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Jon Rua (born Jonathan Rua, August 14, 1983) is an American actor, singer, and choreographer, best known for his roles in Broadway musicals such as Hamilton,[2] In the Heights, The SpongeBob Musical, and Hands on a Hardbody.
Jon Rua | |
|---|---|
 Rua in 2015 | |
| Born | August 14, 1983 Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Rutgers University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Movement | T.H.E. Grit (Trigger Human Emotion)[1] |
Rua was the choreographer for the 2016 Muny production of Aida in St. Louis, and a creative consultant for the 2016 musical SpongeBob SquarePants, joining its Broadway cast in 2017.
Early life
editRua was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and grew up in nearby Linden.[3] His parents, Maria Nohelia Castañeda Cano and Elibanier "Marco" Rua, were both immigrants from Colombia.
Rua graduated in 2001 from Linden High School, where he participated in the musical theatre program and began dancing socially.[4] He received a B.A. in Communication and Public Relations from Rutgers University. During Rua's college years, he attended his first dance class, and later started teaching dancing to younger students.
Career
editAfter college, Rua joined a dance company as an unpaid commitment, and eventually became a professional dancer doing live performance, music video work, and dancing for concerts. He then transitioned into musical theatre and acting.[5]
Rua made his Broadway debut in 2008 as a swing in Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical In the Heights, later becoming the replacement for Sonny and Graffiti Pete.[6] He stepped into the leading role of Usnavi several times as understudy.[6]
As an original Broadway cast member of Hamilton in 2015, Rua originated the role of Charles Lee and performed in the ensemble. On December 20, 2015, Rua became the third performer to take on the title role of Alexander Hamilton on Broadway, as Miranda's understudy.[6] Rua left Hamilton on June 29, 2016,[7] and briefly returned in February 2017 as an alternate for Jevon McFerrin in the title role, after Javier Muñoz took temporary leave due to injury.[8]
Rua has been a contributing choreographer for such projects as Hamilton, On Your Feet!, Flashdance, Hands on a Hardbody, Bring It On: The Musical, In the Heights, Insanity and NYCC's The Wiz. He has also been credited as a choreographer in productions in which he appeared as an actor.[9] In 2014, Rua was a finalist for the Capezio Award for Choreographic Excellence.[10]
His television credits include the role of Ricky in "Confessions", a 2016 episode of the CBS police procedural drama Blue Bloods. He also appeared in the televised version of the SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical, which is currently on the Paramount+ streaming app.
Upcoming Projects
editCurrently, Rua is working on a dance narrative written, choreographed, and performed by himself entitled, "Teenage Soul", has been commissioned by Milwaukee Rep and is planned to have public performances as early as 2023. Rua is also the Choreographer for and actor in The Hombres at Two River Theater which is set to release in 2022.
Educator / Movement Director
editRua lives in New York City, where he teaches at the Broadway Dance Center.[14] Outside of the Broadway Dance Center, Rua teaches dancers of all levels through workshops. Most recently Rua put on a dance workshop in 2021 as a Movement Director on the SS Neverender, a cruise for the band Coheed & Cambria, to the song In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3. Rua also led an advanced hip hop workshop at BroadwayCon in 2016.
Other Choreographer / Assisting / Teaching Credits
- Hamilton as Assistant to the Choreographer
- Hands on a Hardbody as Assistant to the Choreographer
- FlashDance as Assistant to the Choreographer
- Bring It On The Musical as Assistant to the Choreographer
- The Wiz-NYCC as Assistant to the Choreographer
- In The Heights as Assistant to the Choreographer
- Insanity as Assistant to the Choreographer
- International Seminar of Dance as Assistant to the Choreographer as HipHop Instructor/Choreographer
- Genctur Youth Camp as Dance Instructor in Istanbul, Turkey
Awards and recognitions
editIn 2016, Rua was nominated for an Astaire Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show for Hamilton.[11]
Rua received a ceremonial plate for artistic achievements as a local native, presented by the mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey during a July 8, 2016 appearance in the "Young Immigrant Hamilton Tour," part of the city's annual "CelebrateHAMILTON" program.[12][13]
Other awards:
- 2014 finalist for the Capezio Award for Choreographic Excellence
- 2011 nominee for the Craig Noel Award for "Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Male" in Somewhere (Old Globe)
- 2019 nominee Chita Rivera Awards for Film Nominations as Assistance Choreographer in "Isn't it Romantic"
- 2018 nominee Fred Astaire Awards for Outstanding Ensemble in "Spongebob SquarePants"
- 2016 nominee Fred Astaire Awards for Outstanding Ensemble in "Hamilton"
- 2016 Winner Tony Awards for Best Musical Theater Album for "Hamilton"
- 2014 nominee Capezio A.C.E. Awards for Choreographic Excellence
- 2011 nominee Craig Noel Awards for Excellence in Theatre Nomination for Leading Actor
Personal life
editRua lives in New York City, where he teaches at the Broadway Dance Center.[14]
In 2021 Rua was a guest on the SS Neverender, a cruise for the band Coheed & Cambria, where he led choreography lessons for the cruise attendees to the song In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3.
