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Brian Ronan

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Brian Ronan
Born
Queens, New York
EducationOswego State University (BA)
Occupation
  • Sound designer
AwardsTony Award for Best Sound Design of a Musical (2)

Brian Ronan is a sound designer known for his work on productions such as Spring Awakening in 2008,[1] Next to Normal in 2009,[2] and his Tony Award-winning work on The Book of Mormon[3] and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.[4]

Early life

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Ronan was born in Queens, New York and attended Chaminade University in Hawaii before an art professor recruited him to help on a production set. After this, he decided to pursue theatre and transferred to Oswego State University. While there, he worked with Campus Lighting, a student organization focusing on the business side of the arts.[5] He also interned with Masque Sound in New York City, before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in theatrical design and production in 1984.[6]

Career

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Ronan's career first began as an associate sound designer for the Broadway production of Smokey Joe's Cafe in 1995 and stayed with the production through its closing in 2000.[7] He continued his work in New York City throughout the 1990s, serving as sound designer for notable productions such as State Fair in 1996,[8] Triumph of Love and 1776,[9] both in 1997, along with Little Me in 1998.[10]

In the 2000's, Ronan continued work both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, for such productions as the 2004 premiere of Bug[11] and the Broadway productions of Grey Gardens in 2007[12][13] and Spring Awakening in 2008.[14] For his work on Next to Normal in 2009, he received his first Tony Award nomination for Best Sound Design of a Musical.[15][16]

During the 2010s, Ronan gained further notoriety for his sound designs, including his innovative hidden microphone techniques on the 2012 revival of Annie.[17] His work was featured in the hit musicals, The Book of Mormon[18] and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,[19] winning a Tony Award for each. His work could also be seen in the 2011 revival of Anything Goes, the 2012 revival of Nice Work If You Can Get It, Mean Girls in 2018 and The Rocky Horror Show in 2026,[20] all four for which he received further Tony Award nominations.[21]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2004 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Sound Design Bug Nominated [22][23]
2006 Grey Gardens Nominated [24][25]
The Pajama Game Nominated
2009 Tony Award Best Sound Design of a Musical Next to Normal Nominated [26]
2010 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical Promises, Promises Nominated [27]
Everyday Rapture Nominated
2011 Anything Goes Won [28][29]
The Book of Mormon Nominated
Tony Award Best Sound Design of a Musical Won [30]
2012 Nice Work If You Can Get It Nominated [31]
2013 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical Giant Nominated [32][33]
Bring It On Nominated
2014 Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Won [34][35]
Tony Award Best Sound Design of a Musical Won [36]
2015 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical The Last Ship Nominated [37][38]
2016 Lazarus Nominated [39][40]
2017 War Paint Nominated [41][42]
2018 Tony Award Best Sound Design of a Musical Mean Girls Nominated [43]
2019 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical Tootsie Nominated [44][45]
2026 Tony Award Best Sound Design of a Musical The Rocky Horror Show Nominated [46]

References

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  1. ^ "Spring Awakening Blooms on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theater". The Broadway League. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  2. ^ Jones, Kenneth (April 21, 2010). "Tony-Winning Next to Normal Recoups Investment". Playbill. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  3. ^ Allen, Jason (October 6, 2025). "Converting with The Book of Mormon". CX Network. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  4. ^ "Beautiful's Brian Ronan Wins Best Sound Design of a Musical Tony". BroadwayWorld. June 8, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  5. ^ Oswego Alumni Association. "Sound Career on Broadway Could Bring Tony". State University of New York at Oswego. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  6. ^ Liebler, Shane M. "Alumnus Ronan Up for Second Consecutive Tony". State University of New York at Oswego. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  7. ^ "Smokey Joe's Cafe". Playbill. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  8. ^ Evans, Greg (April 1, 1996). "State Fair". Variety. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  9. ^ Evans, Greg (August 18, 1997). "1776". Variety. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  10. ^ "Little Me". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  11. ^ "'Bug' on red carpet". Variety. June 14, 2004. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  12. ^ "Grey Gardens". Playwrights Horizons. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  13. ^ "Grey Gardens plays final performance". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  14. ^ "Spring Awakening Blooms on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theater". The Broadway League. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  15. ^ Jones, Kenneth (April 21, 2010). "Tony-Winning Next to Normal Recoups Investment". Playbill. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  16. ^ Jones, Kenneth (June 7, 2009). "Just the List: Winners and Nominees of the 2009 Tony Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  17. ^ Sandberg, Marian (December 27, 2012). "Brian Ronan's Sound Design For Annie". Live Design. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  18. ^ Allen, Jason (October 6, 2025). "Converting with The Book of Mormon". CX Network. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  19. ^ "Beautiful's Brian Ronan Wins Best Sound Design of a Musical Tony". BroadwayWorld. June 8, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  20. ^ "Brian Ronan". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  21. ^ Oswego Alumni Association. "Brian Ronan '84 Wins Tony Award". State University of New York at Oswego. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  22. ^ "2004 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  23. ^ "Wicked Leads Drama Desk Nominations". The New York Times. April 29, 2004. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  24. ^ "2006 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  25. ^ Andrew Gans (May 22, 2006). "Drowsy Chaperone and History Boys Big Winners at the 2006 Drama Desk Awards". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  26. ^ Jones, Kenneth (June 7, 2009). "Just the List: Winners and Nominees of the 2009 Tony Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  27. ^ "2010 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  28. ^ "2011 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  29. ^ Kenneth Jones (May 24, 2011). "Drama Desk Awards Go to Book of Mormon, Normal Heart, War Horse, Sutton Foster, Norbert Leo Butz". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  30. ^ "The 2011 Tony Award Winners". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  31. ^ Wells, Matt; Cote, David (June 11, 2012). "Tony awards 2012: Once scoops eight gongs on night of upsets". The Guardian. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  32. ^ "2013 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  33. ^ Michael Paulson (May 20, 2013). "Matilda Wins Big at Drama Desk Awards". The New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  34. ^ "2014 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  35. ^ New York Theatre Guide Staff (June 1, 2014). "The 59th Annual Drama Desk Awards". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  36. ^ Gans, Andrew (June 8, 2014). "Just the Winners, Please: Who Won the 68th Annual Tony Awards?". Playbill. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  37. ^ "2015 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  38. ^ Gordon Cox (May 31, 2015). "2015 Drama Desk Awards Winners (FULL LIST): 'Hamilton' Takes 7". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  39. ^ "2016 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  40. ^ Gordon Cox (June 5, 2016). "2016 Drama Desk Awards (FULL LIST): 'Shuffle Along,' 'The Humans'". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  41. ^ "2017 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  42. ^ Variety Staff (June 5, 2017). "Drama Desk Awards 2017: Full List of Winners". Variety. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  43. ^ "Tony Awards Winners 2018: The Complete List". Variety. June 10, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  44. ^ "2019 Awards – Nominees and Recipients". Drama Desk. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  45. ^ Ruthie Fierberg (June 2, 2019). "Tootsie, Hadestown, and The Ferryman Lead 2019 Drama Desk Award Winners". Playbill. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  46. ^ "Tony Awards Winners 2026: The Complete Winners List". Variety. June 7, 2026. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
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