When Joan Ryan starred in the Los Angeles production of the hit musical RUTHLESS! her reviews were stellar. "Joan Ryan delivers a smash portrayal..." Los Angeles Times. “Joan Ryan’s comic transformation is priceless..." states Entertainment Today. The L.A. Weekly wrote, “Joan Ryan is brilliant” and Drama-Logue cited her as “...one of the most gifted actors around.”  

Joan’s four-octave range has led to numerous leading roles in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, FOOTLOOSE, NUNSENSE, ANGRY HOUSEWIVES, NITE CLUB CONFIDENTIAL, HIDDEN BROADWAY and the West Coast premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s ANYONE CAN WHISTLE.  Joan has also been featured in the annual S.T.A.G.E. benefit, for the past several years including those saluting the music of George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Sondheim, Lloyd Weber and Comden & Greene.

Joan’s self-titled debut solo recording JOAN RYAN continues to remain a best-selling CD.  Other recordings include the cast albums of RUTHLESS!, SONDHEIM: A CELEBRATION, A SALUTE TO STEPHEN SCHWARTZ, LERNER, LOEWE, AND LANE, DREAM-THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY MERCER, and JEROME KERN’S LIFE UPON THE WICKED STAGE.

Joan’s unique rendition of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Shall We Dance was heard nightly during the touring production of STARS ON ICE ...TIME, A THEATRICAL ADVENTURE produced by Olympic skating legend, Scott Hamilton. Joan made a guest appearance on the TODAY SHOW singing this unique arrangement for Olympic medalists Jenni Meno & Todd Sand. She then appeared in a New York performance of STARS ON ICE again singing live for Meno & Sand to a sold-out crowd of over 10,000.                

Joan spent two seasons with the American Conservatory in San Francisco where she appeared in productions of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, CYRANO DE BERGERAC and A DOLL’S HOUSE. In addition to her many TV appearances, audiences may recognize Joan from her ongoing roles on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and SAVED BY THE BELL.  

Joan is one of the founding partners of the successful voice-over company SOUNDS GREAT, whose credits include HEROES, CRIMINAL MINDS, MEDIUM, ARMY WIVES and ONE TREE HILL.

Joan has performed her critically acclaimed, one-woman-show to sold-out houses in New York and Los Angeles. Rex Reed has exclaimed, “Joan Ryan has a voice that soars through the air like a crack of new sun...She's a trumpet, she’s an angel, she’s the music that makes me dance!”

Joan made her featured debut at the Hollywood Bowl in LEONARD BERNSTEIN’S MASS. She sang the National Anthem for THE HARLEM GLOBE TROTTERS at the STAPLES CENTER in Los Angeles and returned to the STAPLES CENTER to sing the National Anthem for the LOS ANGELES LAKERS.

She devotes much of her time, and appears as often as she can, working for charitable organizations and performing at charitable events. Joan headlined the ATLANTA WORLDS AIDS DAY fundraising concert.