Ron Ellison

Background

About Ron Ellison

Ron Manuel-Ellison Producer, Director, Music Director, and Professor of Theatre. In the fall of Mr. Ellison was awarded the prestigious "Faculty of the Year Award" for his work at Irvine Valley College. In addition to his faculty duties, he is a producer, directer, conductor, and composer who has enjoyed much success in each capacity. He has produced and directed projects in educational, community, and professional theatre, as well as numerous projects in radio and television. A native Californian, Ron's relocation to Los Angeles in the late 1970's found him working with such luminaries as Academy Award-winning John Houseman and Nina Foch: and Tony Award winners George Chakiris, Hitton Battle, and Rae Allen. In 1979, he was invited to join the prestigious faculty of the USC School of Theatre. Although Ron taught at USC for 10 years, he continued to stay busy with outside projects at the Los Angeles Music Center, South Coast Repertory, La Mirada Civic, and Long Beach Civic Light Opera. In addition to his outside projects and faculty duties, he established a studio in the Hollywood Hills where he coached young theatre and film professionals, Broadway actors, and noted television network sports personalities. By the mid-eighties, he gained notoriety as a producer of large gala events. Most notable was a grand event at the Century Plaza Hotel featuring Ricardo Montalban, Linda Rohstadt, Placido Domingo, and Howard Keel. This event raised for the Needy Children of the Los Angeles Orthopedic Hospital. In 1989, he moved to Orange County, where he developed a new Department of Theatre in Irvine, California. In 2008, he headed the design team which built the $34 million Performing Arts Center. Currently, he is Chairman for the IVC Department of Theatre and produces 5 shows each year at the IVC Performing Art Center.