The Unbelievable Story Of One-Legged Tap Dancer Evan Ruggiero

Evan Ruggiero began dancing at the age of five in his hometown studio and by age ten, he was accepted into the famed New Jersey Tap Ensemble. Upon entering his sophomore year at Montclair State University while pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre, Evan was suddenly diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer of the right leg. Enduring nine surgeries in a six-month period in an effort to save the leg, the cancer returned more aggressively than the original diagnosis. He was faced with the ultimate decision of amputation in order to stop the cancer and save his life, as well as undergoing chemotherapy for sixteen months. Eighteen months after the amputation, and only two days after receiving his “peg-leg”, Evan was tap dancing again. In 2018 he received a Drama Desk Nomination for Best Actor in a Musical, a Chita Rivera Award Nomination for Best Dancer in a Musical, and was awarded a Clive Barnes Award in Theatre for his portrayal of Tom Jones in NYC’s off-broadway hit “Bastard Jones.” This past year he was seen performing at Carnegie Hall and at the 90th Oscars. He has performed for many notable individuals such as Ellen Degeneres, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden, Egypt’s sixth and current president, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and most recently performed alongside two-time Grammy winning artist, Jason Mraz. Social media: @Lord_Pegleg 

In episode 114, Evan chats with actress and host Maggie Bera about the harrowing details of his illness and how he ultimately overcame it. An advocate for artists with disabilities, he also discusses the importance of representation and inclusion within the theatre industry.

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