Texas-born Ron Raines is well known to theater audiences around the country as one of America's leading musical theater performers. He first gained prominence on Broadway when he starred as Gaylord Ravenal in the 1983 revival of SHOWBOAT, a role he later performed for the St. Louis MUNY, Dallas Summer Musicals, Opera Pacific and Michigan Opera Theater. He originated the role of Teddy Roosevelt's ambitious son-in-law, Nick Longworth, in the Broadway musical TEDDY AND ALICE, as well as the dual role of Jupiter/Amphytrion in the Off-Broadway musical hit, OLYMPUS ON MY MIND.

Other New York appearances include Whitelaw Savory in ONE TOUCH OF VENUS at Town Hall, Fredrik Egerman in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC with the Opera Ensemble and OH LADY! LADY! At Carnegie Hall as well as numerous appearances with the 92nd Street, Y's acclaimed Lyrics and Lyricists series. Ron starred in the Irving Berlin revue SAY IT WITH MUSIC at Rainbow and Stars and returned there with LEADING MEN DON'T DANCE. He toured across the country with Debbie Reynolds in THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN and toured Japan as Aristede in CAN CAN, with Chita Rivera and the Rockettes.

Ron has played leading roles in almost every major American musical and operetta including SOUTH PACIFIC, ANNIE, KISMET, SAYONARA, KISS ME KATE, THE KING AND I, NAUGHTY MARIETTA, BRIGADOON, ROSE MARIE, OKLAHOMA!, CAROUSEL, NEW MOON, THE DESERT SONG, NO NO NANNETTE, WHERE'S CHARLY, SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM, FOLLIES, and MAN OF LA MANCHA at the country's leading regional theaters and opera companies.

Ron received a DETROIT FREE PRESS nomination as Best Actor of the Season for his performance in FOLLIES as Ben Stone, opposite Juliet Prowse and Nacy Dussault. He made his New York City opera debut as Danilo in THE MERRY WIDOW followed by Offenbach's THE DUCHESS OF GEROLSTEIN. His most recent New York apperance was at Carnegie Hall as part of the star-studded tribute to Ira Gershwin entitled "GERSHWIN AT 100," broadcast on PBS's Great Performances series.

As a concert performer, Ron has appeared as a soloist with the symphony orchestras in Baltimore, Columbus, Minnesota, Omaha, Philadelphia Pops, Portland ME, Rochester, San Diego, Tulsa, Dallas and the National Symphony in Washington, DC.