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Ron Celona

Birth Place: Philadelphia, PA

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Ron Celona BIO

RON CELONA has produced, directed and choreographed over 60 productions. As an actor, Ron has performed on Stage, in Films, TV and Commercials. He began his career as an actor, dancer and singer in Philadelphia, PA. Trained in New York at AMDA (American Musical & Dramatic Academy), he worked for several years in New York, Philadelphia and Atlantic City, NJ and moved to California in 1984. He continued his education in theatre at Cal State University Los Angeles. During and after attending school he continued his acting career by adding TV and film credits to his resume.
He later became the founder and Producing Artistic Director of the American Musical Theatre Repertory in Los Angeles, CA; a company which produced workshops of new musicals.
Ron moved to the Palm Springs area in 1999 and was the founder and Producing Artistic Director for the Joslyn Center Theatre and Joslyn Players from 1999 through 2007. During his tenure he created an award winning theater company and venue that was supported and respected by the community.

Selected by the McCallum Theatre Institute, a branch of the Lincoln Center Institute, as a teaching artist, he trained teachers in summer workshops. His goal was to train these educators to teach young boys and girls, grades 3 - 12 an appreciation of visual and theatre arts. He also taught theatre arts for the California Riverside County Arts Council and was responsible for creating and delivering a theatre curriculum designed for underprivileged children in Indio and Coachella.

He continued his directing training in 2002 by attending the Directors LAB West (DLW), an annual program developed as a branch of the Director LAB of Lincoln Center. DLW has invited him to serve as a guest speaker at the 2006 and 2008 annual LAB in Pasadena, CA.

At present, he is the founder and Producing Artistic Director of the COACHELLA VALLEY REPERTORY (CV REP), a non-profit educational, dramatic and musical theatre organization. CVREP's primary goal is to present innovative, first-rate professional theatrical productions and special events for the enrichment and education of the region's residents and visitors. ?For more info on CV REP, please go to our website at www.cvrep.org

Proud member of SDC (Stage Directors and Choreographers Society), Actors' Equity Association, SAG/AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of TV ad Radio)

Ron Celona News


12 Days Left To Vote For The 2022 BroadwayWorld Palm Springs Awards; McCallum Theatre Leads Favorite Local Theatre!


The latest standings as of Monday, December 19th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Palm Springs Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

Latest Stats Released For The 2022 BroadwayWorld Palm Springs Awards; at Desert Ensemble Theatre Leads Best Ensemble Performance!


The latest standings as of Monday, December 12th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Palm Springs Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

Latest Standings Released For The 2022 BroadwayWorld Palm Springs Awards; McCallum Theatre Leads Favorite Local Theatre!


The latest standings as of Monday, December 5th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Palm Springs Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

Coachella Valley Repertory Announces 2022-2023 Season Featuring FUN HOME, ONCE & More


CVRep has announced a five play, Tony Award winning Season. Two musicals and three plays are scheduled to take the stage from November 2022 through April 2023. Taking the reins from Founding Artistic Director Ron Celona, CVRep’s new Executive Artistic Director, Adam Karsten, sought works that will excite and inspire audiences.  

Coachella Valley Repertory Announces 2022/2023 Season


​​​​​​​ CVRep is thrilled to announce a five play, Tony Award winning Season. Two musicals and three plays are scheduled to take the stage from November 2022 through April 2023. Taking the reins from Founding Artistic Director Ron Celona, CVRep's new Executive Artistic Director, Adam Karsten, sought works that will excite and inspire audiences.

CVRep Welcomes New Artistic Director, Adam Karsten


The Board of Directors of Coachella Valley Repertory has announced that Adam Karsten will become the company’s Executive Artistic Director. Karsten will succeed Ron Celona, CVRep’s Founding Artistic Director who created Coachella Valley Repertory 14 years ago. 

Industry Pro Newsletter: Tony Awards Calendar Shifts, A Brooklyn Theater Tries a Netflix Model


The rising costs of production are putting a squeeze on many theatres - from Long Wharf to the Edinburgh fringe. While some of these costs are inflation related and are sure to come back down in the long term, it does leave the question of what theatres and producers can do as they try and recover from the past two years of challenges.

