Still Going Strong: Richard Skipper Celebrates Sixty Years of Hello, Dolly!

The evening was a love letter to his audience, to all the people involved with Dolly! through the years, and to the universal, transgenerational legacy of Hello, Dolly! itself. Here’s to another 60 years!-Jed Ryan: Lavender After Dark. Read more

Think of this as a musical TedTalk!-James Beaman, Director

Welcome to Still Going Strong: Richard Skipper Celebrates Sixty Years of Hello, Dolly! Join us at Santa Monica Playhouse (Guest Artist) for an unforgettable evening filled with music, laughter, and nostalgia. Richard Skipper, a renowned performer, will take you on a journey through the iconic musical Hello, Dolly! as we celebrate its sixtieth anniversary. Don't miss this special in-person event that promises to be a night to remember. Grab your tickets now and get ready to be entertained! Richard will be joined by Jo Anne Worley and Mary Jo Catlett. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Actors and Others For Animals

STILL GOING STRONG!*

A CELEBRATION OF HELLO DOLLY!

THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BELOVED MUSICAL

THAT OPENED ON BROADWAY IN 1964

Portions of the proceeds will benefit Actors And Others For Animals .

Award-winning performer Richard Skipper celebrates

the rich history of this classic American musical.

For this special night, Richard will be joined by Mary Jo Catlett and Jo Anne Worley!

“If it wasn’t for what Richard Skipper does, Hello Dolly! might have become a forgotten show!”

– Jerry Herman

On January 16th, 1964, Hello Dolly! opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre starring Carol Channing; it was a smash hit, winning ten Tony Awards®. Sixty years later, this show--with music & lyrics by Jerry Herman, a book by Michael Stewart, direction by Gower Champion, and produced by David Merrick—is still glowin', still crowin', still goin' strong.

During the course of the show’s run, and revivals, several legendary actresses have played Dolly. The first & most-associated with the role--Carol Channing. Then, just to name a few: Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Ginger Rogers, Bernadette Peters, Donna Murphy, Bette Midler; Pearl Bailey (with an all African-American cast) and Barbra Streisand in the film version. Dolly has even been performed by men: First, in England, by celebrity impersonator Danny La Rue, then veteran Broadway actor Lee Roy Reams made history as the first American male to star as Dolly at The Wick Theater in Florida.

For over twenty years--with her blessing--showman extraordinaire Richard Skipper performed as Carol Channing. And, as a result of their mutual-admiration and life-long friendship, Skipper met and befriended most of Channing’s co-stars as well as many other legendary Dollys. At Channing’s urging, he began to interview all these performers—to preserve for future generations of theater lovers—all that went into creating the now-iconic Hello Dolly!

Now, in addition to his work as a performer, Richard Skipper is known for his encyclopedic knowledge of everything to do with Hello Dolly!—detailed on his website Still Going Strong!

(https://www.callondolly.com).

But, Carol Channing—the first & most-beloved Dolly—encouraged Skipper to go one step further: to put together an act that would be an homage to the show. That idea became…

Still Going Strong! Richard Skipper Celebrates 60 Years of Hello, Dolly!

This cabaret-style, 60th anniversary salute to the iconic musical is an interactive, feel-good, performance. Richard Skipper, the go-to aficionado on all-things Dolly!, sings and celebrates the songs, the history, the in-the-know tidbits of this glorious musical along with a tribute to the many, legendary actresses who have played Dolly from Carol Channing and Ethel Merman to Bette Midler and beyond.

“There are very few individuals who know more about Dolly Gallagher Levi than I. But, when it comes to the history of Jerry Herman’s brilliant production, even I turn to Richard Skipper when I have questions about the remarkable ladies who followed me in the role.” - Carol Channing

The show, Still Going Strong!, is touring around the country and, this Summer 2024, will head to London to coincide with the West End Hello, Dolly! revival starring Imelda Staunton at The London Palladium.

While some of the greatest leading ladies in show business have performed Dolly in regional, international, and summer stock companies, right now, in addition to Richard Skipper’s homage, somewhere in the world, Hello, Dolly! is being performed in a community theater, high-school and/or college production. That’s staying power that should be celebrated.

***

About Richard Skipper: Skipper first stepped on stage at the tender age of 13 in a regional production of Jerry Herman’s Mame at The Theater of the Republic in his hometown of Conway, South Carolina. Bitten by the bug, he moved to New York City in 1979 to pursue a career as an entertainer. In addition to his acting career, Richard was belting out numbers made famous by the legendary actress Carol Channing at piano bars throughout New York City. Next, he was performing as Carol Channing at Don’t Tell Mama on 46th Street and at the top casino hotels in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Now, he is the keeper-of-the-flame of Hello, Dolly! history and shares his knowledge in song and as a fabulous raconteur in the cabaret-style show, Still Going Strong! Richard Skipper Celebrates 60 Years of Hello, Dolly! (https://richardskipper.com and CallonDolly.com)

Mary Jo Catlett: originated the role of Ernestina Money in the 1964 Broadway production of Hello, Dolly!. Catlett is also known for her live-action roles on television programs from the 1970s such as Diff'rent Strokes , MASH, Sponge Bob Square Pants where she voices Mrs. Puff. - Mary Jo Catlett (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0146181/)

Jo Anne Worley: Jo Anne Worley has worked in television, film, theater, game shows, talk shows, commercials, and cartoons. She is best known for her work on the comedy-variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, which ran from 1968 to 1973. Ms. Worley has played Dolly! She also served as standby for Carol Channing in the role. (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0941506/)

Michael Collum, Music Director: Michael Collum is a musical director who has worked on a variety of projects, including cabaret shows, Sondheim birthday celebrations, and backyard cabaret series. For example, he was the musical director for the 2022 Sondheim Birthday Celebration Concert, and has also worked on cabaret shows like You Must Believe in Spring with Eileen Barnett. Collum has also been praised for his music direction in Into the Woods.

When and Where:

Sunday, April 21, 2024, 8PM

1211 4th St, Santa Monica, CA

Event Venue

Santa Monica Playhouse, Santa Monica, United States