ROBERT LACONI
STAGE dIRECTOR, THEATER TEACHER,
AUDITION COACH, ACTOR & pRODUCER

I have worked from Broadway to community theatre on stage, film, radio, television, & children’s theater, as actor, director, manager, educator, & producer.  Before moving to the Lehigh Valley, I was based in NYC for over 30 yrs, working in all areas of the performing arts. I founded and was the Artistic Director of Theatre Arts Center NY LLC for 16 years – a professionally-based NYC training program for youth, collaborating with over 50 Broadway and Professional Guest teachers, choreographers, and directors. My students have gone on to work professionally on Broadway and throughout the U.S. I have directed many musicals, plays, and revues and have been teaching acting and musical theatre for over 25 years. 

NYC Acting credits include the internationally acclaimed LaMama, Playwrights Horizons, Odyssey Theatre, and many more Off & Off-Off Broadway shows, ranging from Shakespeare to Musicals, to Revues.  Regional credits include Gateway Playhouse (NY); Tibbits Opera (Michigan); Rodale/Pennsylvania Stage; Ensemble Studio Theater (Catskills); Porthouse Summer Theatre (Ohio); and the Italian-American Theatre Company of Rome.  Film appearances include Scorsese’s Last Temptation of Christ (filmed in Morocco), Goodfella’s, Night of the Zombies, and the original Annie (singer/dancer).

On Broadway I was Director of Development at Circle in the Square; Associated Producer of the play Enchanted April (Tony nominations); Director of Development for Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Project at SONY Music International, and Director of Development at the Civic Theatre of Allentown. At 59E59 I was Associate Producer for the Off-Broadway premeire of Tech Support by Debra Whitfield.  In 2021 I was a producer on the premiere of Deception, a radio play presented by NYC’s Project Mercury and Chatillion Stage Company. Summer of 2023 I was the Business Manager for the world premier of Teenagers in Love, a new play at the Chain Theatre in NYC.

My work with the Educational Theatre Association has been extensive for many years. I have led a variety of performance workshops at many state EdTA theatre festivals, including Florida, Georgia, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Jersey, in addition to several workshops at the Educational Theatre Association / International Thespian Festival and at the 2023 Pennsylvania State Festival. I was very pleased to adjudicate virtually at the 2021-24 Florida State Festival and for the 2023-25 Thespy Scholarship program. I am pleased to once again be adjudicating the 2024/25 Pennsylvania Thespy awards and the Thespy National Scholarships.

In addition to teaching and adjudicating, I also offer virtual private audition and monologue coaching.  Member SAG / AFTRA & Actors Equity. 2025 students currently being scheduled.