David Skipper performs one-man literary characterizations of famous authors such as Robert Burns, H.G. Wells, J.M. Barrie, Charles Dickens, L. Frank Baum, and Edgar Allan Poe. In character, he shares biographical details and recites excerpts from the authors' works. As a literary scholar, he also answers audience questions both in and out of character. His performances aim to educate and entertain for 60-90 minutes on the lives and legacies of these influential writers.

1. Island of OUTLINE
Dr. Moreau of History
WAR of Tono Bungay
the Modern Utopia
WORLDS THINGS
The Invisible Man TO COME
The Time SCIENCE
Machine of Life
David Skipper as
H.G. Wells: The Firey Particle
A new one-man literary characterization by actor and Chautauqua performer David Skipper who
has brought Robert Burns, Edgar Allan Poe, J.M. Barrie, Charles Dickens and L. Frank Baum to life.
“No one would have believed in the last The Edgar Allan Poe of Science Fiction
years of the nineteenth century that The Firey Particle is a characterization by Skipper as H.G. Wells, the world’s premier author of
this world was being watched keenly science fiction. Join Wells as he takes you on a journey into the fantastic. Learn how he came to
and closely by intelligences greater write the scientific romance classics The Time Machine, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Invisible
than man’s and yet as mortal as his Man and The War of the Worlds, and reminisces on early literary influences that shaped him as
own; that as men busied themselves a writer and philosopher. Learn Well’s opinion of Orson’s Welles 1938 radio broadcast of The War
about their various concerns they were of the Worlds that caused a panic in America.
scrutinised and studied, perhaps almost
as narrowly as a man with a microscope As a literary scholar Skipper, in period costume, begins with a dramatic monologue in character
might scrutinise the transient creatures incorporating anecdotes about the author’s life, literary influences and the creative writing process
that swarm and multiply in a drop of while weaving excerpts of the writer’s works into the program. He then takes questions from the
water. With infinite complacency men audience and answers them as the actual author might have. During the final minutes of the
went to and fro over this globe about program, Skipper steps out of character and responds to questions as a literary scholar. The
their little affairs, serene in their programs can be tailor made to your venue needs, but typically run approximately 60-90 minutes.
assurance of their empire over matter. Performance venues have included:
Yet across the gulf of space, intellects Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Colorado Performing Arts Festival, Colorado Endowment
vast and cool and unsympathetic, for the Humanities, Jefferson County Library District, Steamboat Reads, Rocky Mountain Book
regarded this earth with envious eyes, Festival, Douglas County Library System, Longmont Public Library, World Horror Conference, and
and slowly and surely drew their plans in Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois and Virginia.
against us.”
CONTACT INFORMATION:
The War of the Worlds, 1898 David Skipper, (303)632-1407 literarydetective@comcast.net

2. Alice Sit-By-The Fire
The Little Minister
PETER
PAN
DEAR BRUTUS
Sentimental Tommy
Admirable Peter and
David Skipper as Crichton Wendy
David Skipper as
Marbles Lost
J.M. Barrie: and Found
A one-man literary characterization by actor and Chautauqua performer David Skipper who has
brought Robert Burns, H.G. Wells, L. Frank Baum, Charles Dickens and Edgar A. Poe to life.
If you ask your mother
whether she knew about
Journey To Neverland ...
Peter Pan when she was a Join James M. Barrie, one of the greatest dramatists of the early 20th
little girl she will say, “Why, of Century stage, as he takes you on a magical journey through old Scotland,
course, I did, child,” and if the theatre district of London and learn how he came to write one of the
you ask her whether he rode most popu;ar and beloved plays of all time, “Peter Pan.”
on a goat in those days she As a literary scholar Skipper, in period costume, begins with a dramatic
will say, “What a foolish monologue in character incorporating anecdotes about the author’s life,
question to ask; certainly he literary influences and the creative writing process while weaving excerpts
did.” Then if you ask your of the writer’s works into the program. He then takes questions from the
grandmother whether she audience and answers them as the actual author might have. During the
knew about Peter Pan when final minutes of the program, Skipper steps out of character and responds
she was a girl, she also to questions as a literary scholar. The programs can be tailor made to your
says, “Why, of course, I did, venue needs, but typically run approximately 60-90 minutes.
child,” but if you ask her
whether he rode on a goat in those days, she says Performance venues have included:
she never heard of his having a goat. Perhaps she Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Colorado Performing Arts Festival,
has forgotten, just as she sometimes forgets your Colorado Endowment for the Humanities, Jefferson County Library District,
name and calls you Mildred, which is your mother’s Steamboat Reads, Rocky Mountain Book Festival, Douglas County Library
name. Still, she could hardly forget such an important System, Longmont Public Library, World Horror Conference, and
thing as the goat. Therefore there was no goat when in Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois and
your grandmother was a little girl. This shows that, in Virginia.
telling the story of Peter Pan, to begin with the goat (as
most people do) is as silly as to put on your jacket “The number of shows you do is awesome to me. I am glad
before your vest. I had some hand in inspiring you to these endeavors.”
Hal Holbrook, Actor
The Little White Bird (1902)
CONTACT INFORMATION:
David Skipper, (303)632-1407 literarydetective@comcast.net

