Ron E. Rains
  • Bio
  • Resumé
  • My Reels
  • Projects
    • The Tempest
    • Billy Elliot
    • The Onion's Film Standard
    • Juno
    • A Christmas Carol
    • We Grew Up Here
    • By The Way, Meet Vera Stark
  • News
  • Actor Reels
  • Gallery
  • T-Shirts
  • Contact

Latest News


Picture
Picture
Directed by James Vásquez
Choreographer Tyler Hanes
Apr 12 –Jun 4, 2023

Of the many shady trades in baseball history, none have equaled the dark brilliance of the offer in DAMN YANKEES, the devilishly clever musical comedy about America’s favorite pastime. Based on the novel, “The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant,” middle-aged baseball fanatic Joe Boyd trades his soul to the Devil, for a chance to lead his favorite team to victory in the pennant race against the New York Yankees. 

Ron will play Joe Boyd.


Picture
Picture
        Once
Book: Enda Walsh
Music/Lyrics: Glen Hansard/Markéta Irglová
Director/Choreographer: Katie Spelman
Music Direction: Matt Deitchman


FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 26, 2023
LOCATION: 325 Tudor Court | Get Directions ›

A SOFT-SPOKEN, DEEPLY FELT MUSICAL ABOUT THE FORCES THAT COMPEL US TO REACH OUT TO ONE ANOTHER AND HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE. 
​

The 2012 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical based on the 2007 Irish musical film and features gorgeous songs like the Oscar-winning “Falling Slowly.” Performed by an accomplished cast of actors playing their own instruments. This will be a Once like you’ve never seen it before.  

Ron plays DA. 
​And the mandolin.  


Picture
Picture

Music by RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
Book by HOWARD LINDSAY and RUSSEL CROUSE
Directed by Amber Mak


NOVEMBER 9, 2022-JANUARY 15, 2023

One of the most beloved musicals of all time and a holiday favorite, The Sound of Music has enchanted audiences for more than 50 years.  

Ron appears as the resident nazi butler, Franz.


Picture

​What if President John F. Kennedy had survived and rocketed the Space Race of the 1960s into overdrive? And what if he was, maybe, not quite...himself?  

Space: 1969 is a wild and outrageous sci-fi comedy from the mind of Emmy-winning writer Bill Oakley (The Simpsons, Futurama, 
Portlandia).  Space: 1969 is a retro sci-fi comedy adventure that has to be heard to be believed! 

Starring Natasha Lyonne and yours truly.

On Sale June 30, 2022.

order here: 
https://www.audible.com/pd/Space-1969-Audiobook/B0B1RQWWBK

Picture

Coming March 2023, a Shudder Original:  "BROOKLYN '45".  

From the mind of Ted Geoghagen, starring Anne Ramsay (A League of Their Own), Larry Fessenden (We Are Still Here), Kristina Klebe (Rob Zombie’s Halloween), Jeremy Holm (The Ranger), Ezra Buzzington (The Hills Have Eyes), and yours truly. 




I'll be performing in Indianapolis at Indiana Repertory Theatre in Jane Austen's SENSE AND SENSIBILTY.  Sept. 14 - Oct. 9, 2022


09-21-2021. Do you remember?  It's the 21st night of September.

Much has happened since the "latest news" below.  Hopefully there will be news soon.  For now, the update of this page and site will have to do for what's new.  What's new with you?

Excited to announce that Ron has been cast in Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's production of The Tempest in the role of Stephano. Shakespeare’s enchanted island is transformed in this inventive production from Aaron Posner and Teller (of the legendary duo Penn & Teller), who also contributes astonishing feats of magic. This classic tale of revenge is reimagined as a traveling tent show of trickery and amazement—underscored by haunting ballads from the inimitable Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, and featuring choreography by the pioneering dance collective Pilobolus. 

Ron will be directing Coming Home for Erasing the Distance this August 2015 for a short run.   This is a first person documentary style theatre piece exploring homelessness and mental health issues in the African-American community.  

Ron will be appearing in Billy Elliot The Musical as "Dad" at the Drury Lane Theatre.  Directed by the award winning Rachel Rockwell and based on the internationally-acclaimed film, the smash hit musical Billy Elliot follows a young boy as he trades in his boxing gloves for dancing shoes. In a small town in the English countryside, Billy discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and his whole community, and changes his life forever. Purchase tickets here.  Playing through June 7th, 2015.

The independent feature film We Grew Up Here featuring Ron and starring members of the indie rock band Paper Thick Walls is now online and available to rent or own.  Click here to watch the film: https://www.yekra.com/we-grew-up-here.

Ron sang the National Anthem for the Chicago Bears v. Detroit Lions game, December 21, 2014 at Chicago's Soldier Field.  Watch it here.

Ron returned to the Goodman Theatre stage to reprise the role of Bob Cratchit for his 8th consecutive year.  
Performances continued through December 28th, 2014.

Ron will be performing live in Chicago's Thanksgiving Day Parade with cast members from Goodman Theatre's 'A Christmas Carol'. 
More information here.

I'll be doing a reading of Bram Stoker's spooky one-act 'The Judge's House' at Chief O'Neill's Pub this Sunday October 20, 2014 at 2 & 4.

Here's more info.

Spooky!


Ron wrapped an industrial film for Microsoft's Human Resources Department, in the role of a disgruntled employee.  
Thanks to Joel Umbaugh and the crew of Zoocreate for the great time on set!

Ron wrapped two short films in August, 2014:

Picture

WORSEBEHAVIOUR, written and directed by Peter Collins Campbell

WORSEBEHAVIOUR is the story of a man's hopeless infatuation with a woman at a local cafe and how it leads to them both being abducted by a violent, mentally unstable man. Part thriller, part romantic comedy, part dark comedy, part horror film.

Ron will play the role of the violent, mentally unstable man. 

Picture

Rodney, written and directed by Bogar Alonso

Fresh off of serving a 20-year stint in prison, a former Golden Gloves winner investigates the murder of his son by the hands of Chicago Police.

Ron will play the role of ex-cop and restaurateur Lenny Bruce (not to be confused with the late comedian of the same name).
             




Rehearsals for Goodman Theatre's production of 

'A Christmas Carol' 

starts mid-October.   


Read the casting announcement press release here.


This will be Ron's 8th year in the role of Bob Cratchit.  
Picture

Older News

Newsle

Ron E. Rains is represented by:
Picture
Picture
Picture
Copyright © 2015-2023 ​Ron E. Rains - All rights reserved