A Farewell Worthy of Skip’s Passion

After the sudden passing of Skip Fenker, his friends gathered together to discuss how best to remember a man who had meant so much to them. It was quickly decided that the best way to honor him would be to put on an event the way Skip would do it himself. So after two months in the making, the result is going to be a non-traditional memorial service that is more akin to The Kennedy Center Honors. The evening will include speakers, video content and live performances which speaks to all aspects of Skip’s life beyond his theater resume.

Spearheading the musical arrangement for this event is Cincinnati native Richard Oberacker, a composer, lyricist, conductor, playwright, and longtime friend of Skip. This fast-paced, ninety-five-minute program promises a moving, funny, and very theatrical experience for all who knew and loved Skip. For his part, Richard has taken songs from the shows Skip has directed over the decades, creating complicated medleys and arrangements of classic tunes in different, fun, and surprising ways. Every moment is crafted using all the theatrical tools to pack an emotional punch, a tribute to the way Skip loved emotion in storytelling.

Scheduled to speak to Skip’s life in story and song are: Kathy Beiting, Debbi Berlon, Jennah Blair, Laurie Brinkman, Marcie Brooks, Megan Ainsley Callahan, Dianna Davis, Jennifer Drake, Roger Dumas, Jr, Ken Early, David Fenker, Bill Geraghty, Heather Hale, Deborah Hunter, Joe Kovacs, Wayne Martin, Richard Oberacker, Brett Parr, Nick Radel, Deb Schubert, John Simpson, Stephen Welch, Wayne Wright & Meghan Zlatic. A few surprises may also be on the agenda.

All who knew Skip are invited to this celebration on Monday, February 5th at the Aronoff Center for the Arts Jarson-Kaplan Theatre. The performance begins at 7pm with doors opening at 6:30pm. No tickets or reservations are required. Additional information is available here.

Following the program, all are invited to a reception in the Procter & Gamble Theater Lobby to share tears, hugs, and laughter. The cash bar will be open to toast Skip’s memory.

You will want to be in the room where it happens.