Performance credits
editTheatrical performances
editBroadway
edit| Title | Role | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical | Patchy the Pirate and Ensemble (2017–2018)[15] | Palace Theatre | Actor, Assistant Choreographer |
| Hamilton | Charles Lee and Ensemble (2015-2016); Alexander Hamilton (s/b 2017; u/s 2015–2016) |
Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler | Actor, Choreographer |
| Hands on a Hardbody | Jesus Peña | Neil Pepe, Sergio Trujillo | Actor, Choreographer |
| In the Heights | Graffiti Pete
Sonny, Usnavi (u/s) |
Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler | Actor, Choreographer |
Off-Broadway
edit| Title | Role | Details | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kung Fu | Matthew, Barry, Fung Fung, etc. | Signature Theatre, Leigh Silverman | Actor | |
| The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity | Mace (understudy) | Second Stage Theatre, Eddie Torres | Actor | |
| Damn Yankees | Ensemble | New York City Center, John Rando | Encores!, Summer Star Series | Actor |
| The Hombres(2022) | New York City Center, John Rando | Two River Theater/Annie Tippe | Actor | |
| Hamilton | Charles Lee / Ensemble | New York City Center, John Rando | Public Theatre/Thomas Kail | Actor |
| In The Heights | Sonny/Graffiti Pete; u/s Usnavi | Tommy Kail/A. Blankenbuehler | Actor |
Regional
edit| Title | Role | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aida | Choreographer | The Muny | Choreographer |
| Hands on a Hardbody | Jesus Peña | La Jolla Playhouse, Neil Pepe | Actor, Choreographer |
| Somewhere | Alejandro Candelaria | The Old Globe, Giovanna Sardelli | Actor (Craig Noel Leading Actor Nominee) |
| Bring It On: The Musical | Twig | Universal Studios and Beacon Pictures, Andy Blankenbuehler | Actor, Choreographer |
| West Side Story | Chino | The Muny, Gordon Greenberg | Actor |
| Pirates | Samuel | The Muny, Gordon Greenberg | Actor |
| Hands on a Harbody | Jesus Pena | La Jolla Playhouse | Actor |
Readings and workshops
edit| Title | Role | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Magic Mike | Tito | Brian Yorkey, Tom Kitt |
| American Pop | As cast | New York Stage & Film, Michael Friedman |
| The Solid Sand Below | Flores | Atlantic Theatre Company, Martin Zimmerman |
| Queen of the Stardust Ballroom | Fernando | Jerry Mitchell, Marvin Hamlisch |
| Queen of the Stardust Ballroom | Fernando | Jerry Mitchell, Marvin Hamlisch |
| Eighty Sixed | Richard | Sam Salmond, Jeremy King |
| Ever After | Gustave | Dir. Susan V. Booth |
| Bread and Roses | Ruben | NYMF FESTIVAL 2016 |
| Hamilton | As Cast, Jefferson/Burr | Public Theater/Dir. Tommy Kail |
| Hands on a Hardbody | Jesus | Neil Pepe, Doug Wright |
| Kingdom | Andres | Public Theater |
| Fly | Lotty | Jeffrey Seller, Bill Sherman |
| Paperdolls | Jiorgio | Sundance Theater, Mark Brokaw |
| Stuck Elevator/Like Water for Chocolate | Principal | Sundance Theater Lab |
| Bare | Lucas | Stafford Arima, Lynne Shanke |
| Paperdolls | Jiorgio | Mark Brokaw, Phillip Himberg |
Film
edit| Title | Role | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall to Rise | Magic | Directed by Jayce Bartok | Actor |
| Hamilton | Charles Lee / Ensemble | Directed by Thomas Kail | Actor |
| First Reformed | Repairman | Directed by Paul Schrader | Actor |
| The Things We Do They Don't Understand | Eduardo | Directed by Ashley Michel Hoban | Actor |
| Isn't It Romantic | Dancer | Directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson | Dancer |
| In the Heights | Background vocals | Directed by Jon M. Chu | |
| Smile 2 | Anton | Directed by Parker Finn | Actor |
Television
edit| Title | Role | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacklist | Guest-Star | NBC/Dir. Bill Roe | Actor |
