RON SCHWINN was a true Broadway dancer. The New York Times crowned him "The Patriarch of Broadway Dancing Gypsies". He was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. His parents enrolled him in dance classes at the age of five, by the time he turned nine he decided he wanted to dance for a living. At twelve, he was working as a dancer in local television. During his high school years he would summer in New York City, studying at the American Ballet Theatre School, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and Ballet Arts. He studied with such renowned teachers as Leon Danielian, Willian Dollar, Vladimir Doukodovsky, Frederick Franklin and Anatole Vilzak. A week after graduating high school he moved to New York City permanently. In less than a year, he signed his first Actors Equity Contract with the St. Louis Municipal Opera. His focus then shifted from classical ballet to the Broadway musical theatre. The following year, in 1960, he performed in his first Broadway show, Finian’s Rainbow.

In Ron's five decades of dancing professionally, he performed in a total of thirteen Broadway productions – Take Me Along w/Jackie Gleason, Finian's Rainbow w/Robert Guillaume, Tovarich w/Vivian Leigh, Ben Franklin in Paris w/Robert Preston, Half a Sixpence w/ Tommy Steele, How Now Dow Jones w/Tony Roberts, Her First Roman w/Leslie Uggams, Canterbury Tales w/Sandy Duncan, No No Nanette w/Ruby Keeler, Irene w/Debbie Reynolds, Chicago w/Gwen Verdon, 42nd Street w/Jerry Orbach, My Fair Lady w/Richard Chamberlain – five national touring companies Including Annie where he met Deborah Jean Templin as Grace Farrell. His numerous appearances in film and television included the series Broadway’s Lost Treasures. Ron has had the honor of receiving the Broadway Gypsy Robe twice for Canterbury Tales and 42nd Street.

Mr. Schwinn has worked with many of Broadway's leading directors and choreographers including: George Abbott, Michael Bennett, Gower Champion, Bob Fosse, Peter Gennaro, Sir John Gielgud, Michael Kidd, Arthur Penn, Herbert Ross, Gene Saks and Onna White. His numerous directorial and choreographic credits include: Kismet, Runaways, Once Upon a Mattress, Playing for Time, Crazy for You, Iolanthe, 42nd Street. Some of his favorite original one person shows were Henry-Here and Now in which he used his passion for history to make Henry VIII come alive in today’s world, and Deborah Jean Templin's Singing for the Cows and Unsinkable Women: Stories and Songs from the Titanic where he served as Production Staging Consultant!

Mr. Schwinn’s interests outside his theatrical work covered a wide range. He was an accomplished wildlife photographer, birder, fisherman and gourmet cook - he specialized in Middle Eastern and African cuisines. He once owned a sailboat named Checkers and could often be found cruising or racing sail in the waters around New York City. He was an avid supporter of the World Wildlife Federation and a dedicated member of Bronx Zoo. Each Monday, he could be found there calling every animal by name. At the time of his death, he had two books ready for publication - "An Actor Prepares to... Cook" and "100" a collection and commentary featuring his best images of over fifty years of wildlife photography.

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