Rob Ruggiero is a truth-seeker. Whether working on a musical, a new play, or creating his own production of an established script, he is in constant search for compelling ways to tell stories and engage an audience through live performance.
As a director, Rob’s work has earned him both national and international recognition. His scrupulous attention to detail in performance, design, and dramaturgy were on display in the Broadway productions of HIGH, starring Kathleen Turner, and LOOPED, starring Valerie Harper in her Tony Award nominated performance.
Rob has also created several new works while directing at TheaterWorks (Hartford, CT), including MAKE ME A SONG: THE MUSIC OF WILLIAM FINN (Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations), and a world premiere musical about Ella Fitzgerald. He is currently at work on a new piece of theater about the musical collaboration and activism that bound together Peter, Paul and Mary entitled A SONG WILL RISE.
At Goodspeed Musicals, Rob helmed many successful musical revivals since 2007, including the critically acclaimed revision of SHOW BOAT. This “new” version recently had a successful production in London’s West End.
He is currently the Producing Artistic Director of TheaterWorks in downtown Hartford.