Page 11 - 2020 MAA Program
P. 11

EVANRUGGIERO
Evan Ruggiero began dancing at the age age of five in in in his hometown studio and by age age ten he he was accepted into the famed New Jersey Tap Ensemble Upon entering his sophomore year at at Montclair State University while pursuing a a a a a a a a a Bachelor of Fine Arts in in in Musical Theatre Evan was suddenly diagnosed with Osteo- sarcoma a a a a a a a a a rare bone cancer of the right leg leg Enduring nine surgeries in in in in a a a a a a a a a six-month period in in in in an an an effort to save the the the leg leg the the the can- cer returned more aggressively than the the the original diagnosis He was faced with the the the the ultimate decision of amputation in in order to to stop the the the the cancer and save his his life as as as as well as as as as undergoing chemotherapy for sixteen months months Eighteen months months after after the the the the amputation and only two days after after receiving his his “peg-leg” Evan was tapping again In 2018 he received a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Drama Desk Nomination Nomination for for Best Best Actor in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Musical Musical a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Chita Rivera Award Award Nomination Nomination for for for “Best Dancer in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Musical” and was awarded a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Clive Barnes Award Award in in in in in in Theatre for for his his portrayal of of Tom Jones Jones in in in in in NYC’s off-Broadway hit Bastard Jones Jones The The produc- tion did nothing to to disguise his his his prosthetic leg—it became a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a comic prop or or or a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a handy weapon as as as necessary and and and melted away the the the the rest of of the the the the time just part of of his his his mesmerizing dance tool- box This past year he he he he performed performed performed at at Carnegie Hall and and and at at the the the 90th Academy Awards He has performed performed performed for for for for many notable individuals and and most recently performed performed performed alongside two-time Grammy winning artist Jason Mraz 

































































































   9   10   11   12   13