Rob Ruggiero is a freelance professional director who has directed at numerous regional theaters around the country as well as off-Broadway. He conceived and directed the world premiere musical portrait of Ella Fitzgerald entitled ELLA (starring Tina Fabrique). A popular and critical success, Ella has been or will be seen on 22 regional theater stages from 2005-2010. Ella recently won three Kevin Kline Awards, including _x001c_ Outstanding Director of a Musical_x001d_ for the St. Louis Production and the Chicago production won three 2008 Joseph Jefferson Awards including _x001c_ Best Director Revue._x001d_ Mr. Ruggiero also conceived and directed the musical revue MAKE ME A SONG: THE MUSIC OF WILLIAM FINN, which opened Off-Broadway in 2007 to great reviews. The production received nominations for both the Drama Desk Award for "Outstanding Review" and the Outer Critics Circle Award for "Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical. In 2008 an original cast recording was released and the London premiere was also produced at the New Players Theater. He made his Off-Broadway debut directing ALL UNDER HEAVEN, his second collaboration with Valerie Harper, which toured regionally and in Florida, and had a critically acclaimed run in Los Angeles. Mr. Ruggiero recently collaborated again with Ms. Harper in Matthew Lombardo s new play LOOPED which continues to be produced nationally, including a recent production in Florida and a production at Arena Stage with a projected Broadway production opening in the fall of 2009. Mr. Ruggiero has received four Kevin Kline Awards, two for Best Direction of a Musical (URINETOWN and ELLA) and two for Best Direction of a Play (TAKE ME OUT and THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED). Upcoming projects include a revival of CAMELOT at Goodspeed Musicals, where he also directed a highly acclaimed production of BIG RIVER as well as a production of 1776, which garnered him his third Connecticut Critic s Circle Award for best direction. Mr. Ruggiero has staged numerous musical productions including William Finn's ELEGIES -- A SONG CYCLE, FALSETTOS, RAGTIME, WEST SIDE STORY, CRAZY FOR YOU, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, THE LAST 5 YEARS, GODSPELL and Howard Crabtree's WHEN PIGS FLY (Boston Premiere). His TheatreWorksUSA production of ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS had an extensive national tour and was seen by thousands of children.
