which brought her to...

Peter Vincent is an electrifying, versatile entertainer, whose dynamic songs and dances have thrilled audiences in a wide variety of settings across the country. Peter has been featured in leading roles in musical productions and delighted audiences on board several major cruise lines. Peter tours with corporate industrial shows and performs on television networks nationwide. Peter can be seen and...

"Deconstructing the Rat Pack: Joey, The Mob and the Summit" is a new look at the true creation of the group of entertainers that rocked the world. For twenty-eight consecutive nights in February 1960, a dusty town called Las Vegas became the epicenter of the world. All eyes were on the party happening at the Sands Hotel and Casino, the new headquarters for The Chairman of the Board― Frank Sinatra....

"Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace,” from writer-director April Wright, is a loving documentary celebrating cinema and movie houses. Movie palaces were ornate, opulent theaters that showed films from circa 1910 through WWII. April Wright is an award winning filmmaker who brings a fresh and creative approach to her documentaries and narrative projects.  She’s drawn to mate...

Norman Mathews has written for the concert stage, musical theater, and opera. He has also written a play, Drone, which recently one a place at FutureFest in Ohio. His autobiography, The Wrong Side of the Room: A Life in Music Theater, has been unanimously praised by critics. Mathews is also an experienced cook and gastronome, who operates a food blog on his website. Born in the wrong town, the wro...