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 Looped, starring Valerie Harper in a Tony nominated performance. He directed the world premiere of Looped at Pasadena Playhouse as well as subsequent productions that played West Palm Beach and Arena Stage in Washington D.C.  Mr. Ruggiero continues his collaboration with Matthew Lombardo having recently directed the World Premiere of his new play High starring Kathleen Turner in a shared production between TheaterWorks, Hartford, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and The Repertory Theater of St. Louis. A production of High is planned for the upcoming 2011 Broadway season. Mr. Ruggiero made his Off-Broadway debut with All Under Heaven, which also stared Valerie Harper. This production 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. In 2005, Mr. Ruggiero 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 and is beginning a first national tour this fall at Long Wharf Theatre. 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.” Mr. Ruggiero recently returned to Goodspeed Musicals to direct Annie Get Your Gun, where he also directed the 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). His 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.