Rob Ruggiero is a freelance professional director whose work has earned him national recognition on both plays and musicals. Mr. Ruggiero recently made his Broadway debut with Matthew Lombardo’s new comedy Looped staring Valerie Harper. He directed the world premiere of Looped at Pasadena Playhouse and subsequent productions that played West Palm Beach and Arena Stage in Washington D.C. Mr. Ruggiero previously worked with Valerie Harper on the Off-Broadway production of All Under Heaven, which toured regionally and had a critically acclaimed run in Los Angeles. He conceived and directed an original musical revue entitled Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn, which also had a successful run Off-Broadway. 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 also conceived and directed the world premiere musical portrait of Ella Fitzgerald entitled Ella (starring Tina Fabrique). A popular and critical success, Ella has been seen on over 20 regional theater stages from 2005-2010. Ella has won three Kevin Kline Awards, including “Outstanding Director of a Musical” for the St. Louis Production and the Chicago production won three 2008 Joseph Jefferson Awards including “Best Director – Revue.” Upcoming projects include a revival of Annie Get Your Gun at Goodspeed Musicals, where he recently directed a highly acclaimed production of Camelot, as well as productions of Big River and 1776, which garnered him his third and fourth Connecticut Critic’s Circle Awards for best direction. Mr. Ruggiero is the only director to have 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). Mr. Ruggiero’s work has been seen at major regional theaters around the country, including: Actor’s Theater of Louisville, Arizona Theatre Company, Barrington Stage Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cleveland Playhouse, Guthrie Theater, Hartford Stage, Northlight Theater, The Pittsburgh Public Theater, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and San Jose Repertory Theatre among others.