Ramona’s speaking voice sometimes favors that of a shy school girl, but on stage or in the recording studio, she rocks the rafters with her high-belt soprano, like a seasoned soul diva from ‘back in the day.’ Ramona hails from New York City’s borough of Brooklyn, She attended the High School of Music and art in New York and landed her first professional job immediately following graduation, as the lead in the rhythm and gospel musical, “Mama I Want to Sing.” Via the quintessential classic example of art imitating life, she toured the world for four years and came full circle as her real life became a physical embodiment of the character she portrayed in this musical fantasy. With her ability to handle the pressures involved in live theatre, Ramona proved that if she was on the bill, the ‘show could always go on.’ Because of her dynamic performing strengths and expansive vocal range, in the late nineties she secured a job on Broadway as the principal understudy for three of the four female stars in “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” (B.J., Brenda, and Pattie); before the turn of the century, she assumed the role originated by B.J. Crosby in the American and European Tours of this musical smash hit.
Almost every actor dreams of performing on the ‘Great White Way.’ Ramona not only accomplished that feat three times, she also originated the principle roles she played in Broadway’s “Caroline or Change” as ‘Radio 1’ and in “BKLYN The Musical” in her breakout role as ‘Ms. Paradice’. She has also done a number of Regional Theater shows including 2 productions of “Dreamgirls”, in which she played the role of ‘Lorrell’.
Ramona’s personal musical inspiration is derived from the best of blues and soul: Pattie LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, and most of all Billie Holiday! She has harmonized her voice live in concert with the background support for such varied rock stars as Alicia Keys, PM Dawn, and Dave Stewart of the Eurhythmics.
Securing her legacy as a true musical theater Diva, Ramona has started turning her attention to a series of diverse acting roles. She recently took on the complicated and comedic role of ‘Ms. Quickly’ in the now infamous Broadway Bound ‘Lonestar Love’, for which she received unanimous critical raves. With a series of dramatic, comedic, and musical performances slated for her upcoming schedule, look forward to seeing a varied assortment of roles that Ms. Keller will be putting her unique stamp on in both the near and distant future.
Ramona Keller has appeared on Broadway in 3 shows.
Ramona Keller has not appeared in the West End.
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