| Blue Bloods | Guest-Star | CBS/Dir. Alex Zakrzewski | Actor |
| The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage | Krabby Patty | Nickelodeon | Actor |
| Law & Order: "Bailout" | Co-Star | NBC Universal, Dir. Jean De Segonzac | Actor |
| Celebrity Wife Swap | Self | ABC Network | Choreographer |
| Marcy Place feat. Don Omar | Co-Star | Orfanato Music Group, Chor. Bam Bam | Actor |
| Verizon Commercial | Security Guard | National Television | Actor |
Stage and concerts
edit| Title | Role | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phish | Choreographer, Dancer | Fall Tour 2013, Atlantic City | Dancer |
| Mariah Carey | Dancer | NBC Universal, Chor. Bam Bam | Dancer |
| Soulja Boy | Dancer | Chor. Mark Martinez, YouTube NYC | Dancer |
Commercials and music videos
edit| Title | Role | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hands on a Hardbody | Jesus Peña | LSerino, Coyne Productions | Actor, Commercial |
| Bring It On: The Musical | Twig | Universal Studios and Beacon Pictures | Commercial |
| Marcy Place feat. Don Omar | Dancer, Featured Actor | Orfanato Music Group, Chor. Bam Bam | Music Video |
| Target Industrial | Principal Dancer, Actor | Dir: Vivian Rosenthal | Industrial |
| In the Heights | Dancer | Bunker Prod. Co., Warren Fischer | Broadway Commercial |
| Old Flames | Choreographer, Dancer | Roadrunner Records, Coheed and Cambria | Music Video |
References
edit- ^ "Triggering human emotion with Jon Rua". The Pickwyck. May 8, 2016.
- ^ Henry, Sally. "Humanizing the $10 Founding Father: Understudy Jon Rua Talks Being Born to Play HAMILTON". Broadway World. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
- ^ Iati, Marisa (July 13, 2016). "Hamilton star talks Broadway and his N.J. roots". NJ.com. NJ Advance Media. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
Rua chatted with a full house in Elizabeth last week about how his childhood in Union County inspires and shapes his push to create theater, music and dance that strike audience members at their core. Rua, now 32, was born in Elizabeth and grew up in Linden.
- ^ Ross, Ruth (July 8, 2013). "Linden is In The Heights with Mystic Vision Players". NJ Arts Maven. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
Jon Rua, who recently originated the role of Jesus Peña on Broadway in Hands on a Hardbody, graduated from Linden High School in 2001 and went on to appear in the ensemble of the premiere off-Broadway production of In The Heights.
- ^ "Jon Rua". Dancers of New York. November 6, 2015.
- ^ a b c Kojic, Yvette (October 6, 2016). "The Hamilton–Heights Connection, and the Actors Who Have Done Both". Playbill. Archived from the original on November 2, 2017.
- ^ "Jon Rua Theatre Credits". Broadway World.
- ^ "Listings – Blue Bloods – Episode Title: (#BB709) "Confessions"". The Futon Critic. November 18, 2016.
- ^ Rua, Jon. "Biography". www.jonrua.net. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
- ^ Searle, Deborah (October 8, 2014). "Jon Rua is making his own rules". www.danceinforma.com. Dance Informa.
- ^ "2016 Fred and Adele Astaire Awards Nominees". www.theastaireawards.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
- ^ ""Young Immigrant Hamilton Tour" July 7-8, 2016". www.goelizabethnj.com. Elizabeth Destination Marketing Organisation.
- ^ Sullivan, Fran. "Hamilton Performer Jon Rua Visits Snyder Academy as Part of Founding Father's Celebration". www.tapinto.net.
- ^ "Jon Rua – Biography". IMDb.com. Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Salamone, Gina (November 30, 2017). "Playing a giant Krabby Patty in 'SpongeBob SquarePants' musical can leave you feeling fried". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017.