Michele Ragusa
Born (1963-08-02) August 2, 1963
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Alma materNiagara University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active1988–present
Websitewww.micheleragusa.com

Michele Ragusa is an American actress and singer currently residing in New Jersey. She is best known for her work in Broadway musicals and her solo performances and staged concerts with Symphony Orchestras around the United States. She also played a recurring role on the television comedy Happyish.

Personal life

Born in Buffalo, New York, Ragusa graduated from Holy Angels Academy and was just a few credits shy of receiving a business degree from Erie Community College when she toured the campus at Niagara University and decided to follow her dream, transferring as a theatre major. While there, she starred in a variety of roles in both dramas and musicals and also ventured outside of the university starring in two productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as The Narrator at Artpark and Studio Arena Theater. She graduated with a BFA in 1987 and immediately became part of the Young Company at Studio Arena and joined Actors' Equity Association. She then moved to New York City and began working Off-Broadway and in regional productions making a name for herself as a "funny soprano."[1] Broadway musicals soon followed as did her romance and eventual marriage to Tom Richter, Founder and Chief Forumulist of Tomr's Tonic.[2] She has been involved with Born for Broadway, a benefit of song helping fund spinal cord injury research and supporting individuals with paralysis.[3] She also returns to her native Buffalo to perform at Kleinhans Music Hall[4][5] and also Studio Arena where her professional career began.[6]

Career

She made her Broadway debut in the 1993 original cast of Cyrano: The Musical.[7] She went on to be featured in the original Broadway cast of Titanic[8][9] in 1997 and was a replacement in the Broadway productions of Ragtime, A Class Act and Urinetown.[10] In 2008, she replaced Megan Mullally in the starring role of Young Frankenstein.[11] For her role in the premiere of Adrift in Macao[12] she won a Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theater[13] and for a subsequent Off-Broadway production[14][15] was nominated for a Drama League Award[16] and a Lucille Lortel Award.[17] In 2014 she performed the role of Alice Bean at Avery Fisher Hall in a one night concert of Titanic[18] and was also featured as Madame Theodore in the Susan Stroman directed World Premiere production of Little Dancer at The Kennedy Center.[19] Beginning in November 2021, Michele originated the role of Austin in Flying Over Sunset, at Lincoln Center, conceived, written, and directed by James Lapine. She has also sung with major symphony orchestras around the US including Kansas City Symphony, Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra,[20] Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra[21] and Chattanooga Symphony and Opera.[22] In addition to Broadway theatre and symphony orchestras[23] she works extensively in regional theatre[24] She has co-starred with Tony Award winner Roger Bart, renowned award winning actress Elaine Stritch,[25] Robert Cuccioli[26] and American Idol Justin Guarini[27]

Other stage credits

Discography

Studio album

Original Cast recordings

  • ’’Flying Over Sunset’’ (Sony 2022)
  • Titanic (1997, Masterworks Broadway)
  • Adrift in Macao (2007, Melnikov Music)

