From 1983 to 2004 Skip was the resident designer for the O’Neill’s National Playwrights Conference. He led the Dream Design conversations, a signature element of the NPC development process where he was in direct conversation with playwrights about their work, the world of their play, and how the audience is moved through it.

Pictured: G.W. Mercier's scenic rendering for Joe Turner's Come And Gone by August Wilson (NPC '84)

He worked with August Wilson, Lee Blessing, Cindy Lou Johnson, John Patrick Shanley, Barbara Davenport, Adam Rapp, and dozens more playwrights.

Pictured Skip's rendering for A Walk In The Woods by Lee Blessing (NPC '86).

One well-known result of a Dream Design conversation with Skip was when August Wilson came to the realization that the entirety of FENCES could simply be set on the porch and in the backyard, the audience never needed to enter the house to learn about this family.

These conversations are responsible for the crystallization of many of the images, moods, and themes we associate with a given work.

He brought expertise, generosity, imagination, and inspiration into the classroom and is remembered for transforming many actors to artists through exploration, laughter, intentional challenges, and a deep appreciation for truly looking at the world.

Ten years later, he curated "Launchpad of the American Theater: The O’Neill since 1964", an exhibit chronicling 50 years of O’Neill history at New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and the Lyman Allyn Museum.

Skip leaves a legacy of collaboration, risk-taking, questioning, and championing. His words and lessons (Is it cool or is it necessary?) are carried in the hearts and minds of thousands of playwrights and students across the world. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, students, and collaborators at this time.