Randy Skinner
Randy Skinner is an American dancer, director and choreographer, primarily for the stage. He has been nominated four times for Tony Awards, three times for Drama Desk Awards, and four times for Outer Critics Circle Awards for choreography.
Early life and education
Skinner was born in Columbus, Ohio. [1] He attended Upper Arlington High School[2] and graduated from Ohio State University, with a major in speech and communication and a minor in psychology.[1][3][4]
Career
He moved to New York in 1976 seeking dancing jobs, and Gower Champion asked him to be a dance assistant on 42nd Street in 1980. In 1985, Ginger Rogers cast him as Val opposite Karen Ziemba and asked him to choreograph a production of Babes in Arms that she directed in upstate New York and in Connecticut.[5]
His Broadway work as a choreographer includes the musicals Dames At Sea (also directing), Irving Berlin's White Christmas and State Fair. He choreographed the Broadway revival of 42nd Street in 2001 and also choreographed and staged the London,Germany, Australia and two U.S. national companies and the Amsterdam production of the musical.[6] He has choreographed many productions for the City Center Encores! series, including No, No Nanette (May 2008), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (May 2012) and Lady Be Good (February 2015).[7][8] His Off-Broadway and regional theatre choreography work includes productions of Irving Berlin's White Christmas around the U.S. and the UK, Happy Days (2006 in Los Angeles), Lone Star Love (2004 Off-Broadway; 2007 Seattle), Babes in Arms (2002 at the Goodspeed Opera House), Abby's Song (1999 Off-Broadway, also directing) and Lucky in the Rain (1997 at Goodspeed). He has received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, Drama-Logue Award, and Connecticut Critics Circle Award among others. He has received the Hoofer Award from the American Tap Dance Foundation (2009) and the Flo-Bert Award (2010).[9]
Teaching Career
In addition to his theatrical career, Skinner is also a guest teacher at various colleges and universities and at both Steps On Broadway and Broadway Dance Center in NYC. The Randy Skinner Collection was established at Ohio State University's Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, with his notes, scripts, playbills, posters, and personal papers.
Work
(As choreographer, except as otherwise noted)
- Dames At Sea 2015 Broadway (Director/Choreographer)
- Lady Be Good (musical) 2015 City Center Encores!
- Irving Berlin's White Christmas (musical) 2014 West End
- Show Boat 2014 Lincoln Center with the NY Philharmonic Orchestra
- On Your Toes 2013 City Center Encores! (performed the role of Phil Dolan II)
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes 2012 City Center Encores!
- Lend Me A Tenor (musical) 2011 West End
- Irving Berlin's White Christmas (musical) 2008/2009 Broadway
- No, No Nanette 2008 City Center Encores!
- Face the Music 2007 City Center Encores!
- Happy Days (musical) 2006 (Los Angeles, California)
- Of Thee I Sing 2006 City Center Encores!
- After the Night and the Music 2005 Broadway (also dance music arranger)
- The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde 2005 New York: Theatre at St. Clements
- Irving Berlin's White Christmas 2004 & 2005 (San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston)
- Lone Star Love 2004 Off-Broadway - 2007 (Seattle-also Director)
- Babes in Arms 2002 Goodspeed Opera House
- 42nd Street 2001 Broadway revival
- George M! 2000 Goodspeed Opera House
- Abby's Song 1999 Off-Broadway (also Director)
- Do Re Mi 1999 City Center Encores!
- Lucky in the Rain 1997 Goodspeed Opera House
- State Fair 1996 Broadway (Choreographer and Co-Director)
- Ain't Broadway Grand 1993 Broadway
- Babes in Arms 1985 (New York and Connecticut; also played Val)
- 42nd Street 1980 Broadway (dance assistant to Gower Champion)
Awards and nominations
- 2016 Tony Award for Best Choreograpy (nominee) - Dames At Sea
- 2016 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (nominee) - Dames At Sea
- 2016 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Choreography (nominee) - Dames At Sea
- 2009 Tony Award for Best Choreography (nominee) - Irving Berlin's White Christmas
- 2009 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (nominee) - Irving Berlin's White Christmas
- 2004 Lucille Lortel Award for Best Choreography (nominee) - Lone Star Love
- 2001 Tony Award for Best Choreography (nominee) - 42nd Street
- 2001 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (nominee) - 42nd Street
- 2001 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Choreography (nominee) - 42nd Street
- 1996 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Choreography (nominee) - State Fair
- 1993 Tony Award for Best Choreography (nominee) - Ain't Broadway Grand
- 1993 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Choreography (nominee) - Ain't Broadway Grand
References
- ^ a b "Q & A Randy Skinner 'White Christmas the Musical'" wordpress.com, December 17, 2013
- ^ Grossberg, Michael. "Star-studded alumni toast hometown talent" The Columbus Dispatch, April 12, 2012, accessed November 30, 2016
- ^ "Randy Skinner to visit OSU Dance and Theatre Departments" osu.edu, November 6, 2015
- ^ "Randy Skinner Bio" broadwaydancecenter.com, accessed November 30, 2016
- ^ Sturdivant, Doug. "Making Merry: White Christmas Plays Broadway", December 6, 2008
- ^ "Randy Skinner biography", Broadway Dance Center, accessed May 8, 2009
- ^ Goldman, Phyllis. "Master Tap Teacher Randy Skinner…Talks about his long career both on Broadway and at Encores", danceruniverse.com, March 27, 2008
- ^ Encores! Previous Seasons,New York City Center, accessed May 8, 2009
- ^ Randy Skinner, Broadway World, accessed May 8, 2009