Local Gas Station Manager Pursues Musical Dream

Sometimes our dreams don't turn out exactly the way in which we hope or expect. But Ron Ceglia will be the first to tell you that there are times when an alternate route can help us arrive at the destination we seek.

The Parsippany resident tried his luck as a singer in New York, but ended up married and working a regular-guy job. Ceglia is still singing, though, and you can see and hear him starting April 27 as part of the ensemble performing music from the 1950s and '60s in "Remember Then!," being presented at the Smiling Rhino Theatre in Pompton Lakes.

Ceglia told Patch that he is having a ball.

"It's a revue—all music," he said. "It's set up like a concert. We do a tribute to music from a bunch of different genres, like doo-wop, Motown, songs from musical idols. That's the gist of it. We're mostly amateurs. We have our day jobs and we come out at night to do rehearsals and then the show.

"We're just having a lot of fun, and we hope the audience does too."

Ceglia said music has been a fun, passionate pursuit for him from as far back as he remembers. A Parsippany kid, he grew up in the Hills of Troy.

"My parents used to live in Lake Parsippany, but we moved over [to Troy Hills] when I was four years old," he recalled, adding that half a century ago his folks owned a Morris Plains business, Liberty Gas on Tabor Road.

Ceglia today manages the half-century-old family enterprise, which over the years evolved into a combination filling station, convenience store and auto repair garage. The re-named Morris Plains Convenience & Gas Station, which includes Liberty Gas, has also moved to a larger location at 1799 Route 10.

He said he enjoys the work, but running the family business was not the career the young Ron had in mind during his childhood.

"I wanted to sing—that's what I wanted to do with my life," he said. "After high school, I went to New York City, to the American Musical Dramatic Academy and studied musical theater, dance, music and all that."

Ceglia uses few words to sum up his New York experience.

"It didn't work out," he said.

Pressed on the point, Ceglia admitted that he "really didn't give it a chance," noting that while on a break from New York, he realized he was more comfortable in his Hills of Troy home and around his hardworking family and friends. 

"It's hard to commit yourself to a career in the performing arts and have a family or a life outside of just doing [music]. It takes a certain kind of person who can do it and make a living," he said.

So, he returned to New Jersey full-time, got married, had a family and took the reins of Liberty Gas.

That does not mean, however, that he gave up on his passion to perform.

"I'm doing music on the side, for now," he said, "singing in rock bands, cover bands, theater shows.

"I've been in music since I was 5 years old, so it's something I am going to do, even if I don't make a living doing it."

Ceglia said a vocal coach recommended that he check out the Smiling Rhino Theatre a few years ago.

"I like the people there, and it's a lot of fun. I've also done some things at [in Montville]," he said.

Asked if he could see himself making music for the rest of his life, Ceglia laughs.

"I could," he said. "You have these ideas of how you want your life to go, and sometimes, performing doesn't really fit in there.

"But you always do it—because you love it."

"Remember This!" runs April 27-29 and May 5, 6, 11 and 12 at the Smiling Rhino Theatre at 247 Wanaque Ave. in Pompton Lakes. Showtimes are Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There will be no 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, April 28. Tickets are $24 for adults and $22 for seniors, plus tax.  Group rates are available. For tickets and information, call 973-248-9491 or visit the venue website.