Brian Ronan is a sound designer known for his work on productions such as Spring Awakening in 2008, Next to Normal in 2009, and his Tony Award-winning work on The Book of Mormon and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
Early life 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. He also interned with Masque Sound in New York City, before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in theatrical design and production in 1984.
Career 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. He continued his work in New York City throughout the 1990s, serving as sound designer for notable productions such as State Fair in 1996, Triumph of Love and 1776, both in 1997, along with Little Me in 1998.
In the 2000's, Ronan continued work both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, for such productions as the 2004 premiere of Bug and the Broadway productions of Grey Gardens in 2007 and Spring Awakening in 2008. For his work on Next to Normal in 2009, he received his first Tony Award nomination for Best Sound Design of a Musical.
During the 2010s, Ronan gained further notoriety for his sound designs, including his innovative hidden microphone techniques on the 2012 revival of Annie. His work was featured in the hit musicals, The Book of Mormon and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, 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, all four for which he received further Tony Award nominations.
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2004Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Sound Design Bug2006Grey GardensThe Pajama Game2009Tony AwardBest Sound Design of a MusicalNext to Normal2010Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Sound Design in a MusicalPromises, PromisesEveryday Rapture2011Anything GoesThe Book of MormonTony AwardBest Sound Design of a Musical2012Nice Work If You Can Get It2013Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Sound Design in a MusicalGiantBring It On2014Beautiful: The Carole King MusicalTony AwardBest Sound Design of a Musical2015Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Sound Design in a MusicalThe Last Ship 2016Lazarus2017War Paint2018Tony AwardBest Sound Design of a MusicalMean Girls2019Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Sound Design in a MusicalTootsie2026Tony AwardBest Sound Design of a MusicalThe Rocky Horror Show
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