3. Boy Fortune Mother Goose American
Hunters In Prose Fairy Tales
The Wonderful
WIZARD of
The Flying Girl
OZ
Aunt Jane’s
Nieces
David Skipper as
Royal Historian
L. Frank Baum: of Oz
A one-man literary characterization by actor and Chautauqua performer David Skipper who
has brought Robert Burns, H.G. Wells, J.M. Barrie, Charles Dickens and Edgar A. Poe to life.
The four travelers
walked up to the great gate
Follow The Yellow Brick Road...
of Emerald City and rang Meet America’s original storyteller and the creative, delightful Royal
the bell. After ringing several Historian of Oz, L. Frank Baum, and learn how Dorothy and her enchanting
times, it was opened by the friends were created into one of the most beloved canon’s in children’s
same Guardian of the Gates literature. Listen as Baum spins tall tales about growing up in New York
they had met before. and his adventures in the Dakota Territory and discover popular books he
“What! are you back wrote under the names of Edith van Dyne and Floyd Akers.
again?” he asked, in
surprise. As a literary scholar Skipper, in period costume, begins with a dramatic
“Do you not see us?” monologue in character incorporating anecdotes about the author’s life,
answered the Scarecrow. literary influences and the creative writing process while weaving excerpts
“But I thought you had of the writer’s works into the program. He then takes questions from the
gone to visit the Wicked audience and answers them as the actual author might have. During the
Witch of the West.” final minutes of the program, Skipper steps out of character and responds
“We did visit her,” said the Scarecrow. to questions as a literary scholar. The programs can be tailor made to your
“And she let you go again?” asked the man, in wonder. venue needs, but typically run approximately 60-90 minutes.
“She could not help it, for she is melted,” explained the Performance venues have included:
Scarecrow. Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Colorado Performing Arts Festival,
“Melted! Well, that is good news, indeed,” said the man. Colorado Endowment for the Humanities, Jefferson County Library District,
“Who melted her?” Steamboat Reads, Rocky Mountain Book Festival, Douglas County Library
“It was Dorothy,” said the Lion gravely. System, Longmont Public Library, World Horror Conference, and
“Good gracious!” exclaimed the man, and he bowed very low in Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois and
indeed before her. Virginia.
“I was amazed you were able to answer CONTACT INFORMATION:
so many questions without hesitation.” David Skipper, (303)632-1407 literarydetective@comcast.net
Audience Member

4. Cask of The
Amontillado BLACK
FALL of CAT
the The Raven
HOUSE of Mask of
USHER THE RED
Annabel Lee DEATH
The Pit and The Premature Burial
the Pendulum ULALUME
David Skipper as
Dark Whispers
Edgar A. Poe: of Genius
A one-man literary characterization by actor and Chautauqua performer David Skipper who
has brought Robert Burns, H.G. Wells, J.M. Barrie, Charles Dickens and L. Frank Baum to life.
Once upon a Master of Gothic Horror and the Macabre
Dark Whispers of Genius is a characterization by Skipper as Edgar Allan
midnight dreary, Poe, America’s premier Gothic poet, writer and literary critic. Join Poe as he
takes you on a journey into the dark recesses of his creative writing
while I pondered weak process and reminices on early literary influences that shaped him as a
and weary, writer and poet. The presentation includes recitation of some of Poe’s well
Over many a quaint and known and rare works.
curious volume of forgotten lore, As a literary scholar Skipper, in period costume, begins with a dramatic
While I nodded, nearly monologue in character incorporating anecdotes about the author’s life,
napping, suddenly there came literary influences and the creative writing process while weaving excerpts
a tapping, of the writer’s works into the program. He then takes questions from the
audience and answers them as the actual author might have. During the
As of some one gently rapping, final minutes of the program, Skipper steps out of character and responds
rapping at my chamber door. to questions as a literary scholar. The programs can be tailor made to your
‘’Tis some visitor,’ I muttered, venue needs, but typically run approximately 60-90 minutes.
‘tapping at my chamber door,’ Performance venues have included:
-- Only this and nothing more! Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Colorado Performing Arts Festival,
Colorado Endowment for the Humanities, Jefferson County Library District,
The Raven (1845)
Steamboat Reads, Rocky Mountain Book Festival, Douglas County Library
System, Longmont Public Library, World Horror Conference, and
in Florida, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois and
Virginia.
“In ringing theatrical voice... he waxes eloquent
in regular flashes of poetic rhyme.” CONTACT INFORMATION:
Audience Member David Skipper, (303)632-1407 literarydetective@comcast.net