Ray Reuben

A multi-hyphenate with experience and competency in Finance and the Musical Theater Writing and Performing Arts space. As such, this resume is organized into two sections that speak to both areas of competency.

A methodical Director with 8 years of comprehensive experience overseeing daily operations of a Fundraising, Transaction Advisory and boutique Investment Banking support company. Hardworking and versatile professional well-versed in executing business strategies, preparing and implementing business plans and equipped with the requisite management skills to oversee group wide financial performance. Thorough knowledge of market changes and trends paired with strong grasp of corporate finance and performance measures.

Ray's Golden Treats, Jan 2012, Oct 2018 

Small Business Owner & Executive Chef

• I successfully founded and managed this bakery through my campus life and beyond cumulatively supplying over 20,000 cakes for user in thousands of birthdays, weddings and corporate events.
• I managed a team of 6 members of staff spanning from Sugar-craft artisans, to bakers, decorators, professional cake sculptors and painting artists.

Profile Summary

A musical Theater Performing artist with experience performing off Broadway . A Composer lyricist who's passionate about creating opportunities for creatives expression through effective theater management. 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS

1. Actors Equity Association- Equity Actor

2. Dramatists Guild of America- Member

Select Performances

1. The Metropolitan Museum of New York, 2023

 I had the honor of performing at the esteemed Metropolitan Museum (The MET) in New York as part of An Evening at The Salon at Gallery 735 

2. The Black Box Theater, New York University, 2018

I performed my Original Music repertoire as a Guest Artist featured by New York University’s Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program 

3. Tinga Tinga Tales- The Musical at the New Victory Theater, W42nd St, New York, 2018

I was a Principal Actor in this Disney & BBC hit musical Off-Broadway that ran in the fall of 2018 at the World Famous W 42nd St in New York., Tinga Tinga Tales- The Musical Live at The Elephant, 2016, I was a Principal Actor in this Disney & BBC hit musical Off-Broadway that ran in the fall of 2016 at The Elephant that subsequently made its way Off broadway in 2018. 

4. Das Musical, TINA! Stuttgart, Germany, 2020

Got cast to play Ike Turner in the Stuttgart debut of Tina! The Musical, but then the Covid Pandemic’s shutdown of the global Musical Theater industry disrupted this

5. The COVER

I was the winner of this national radio singing competition

6. The Search KISS TV

From a pool of 15,000 contestants, I managed to compete for the grand prize all the way to the Semi-Finals, where I got eliminated 

Honorable Mentions

• Unsolicited Invitation to Audition for The Lion King in Hamburg and Paris ( as Simba and Banzai resp.), which I couldn’t take up since I was doing my Master’s Degree at New York University
• Unsolicited Invitation to Audition for Hamilton (as either Jefferson/Lafayette or Mulligan/Madison), which I also couldn’t take up since I was doing my Master’s Degree at New York University

A trained Librettist with an MFA in Musical Theater writing, skilled in: Outlining, dramatic writing & storytelling, developmental editing, proofreading & copy editing content, content creation for various mediums, team leadership & problem-solving. 

Notable Projects include:

Carpe Diem- 20 minute film,  2024

I wrote this 20 minute Film, which I am currently collaborating on with directors from the NYU Film Institute about the Doomsday Prophecy surrounding the new millenium

The Pets of World War 2-Composer Lyricist and Librettist,  2023

I wrote the book, lyrics and music to this full length musical that tells the story of the second world war from the perspective of the pets of the World War 2 strong men. The Musical has since undergone a series of Table reads and Actor's Lab Workshops. The research involved in establishing the conversational idiosyncrasies of the time, the social issues at play and chronological timeline of events served to greatly enhance the authenticity of the story and the aptness of character portrayals.

Savanna- Collaborative Librettist, Lyricist  and Composer,  2022

 I collaborated with a fabulous librettist to write this 20 minute musical that centered around a naturally deceptive triangle that manifests in the wild between lions, baboons and kudus.

 The Great Not So Great Escape- Author,  2020

 I authored this 150,000 word manuscript, which earned me one of only two full tuition scholarships as a book writer and composer lyricist at the prestigious graduate musical theater writing program at New York University. The manuscript has since attracted three Publishing Deals from Traditional Publishing houses.

Original Music Compositions

1. A 20 minute musical’s score

2. A 12- minute immersive experience score

3.  A 10- minute podcast musical

4. A 10-minute puppet show

5. A 10 minute

Relevant Awards

• Merit Based Full Tuition Scholarship, 2021, New York University
• Winner, 2015, The Cover- National Singing Competition
• Winner- National Creative Essay Competition, 2006, National Library Services (both writing Categories)

The Afro Masala Concert, 2016

I personally handled all aspects of both productions, from scheduling stakeholder meetings, booking artists, handling box office sales to hiring staff, securing venues and furnishing them with equipment and props. 

I managed the contract process, processed technical rider requests and liaised with artists and their management teams. This included identifying equipment requirements, the artists' need for backstage setup, catering and hospitality, the timetable for the day of the event, and any other relevant details. Using this information, I developed comprehensive budgets and timelines for the shows. 

I also organized catering and lodgings, negotiated with outside vendors and contractors, and, when needed, oversaw the construction of production elements including set, costumes, sound systems, and lighting plots. 

Achievements

• I attracted 500 attendees for the Afro Masala Concert and 1600 Attendees for the Live Influence Concert.
• Secured partnerships with multiple prominent corporate partners, such as Yum Deliveries, Carlsberg and Coca-Cola to name a few.

Sauder Africa Social Entrepreneurship Program, Program Facilitator & Member of Faculty, Summer of 2013 and 2014

I Facilitated the Sauder Africa Social Entrepreneurship Program, run by University of British Columbia aimed at equipping slum dwelling inhabitants of Kibera and Mathare with practical knowledge and skills to effectively plan, start, and manage their businesses, resulting in empowerment and improved socio-economic conditions. 

As part of the teaching Faculty we undertook a weeklong training on pedagogy as part of the training of trainers prior to embarking on teaching the course. The training content included Entrepreneurship, External Market analyses (PESTEL), Business idea Brainstorming, The creation of Unique Selling Points (USPs) in the range of Products and Services on offer, Marketing Strategy development, Risk Management, Operations Plan development, and Cost Accounting among other segments on the Financial Plan geared towards developing a well-organized Business Plan. 

Select Achievements

• Mentored 43 students and taught them how to brainstorm and convert business ideas into business plans and eventually into viable business enterprises.
• Oversaw the development of 36 business plans for several business ideas which included food catering, beauty, tailoring units, agribusiness, retail businesses among others.