Ron has produced, directed and choreographed over 70 productions. He began his career as an actor, dancer and singer in Philadelphia. He worked for several years as an actor in NY and Philly prior to moving to California in 1984. He continued his education in theatre at Cal State University Los Angeles. After years of performing on stage, TV and Film, he became the founder and Producing Artistic Director and producer 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 Players at the Joslyn Center Theatre (now named The Arthur Newman Theatre) from 1999 through 2007. During his tenure he created an award winning Theater Company and venue, supported and respected by the community.
After a year of planning, Ron’s dream of creating a professional regional theatre was realized. In August of 2008, Coachella Valley Repertory, led by founding board member Gary D. Hall – then President, now Chairman Emeritus – was started. After several years of continuous sold-out shows in our 86-seat storefront theatre, it was necessary to expand. Ron and the CVRep Board’s new dream was to purchase our own, larger theatre. Now entering our second decade, the 2019-2020 Season “New Beginnings” will be the first full-season presented at the brand new CVRep Playhouse in Cathedral City.
An alumnus of Directors LAB West, a branch of the Director LAB of Lincoln Center, Ron was invited to serve as a guest speaker at the 2006, 2008, and 2010 annual LAB in Los Angeles, California.
For more information on Mr. Celona’s bio and career, please visit www.roncelona.com.
Click here to read a 2018 interview with Ron in Palm Springs Life Magazine