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. Tommy is also an accredited experiential storyteller with a diverse background in ideating for branded entertainment, Theme Parks, Cruise Ships and other immersive attractions.
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.
Tommy Ranieri, the youngest Artistic Director of a regional Actor’s Equity Association theatre in the country., has led Timber Lake Playhouse since January 2024. Under his leadership, TLP has redefined summer theatre for the next generation world through curiosity and diligence. He introduced the Andy Bro New Works Commission, which offers early to mid-career playwrights the opportunity for a full-scale production in the summer season, honoring the theatre’s founder. Additionally, TLP’s Resident Company initiative, one of the most comprehensive in the industry, offers invaluable experience to emerging actors and production professionals through diverse summer productions.
Tommy spent many years as the Manager of Theatrical Creative Development and as a Creative Lea 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 Bros. Discovery (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, Turner Classic Movies, 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.
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 worked on the reopening of Broadway and served as the COVID Safety Manager for Tina - The Tina Turner Musical on Broadway for The Nederlander Organization at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
Recent Credits that best represent his evolving body of work include Jekyll & Hyde (Timberlake Playhouse), Footloose (Interlakes Theatre), Forever Plaid (Plaza Broadway), Le Cabaret Rouge (MSC Cruises). Tommy’s NYC based 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 Create ten different productions before the end of his career they would be…
A life-sized Mario Party, an interactive board game experience that immerses you inside of The Mushroom Kingdom’s highest stakes competition.
A larger-than-life take on Russell & Krieger’s Side Show, influenced by Tommy’s experience in themed entertainment.
A stage adaptation of Pink Floyd’s The Wall, heavily inspired by Gerald Scarfe’s sinister and whimsical animation style.
A new solo musical centered around Big Bird and the high probability of his involvement in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
A production of Jonathan Larson’s RENT, reimagined with heavy video design through the lens of Mark’s filmmaking.
The Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest as a multi-sensory extravaganza with culinary stunts, a glizzy parade, and a mustard belt drone show.
A beauty pageant for “sadbois” who crave physical touch but are too busy preening to experience it.
A messy, nostalgic, and colloquial adaptation of a Chekhov play with an emerging playwright.
Honestly, just the rights to do a good, clean, Long Island production of Billy Joel’s Movin’ Out. What ever happened to that show anyways?
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.