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At 67, Robert Ryan is living what many would call a “second act,” but for him, it feels more like a long-awaited homecoming. The opera singer turned fundraiser, and now cabaret star, has become a definitive figure in the Puerto Vallarta arts scene, bringing a blend of classical precision and raw emotional narrative to the stage.
This season, Ryan returns with his new show, “Here’s to the Ladies,” a musical tribute to the women who shaped his path. Before his upcoming performances, I sat down with Robert to discuss the trajectory that led him from a shy boy in Rhode Island to the stages of Puerto Vallarta.
Robert’s story begins in Rhode Island. He grew up in a home where the arts were a distant concept; his father was a junior high teacher and his mother a dedicated housewife. Despite no musical lineage in his family, Robert was born with a “blessed” soprano voice.
“My earliest memories are of singing as a child. I was born with a privileged voice, and my parents didn’t really know what to do with me,” Robert laughs. By age seven, he joined and quickly became the soloist for the Rhode Island Boy’s Choir. But the gift came with a challenge: Robert suffered from a severe stutter.
“From a young age, I began to see singing as something very free. When you sing, you don’t stutter,” Robert explains. “I saw it as a liberation. I might not have been able to speak well, but I could sing.”
The New York Hustle and a Painful Choice
After graduating with a degree in History and English from Vassar College—a practical compromise for his father—Robert followed his heart to New York City in 1981 to pursue opera. He landed roles in local companies and entered elite training programs, but the fierce, “cut-throat” nature of the industry began to take its toll.
It was during this era that he met and fell in love with Stuart, a Canadian diplomat. When Stuart was posted to San Francisco, Robert reached a crossroads. He chose love and a new professional direction over the stage—a decision so painful that he stopped singing entirely for four years. “I simply couldn’t do it. It was too difficult to reconcile that choice, even though I knew it was the smart thing to do,” he recalls.
To support himself in New York, Robert had become an expert “word processor,” typing at incredible speeds for big firms. In San Francisco, an intuitive agency owner looked at his CV—noting his education, his interrupted opera career, and his natural charisma—and told him: “I have the perfect job for you.”
That job was fundraising. For the next 35 years, Robert built a brilliant career raising millions for universities and international charities like CARE Canada, PBS and SOS Children’s Villages. In 1993, he moved to Ottawa, where he gradually reclaimed his voice, becoming a soloist with the Cantata Singers of Ottawa and even performing with the National Arts Centre Orchestra. However, the move to Canada eventually brought personal changes: in 1998, his long-term relationship with Stuart came to an end.
Robert retired at 63 and moved to Puerto Vallarta with Martin, his husband and partner in life for 28 years, who has been the driving force behind his return to singing in Mexico. Though Robert was happy being an audience member, Martin pushed him back toward the spotlight. A surprise performance at La Capella restaurant to celebrate their 25th anniversary left the room breathless, including local stars like Brenda Gavino.
From that moment on, he began appearing at local open mics, including the former Incanto Vallarta, gaining the confidence to perform in public once again. However, his true transformation occurred last year during the “Fiesta de Cabaret” workshop led by New Yorker Mark Hartman. An instructor, Lina Koutrakos, challenged him to stop “acting” and start “telling the truth” through his lyrics.
“I started being authentic. I wasn’t acting anymore,” says Robert. “By the end of one song, “What More Can I Say”, half the class was in tears.” That pivotal moment led to the creation of his first hit show, Songs From The Heart.
Robert took the Vallarta stage by storm in March 2025 with “Songs From The Heart – From My Heart to Yours.”
Following a premiere at Casa Karma and a subsequent run at Act2PV, the show was a vulnerable retrospective of his life and relationships. Accompanied by the virtuoso Michael Ferreri, Robert captivated audiences with Broadway gems and poignant ballads, proving his voice had lost none of its power during his decades in the corporate world. Subsequently, under the direction of Sue Matsuki, Robert made his NYC debut with this show in Sept 2025 at Don’t Tell Mama.
Robert’s new show is a deeply personal journey through the songs that remind him of his mother, grandmothers, and the women who influenced his life. Accompanied by the masterful Michael Ferreri on piano, the show promises a blend of comic songs, Broadway gems, folk songs, and heart-felt ballads. The show will have an already sold-out preview at Casa Karma on January 13. The full show will make its debut at:
- Venue: Act2PV (Casa Karma Red Room)
- Date: February 18, 2026
- Time: Show at 7 PM
- Tickets: Act2 PV (box office or online)
- Information: Visit Robert Ryan’s Facebook page for more details or AC
Whether he’s singing about the heartbreak of New York or the joy of his new life in Mexico, Robert Ryan has finally found the balance he sought: the brain of a professional and the soul of an artist.
Combining his love of singing and fundraising, Robert is very excited to perform with a roster of stellar local artists at the upcoming fundraiser, Stars with a Heart 2026 for the Vallarta School for Girls on January 25 at 4pm at the Teatro Vallarta.
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