Vocalist and impersonator Richard Skipper will star in An Evening with Carol Channing and Friends, a one-night only engagement of his popular show, at Don't Tell Mama Oct. 16.
Channing will also feature Andrea Wolper, Kendall Standish, Greg Rodeheffer, Lennie Watts, Ruby Rims and Michael Bellaveau.
Skipper, who started acting at 13 and has always been able to imitate Channing, said he has a good relationship with his show's namesake and leading inspiration.
"Carol supports my work," Skipper said. "She loves what I do because I don't make fun of her. I have a great appreciation for her and I try to capture what she does on stage."
Skipper told Playbill On-Line that his take on Channing is never over the top and that he consistently turns down scripts that have either a sarcastic or disrespectful tone. "I have made a promise to her I will never do anything that would be disrespectful of her," he said. Skipper said that after years of hearing friends suggest that he do a Channing show, he finally did so after a revival of Hello, Dolly!
An Evening with Carol Channing and Friends runs one night only, Oct. 16, at Don't Tell Mama, which is located at 343 West 46th St. Show time is 8 PM. Press materials indicate that the $15 cover charge goes to The Leslie-Lohman Gay Art Foundation. The club calls for a 2 drink minimum. For more information call Ruby Slipper Productions at (914) 365-0720 or visit www.richardskipper. com.
-- By Murdoch McBride