BWW Review: CLOSER THAN EVER at CVRep


I was fortune to be able to see the last production Ron Celona will direct in his role as artistic director at CVRep. He's once again delivered top-notch entertainment in the form of Closer Than Ever.

CVRep Presents CLOSER THAN EVER, A Musical Revue


Following a successful run of CVRep's second play of the season, Life X 3, the playhouse continues its season of Hopes, Dreams, and Expectations 2021-2022 with Closer Than Ever, a musical revue directed by Ron Celona, with music by David Shire, lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr., and musical direction by Scott Storr.

CVRep Presents CLOSER THAN EVER, A Musical Revue


Following a successful run of CVRep's second play of the season, Life X 3, the playhouse continues its season of Hopes, Dreams, and Expectations 2021-2022 with Closer Than Ever, a musical revue directed by Ron Celona, with music by David Shire, lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr., and musical direction by Scott Storr.

BWW Previews: CLOSER THAN EVER at CVRep


Following a successful run of CVRep's second play of the season, Life X 3, the playhouse continues its season of Hopes, Dreams, and Expectations 2021-2022 with Closer Than Ever, a musical revue directed by Ron Celona, with music by David Shire, lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr., and musical direction by Scott Storr. The cast includes four actors with impeccable musical theater credentials: Michael Bullard, Jeffrey Landman, Janna Cardia, and Julie Garnyé. Tickets and subscriptions are on sale now at www.cvrep.org or call the box-office at (760)-296-2996 ext. 115.

Tim Connell to Return to Pangea With DREAMIN' AGAIN...


Actor / singer / storyteller Tim Connell will return to the live cabaret stage this November with Dreamin’ Again…, an evening of song and story. Joining Connell is his collaborator and music director, James Followell, at the piano.

CVREP Announces Exciting Post-Pandemic Season To Include CLOSER THAN EVER and BAKERSFIELD MIST


After more than 15 months of a darkened stage as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Coachella Valley Repertory is welcoming back live audiences. “Welcoming patrons back to the Playhouse is an incredible feeling. Live arts are so important to the community, and the entire board, staff and volunteers are so excited to return,” said Ron Celona, Artistic Director.

CVREP PRESENTS: THEATRE THURSDAYS at CV Rep Theater with Ron Celona and Jeanne Sakata


@cvrep Theater Thursday features a conversation between Ron Celona and @JeanneSakata 11/5/2020

THE CITY OF CONVERSATION at Coachella Valley Repertory


CVRep in Cathedral City Begins Rehearsals for The City of Conversation by by Anthony Giardina, directed by Joanne Gordon.

BWW Review: BALLROOM at CVRep Playhouse


Post-world-war-two America somehow managed to erase what 1920s women had fought so hard to create, and what the war effort at home had literally proved, that women could just as easily do a man's job. During the war, women were working in factories, becoming mechanics, if it was a 'man's job' women were out there doing it while the men fought the war. When the men came home, somehow women said hurrah! and happily became housewives and mothers. 'Whew! So glad to be back where I belong!' every magazine, billboard, and family-centric television show seemed to say, characterizing women as happy homemakers whose identity was determined by her biology aka her ability to keep a man happy in bed while producing babies, and all of the domesticity that implies.

Perry Laylon Ojeda Returns to New York For One Night Solo Act at Feinstein's/54 Below


After a run of hit shows in Palm Springs and Los Angeles, and an exclusive engagement onboard Norwegian Cruise Line's mega ship The Escape, Perry Laylon Ojeda (On The Town, Imaginary Friends) returns to New York for a one night solo act, a?oePERRY OJEDA - Just in Time: The Songs of Betty Comden and Adolph Green.a?? The Dec. 17th show is at Feinstein's/54 Below, 254 W. 54th Street in Manhattan. Showtime is 9:30PM and doors open at 8:45PM for dinner/cocktails.

BWW Feature: TWISTED BROADWAY RETURNS at CV Rep Theater


@CVRep's Twisted Broadway fundraiser returns for another exciting year featuring a chorus line full of Broadway stars.

DINNER WITH FRIENDS to Open 2019/2020 Season at CV Rep Theater


A Deliciously Witty, Insightful, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play that Explores the Complexities of Marriage and Friendship to Open 2019/2020 Season at CV Rep

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