Other appearances

References

  1. ↑ The Muny TV (June 14, 2013). "Meet Michele Ragusa – Part 1". YouTube. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Ragusa's star rising on Broadway" (PDF). Friends of Niagara University Theatre: 16. Fall 2008.
  3. ↑ "Gala Cast and Crew". Born for Broadway. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  4. ↑ Buckley, Eileen (April 20, 2016). "Ragusa returns home for one-night show at Kleinhans". news.wbfo.org. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  5. ↑ Krueger, Matt (January 14, 2016). "New Events: Broadway actress returning home for concert". The Daily News. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  6. ↑ Ehmke, Ron (January 2006). "Michele Ragusa From Buffalo to Broadway … and back". buffalospree.com. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Cyrano The Musical Cast". Playbill.
  8. ↑ Rigsbee, Valerie. "Broadway Musical Home – Titanic". broadwaymusicalhome.com. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  9. ↑ Continelli, Louise (March 30, 1997). "TAKING ON A 'TITANIC' ROLE BUFFALO ACTRESS ANCHORS HERSELF ON BROADWAY". The Buffalo News. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Michele Ragusa – Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  11. ↑ Lipton, Brian Scott (July 7, 2008). "Leavel, Ragusa, Sullivan to Join Broadway's Young Frankenstein". TheaterMania. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  12. ↑ Jones, Kenneth (October 26, 2005). "Durang and Melnick's Adrift in Macao, the Musical, Opens in Philly". Playbill. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  13. ↑ Jones, Kenneth (October 24, 2006). "Opus, Adrift in Macao, Richard III and Winesburg Among 2006 Barrymore Winners". Playbill. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  14. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (February 14, 2007). "Adrift in Macao – Theater – Review". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  15. ↑ Willis, John; Hodges, Ben (June 1, 2009). Theatre World 2006–2007 – The Most Complete Record of the American Theatre. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9781557837288.
  16. ↑ Gans, Andrew (April 25, 2007). "73rd Annual Drama League Award Nominees Announced". Playbill. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Michele Ragusa". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Titanic Returns With Original Broadway Cast". New York Theater. February 14, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  19. ↑ Perry, Jennifer (November 21, 2014). "BWW Reviews: Ahrens and Flaherty's LITTLE DANCER Is One to Remember at Kennedy Center". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  20. ↑ "OKC PHIL program magazine 2015–16 edition 2". issuu. p. 28. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  21. ↑ Jennings, Thom (December 12, 2013). "Local star Michele Ragusa joining BPO at Kleinhans". Niagara Gazette. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Michele Ragusa; vocals; 12.17.2016 & 12.18.2016". Chattanooga Symphony & Opera. July 11, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Singer Ragusa is taking care of business". Press=Telegram. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  24. ↑ Chase, Anthony (April 14, 2016). "In The Spotlight With Michele Ragusa". Artvoice. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  25. ↑ Lenzi, Linda (June 15, 2009). "Photo Coverage: THE FULL MONTY 'Reveals All' On Opening Night At The Paper Mill Playhouse". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  26. ↑ Keddy, Genevieve Rafter (May 12, 2010). "Photo Coverage: Broadway By The Year – The Musicals of 1966". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  27. ↑ Dwyer, John (August 26, 2016). "Batter Up: Musical 'Cake Off' Steps Up to the Plate at Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope". New Hope Free Press. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  28. ↑ Willis, John (January 1, 1995). Theatre World 1992–1993. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9781557832047.
  29. ↑ Taylor, Markland (June 20, 2003). "Review: 'Me and My Girl'". Variety. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  30. ↑ Portantiere, Michael (November 22, 2004). "Rising Stars". TheaterMania. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  31. ↑ Gans, Andrew (April 27, 2004). "Burnham Lands Title Role in Tom Jones Musical; Gettelfinger and Bienskie Also Part of Cast". Playbill. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  32. ↑ Stasio, Marilyn (April 11, 2005). "Review: 'The Audience'". Variety. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  33. ↑ Eberson, Sharon (March 13, 2009). "Talented cast makes 'World Go 'Round' at Public". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  34. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (September 18, 2009). "'Once Upon a Time': Into the Woods Opens at Kansas City Rep Sept. 18". Playbill. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  35. ↑ Piane, Charlie (June 11, 2009). "Photo Flash: THE FULL MONTY At Paper Mill Playhouse". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  36. ↑ Bommer, Lawrence (August 29, 2011). "Review: For The Boys (Marriott Theatre)". Chicago Theater Beat. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  37. ↑ Hetrick, Adam (May 9, 2012). "Geva Theatre's Company, Starring Jim Poulos, Anne Allgood, Michele Ragusa, Bruce Sabath, Begins May 9". Playbill. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  38. ↑ Feldman, Adam (November 4, 2013). "Disaster!". Time Out New York. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  39. ↑ Newmark, Judith (June 18, 2013). "Muny opens with rousing performance of 'Spamalot'". stltoday.com. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  40. ↑ BWW News Desk (July 18, 2013). "Photo Flash: First Look at Michele Ragusa as 'Mama Rose' in Hangar Theatre's GYPSY". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  41. ↑ Genzlinger, Neil (January 27, 2014). "'Craving for Travel,' a Comedy About Travel Agents". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  42. ↑ Conniff, Michael (August 7, 2014). "'Cottage' The Place for Summer Theatre in Aspen". HuffPost. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  43. ↑ Slegman, Ann (July 27, 2015). "Starlight Theatre delivers a solid, if not quite magical, production of 'Mary Poppins'". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  44. ↑ Crosby, Johanna (July 10, 2015). "'Chaperone' is fast-paced, fun-filled at Cape Playhouse". The Register. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  45. ↑ Hirschman, Bill (March 22, 2014). "Maltz's Lovely The King And I Is Rapturous Musical Theater". Florida Theater On Stage. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  46. ↑ Hirschman, Bill (March 12, 2016). "Riverside Theatre's Hello, Dolly Is Peerless". Florida Theater On Stage. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  47. ↑ Dunleavy, Tim (August 22, 2016). "Review: 'Cake Off' at Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, PA". DCMetroTheaterArts. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  48. ↑ Smith, Angela (March 9, 2017). "Review: Riverside's 'Mame' worthy of standing ovation". TCPalm. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
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