Ryan Scarlata (he/him) has traveled the country as a director, actor, and international award-winning theatre educator. He has performed Off-Broadway, national tours and regional theatre. Favorite roles include Jamie in the midwest premiere of The Last Five Years opposite Broadway veteran Kate Rockwell (Mean Girls, Bring It On, Legally Blonde), and Albin/Zaza in La Cage Aux Folles. While living in New York City, he performed in a number of readings and workshops, and originated the role of Papa Bear in the Off-Broadway production of Berenstain Bears in Family Matters the Musical for which he later became an associate director. 

 

Since 2012, Ryan has transitioned primarily to directing and teaching. He has held previous positions of Artistic Director of The Club Theatre Company, and Education Director and later Associate Artistic Director of the Columbus Children’s Theatre. In 2016, he was honored with the Freddie G Teacher Award from Music Theatre International - an award given to eight theatre educators annually. Students of Ryan’s have earned admission to schools such as University of Michigan, Baldwin Wallace University, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Marymount Manhattan College, Wright State University, Otterbein University, and Pace University. Former students have appeared on Broadway, in national tours, major regional theatres, primetime television, and featured films. Ryan’s favorite direction credits include CATS, Newsies, Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, 9 to 5 The Musical, 13 The Musical, Sweeney Todd, RENT, The Producers, Once On This Island, Meet Me in St. Louis, A Piece of My Heart, Dracula, Jekyll & Hyde, A New Brain and Little Shop of Horrors. 

 

Ryan studied musical theatre at Interlochen Center for the Arts, Wright State University, and holds a B.A. in Theatre with an emphasis in direction from The Ohio State University (2006). He received his Masters of Fine Arts in directing from Texas State University (2022), one of only two selective programs in the country offering such a degree with a musical theatre concentration. His reconceptualized production of Seussical at TXST received accolades from Austin and San Antonio critics.

 

In Houston, Ryan has worked as associate director for Theatre Under the Stars productions of Sister Act, The Little Mermaid and The Secret of My Success. He made his Stageworks Theatre debut directing The Addams Family. He is thrilled to find a new home in Houston and looks forward to working with its incredible community of artists. 

 

Since 2018, Ryan has been a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, the national union that unites, empowers, and protects professional Stage Directors and Choreographers. www.RyanScarlata.com