About
About Me
TOMMY RANIERI (he/him) is a New York-based director, producer, writer, and educator rooted in new work development and reinvestigating canonical musical theatre.
Above all, Tommy lives and breathes for working with curious actors. He finds himself in a constant pursuit of investigating the many uncomfortable, silly, and passionate emotions we can feel through storytelling with a diligent practice of communicating only with Clarity and Kindness in all moments, with all collaborators.
Tommy began his career simultaneously in Manhattan and on Long Island, NY, where he spent eight years directing at over twenty different venues near and around his hometown, all while receiving his BFA in Drama Directing from NYU Tisch School of The Arts through Playwrights Horizons. While studying at Playwrights Horizons,
Tommy simultaneously ran his own production company, producing a full-scale production of Urinetown at Playwrights Downtown, developing multiple new works, and directing dozens of projects in the tri-state area, including the Non-Equity National Premiere of ABBA’s Mamma Mia!
During the pandemic, Tommy’s passion for the intersection of emotional safety and physical well-being intertwined as he directed the first public full production musical on Long Island during the pandemic, following guidelines from AEA and the CDC. This production of Sky-Pony’s Pop-Rock Fairy Tale, The Wildness, by Kyle Jarrow (Spongebob Squarepants) & Lauren Worsham (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder), had an open-air tented presentation in a 3200 sq/ft custom performance space. He also worked with The Tectonic Theatre Project to develop and then direct a monologue series in response to the pandemic for Ethical Culture Fieldston School. Tommy then served as the COVID Safety Manager for Tina - The Tina Turner Musical on Broadway for The Nederlander Organization at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
Tommy is currently the Manager of Theatrical Creative Development for RWS Global, the largest leisure entertainment group in the world. With RWS, Tommy has developed creative for dozens of projects as a director, writer, and producer. Some recognizable collaborations with clients include Warner Brothers (Looney Tunes), MSC Cruises, Azamara Cruises, Holland America Line, The Hershey Company, Hersheypark, Six Flags, Dollywood, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Thomas & Friends, Morey’s Piers, Gaylord National Resort, Give Kids The World, IAAPA, TEA’s The THEA Awards, Palace Entertainment (Story Land, Idlewild & Soakzone, Kennywood, Dutch Wonderland, Lake Compounce), Jurassic Fight Night, and Iberostar Resorts.
Recent Credits that best represent his evolving body of work include Footloose (Interlakes Theatre), 9 to 5: The Musical (Timberlake Playhouse), Forever Plaid (Plaza Broadway), Le Cabaret Rouge (MSC Cruises). Tommy’s New Works Series "Give Me The Option" has commissioned over twenty-five different musical theatre writers to write songs for movie musicals that don’t exist… yet.
Tommy's artistic passion lies in his collaborations with playwrights and composers, championing the creation and producing of new works, particularly those focused on outcasts, misfits, and deeply rooted childhood nostalgia.
For as long as he can remember, his lifelong dream is to be a part of The SNL Writing Team, which is probably why his fatal flaw is making a joke when he probably shouldn’t. In a perfect world, all of his art is full of youth, informed by the world around him, and is full of goofy and strange presentation styles.
Tommy holds a BFA in Drama Directing from New York University.
If Tommy could direct ten different productions before the end of his career they would be…
An adaptation of Pink Floyd’s The Wall for the stage.
An entirely face-lifted, raw and real revival of Ashman and Hamlisch Smile.
A new solo musical centered around Big Bird and the high probability of him being a part of Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
A production of Larson’s RENT told with heavy video design articulated through the lens of Mark’s filming.
A Beauty Pageant for sadbois that haven’t seen enough daylight and crave physical touch but are too busy primping and preening to feel.
Literally anything that could be choreographed by Trent Soyster, one of his favorite collaborators in the whole universe.
Any play penned in the style of Anna Jordan (check out Tommy’s production of Yen).
A messy, nostalgic and colloquial, brand new adaptation of a Chekov piece with an emerging playwright.
David Bowie’s Lazarus, a musical by his all-time favorite rock star about alienation, obsession and spaceships.
Lastly, Tommy dreams to direct the entire catalogue of his favorite composer, Stephen Schwartz, especially his number one guilty pleasure, Wicked. (Click this link to email Tommy an offer letter to be the next Resident Director at The Gershwin)
New Work Submissions
I currently have an open submissions policy for all non-produced plays and musicals. Learn more HERE.