Roni Ragone // Playwright
About Roni
Roni Ragone (they/them) is a non-binary playwright based in New York City whose work explores the messy boundaries of gender expectations and the lengths we go to in search of community. Night Night, Roger Roger, published by Dramatic Publishing Company, has been produced in 13 different states across the country; Ragone became the first ever undergraduate student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, to have a full-length play performed as a mainstage production. Later this year, Night Night, Roger Roger will be performed at Seattle Public Theatre and Rock Canyon Theatre Company. One Act, Company Drain, was selected and performed as a staged reading in the Center at West Park’s Launchpad Reading Series. Ragone’s short plays have been seen in the 47th, 48th, and 50th Concord Theatricals Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival, including finalist, “Left Overs.” “Left Overs,” was originally written and performed as a staged reading as a part of Cry Havok’s Playlist cohort and has since been performed at Boston Theatre Company’s Queer Voices Festival and Precarious Theatre’s Precarious Nights in London. Since then, this same 10-minute play has been in development into a full-length play, Sleeping on Sunshine. Sleeping on Sunshine has continued to develop through the 46 Minute Collective Cohort and had its first reading in NYC this past November. Ragone’s published monologues can be read in Smith & Kraus’s Best Men’s Stage Monologues of 2025 and in Purple Light Production’s Type Cast: 27 Monologues Inspired by the Nine Enneagram Types. Ragone cofounded and led cohorts focusing on playwriting development cohorts through Fresh Binder Productions, supporting fellow emerging transgender/gender-nonconforming playwrights in New York City.
Ragone is a member of the Dramatists Guild.
Logo by Madison Ragone
Press & Media Coverage
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Billie Holiday Theatre, June 21st at 7pm
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UK Debut!
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“Themes of death and grief permeate the festival. Left Overs, written by Roni Ragone, is a true standout. Ernest (Paul Dixon) and Max (Jamil Johnson) meet at their respective cemetery plots—Ernest at his son’s, Max at his father’s. Dixon’s performance is aloof yet weighted with sorrow, conversing with his son’s gravestone in an attempt to reconcile what was left unsaid. Johnson, snarky and sharp, serves as a counterweight to Dixon’s bereavement, their dynamic adding depth to the piece.”
Read full review here: https://www.netheatregeek.com/2025/03/27/an-umbrella-of-representation-queer-voices-festival/
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Dakota Theatre
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To be available December 2025
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Learn more here:
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Fresh Binder begins its fall cohort in October 2024 with 6 writers, and together, they will be creating a collective piece.
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After being workshopped with Cry Havoc, “Left Overs” was performed as a staged reading directed by Martavius Parrish
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From August-October 2024, Ragone will join 4 other writers and develop a new 10-minute play that will be performed as a staged reading on October 7th
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April 2024
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-Best Play
-Best New Play or Musical
-Best Ensemble
-Best Direction of a Play - Julie Fishell
-Best Scenic Design - Maggie Welch
-Best Lighting Design - Sophie Lynd
-Best Costume Design - Maxi Largo
-Best Sound Design of a Play or Musical - Kadrik Blatt
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Roni Ragone and Bailey Jordan Garcia launched “Fresh Binder Productions” in December 2023. In January 2024, they produced Ragone’s play, “Up Strung Down,” at the Tank, and they recently announced spring cohort writers: Kyle A Smith, Samekh Resh, Kai Xing Mun, Christian Flynn, Lee Harrison Daniel, and Alex Moon
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12/10/2023 - 12/11/2023
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December 2023
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2/8/2024 - 2/11/2024
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Montclair, New Jersey on Thursday, May 4th.
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Studio Theatre, 7pm
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Baba Nana Drama Club invites Roni to speak about playwriting on May 8th, 7pm
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By Tom Jacobs
““The fact this production exists is somewhat fantastical in itself. This is, to anyone’s knowledge, the first time ever that the UC Santa Barbara Department of Theater and Dance has undertaken a full-scale production of a student’s work.”
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“Roni Ragone’s performance as William Barfée dazzled onstage. From their entrance, Ragone incited laughter with their smug smile and proud display of their “magic foot” — Barfée’s technique for spelling words. Ragone’s natural comedic talent in both physical and vocal performance shined most brilliantly in “Magic Foot,” an ode to Barfée’s unique technique.”
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“This is a whimsical production that looks at life through a unique comedic lens, and the cast seems to be having a blast performing it. It is also lovely to see that those performing enjoy the material and want to share their commitment and passion for it.”
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January 22nd, 2023
6 New Plays:
Bisque in Glory by Roni Ragone
Baggies by Will Huffaker
My Friend, Fletcher by Erin Donohue
A Story Below by Maya Rosenberg
Parallel Lines by Travers Tobis
The Cradle by Alex Yang
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Written and directed by Roni Ragone
Shrunken Heads Production Company
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UCSB Amplify, 2022