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 Hamilton may refer to:
People
* Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname
** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland
** Lord Hamilt ...
'',
''
In the Heights
''In the Heights'' is a musical theatre, musical with concept, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and a Book (musical theatre), book by Quiara Alegría Hudes. The story is set over the course of three days, involving characters in the larg ...
'', and ''
Hands on a Hardbody''.
Rua was the choreographer for the 2016
Muny production of ''
Aida
''Aida'' (or ''Aïda'', ) is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. Set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt, it was commissioned by Cairo's Khedivial Opera House and had its première there on 24 December ...
'' in
St. Louis
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
, and a creative consultant for the 2016 musical ''
SpongeBob SquarePants
''SpongeBob SquarePants'' (or simply ''SpongeBob'') is an American animated comedy television series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. It chronicles the adventures of the title character a ...
'', joining its Broadway cast in 2017.
Early life
Rua was born in
and grew up in nearby
Linden.
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.
He received a B.A. in Communication and Public Relations from
Rutgers University
Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's ...
. During Rua's college years, he attended his first dance class, and later started teaching dancing to younger students.
Career
After 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.
Rua made his Broadway debut in 2008 as a swing in
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lin-Manuel Miranda (; born January 16, 1980) is an American songwriter, actor, playwright and filmmaker. He is known for creating the Broadway musicals ''Hamilton'' (2015) and ''In the Heights'' (2005), and the soundtracks for the Disney animate ...
's musical ''
In the Heights
''In the Heights'' is a musical theatre, musical with concept, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and a Book (musical theatre), book by Quiara Alegría Hudes. The story is set over the course of three days, involving characters in the larg ...
'', later becoming the replacement for Sonny and Graffiti Pete.
[ He stepped into the leading role of Usnavi several times as understudy.][
As an original Broadway cast member of '']Hamilton Hamilton may refer to:
People
* Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname
** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland
** Lord Hamilt ...
'' 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.[ Rua left ''Hamilton'' on June 29, 2016,] 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.
Rua has been a contributing choreographer for such projects as ''Hamilton'', ''On Your Feet!
''On Your Feet!'' is a jukebox musical that played on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre. Based on the lives and music of 26-time Grammy Award-winning husband-and-wife team Gloria and Emilio Estefan, the musical has a book written by Alexander Dinel ...
'', ''Flashdance
''Flashdance'' is a 1983 American romantic drama dance film directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Jennifer Beals as a passionate young dancer who aspires to become a professional ballerina (Alex), alongside Michael Nouri playing her boyfriend an ...
'', '' Hands on a Hardbody'', '' Bring It On: The Musical'', ''In the Heights'', ''Insanity'' and NYCC's ''The Wiz
''The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz"'' is a Musical theatre, musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls (and others) and book by William F. Brown (writer), William F. Brown. It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's childr ...
''. He has also been credited as a choreographer in productions in which he appeared as an actor. In 2014, Rua was a finalist for the Capezio Award for Choreographic Excellence.
His television credits include the role of Ricky in "Confessions", a 2016 episode of the CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...
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
Currently, 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
Rua lives in New York City, where he teaches at the Broadway Dance Center. 4Outside 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
In 2016, Rua was nominated for an Astaire Award
The Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography (previously titled the Fred and Adele Astaire Awards) celebrate outstanding dance and choreography in theatre, both on Broadway and Off-Broadway and in film at an annual ceremony in New York City ...
for Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show for ''Hamilton Hamilton may refer to:
People
* Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname
** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland
** Lord Hamilt ...
'', along with Carleigh Bettiol, Ariana Debose, Sydney James Harcourt, Sasha Hutchings, Thayne Jasperson, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Austin Smith, Seth Stewart
Seth Stewart is an American actor, singer and dancer known for his roles in the musicals ''Hamilton (musical), Hamilton'' (2015) and ''In the Heights'' (2008, cameo in In the Heights (film), 2021 film adaptation). Other film appearances include ''M ...
, Betsy Struxness
Betsy Struxness is an American actress, singer, and dancer known for her work on the Broadway stage.
Struxness received her BFA in dance from Juilliard School, before moving to New York.
After touring with the musical ''Oklahoma!'' and appearing ...
, and Ephraim Sykes
Ephraim Manessah Sykes (born July 17, 1985 in St. Petersburg, Florida) is an American actor and singer. Sykes played the role of George Eacker in the Broadway musical ''Hamilton''.
In December 2016, he played Seaweed J. Stubbs in NBC's live pro ...
.
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.
Other awards:
* 2014 finalist for the Capezio Award for Choreographic Excellence
* 2011 nominee for the Craig Noel
Craig Noel (August 25, 1915 – April 3, 2010) was an American theatre producer. He was the founding director of the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California and led it for more than 60 years. He "helped transform it from an insular comm ...
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
Rua lives in New York City, where he teaches at the Broadway Dance Center
Broadway Dance Center is a dance school located at 322 West 45th Street west of Times Square in New York City. It was founded in 1984 as one of the first "drop-in" dance training schools in the world, offering classes in jazz, tap, ballet, conte ...
.
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
Theatrical performances
Broadway
Off-Broadway
Regional
Readings and workshops
Film
Television
Stage and concerts
Commercials and music videos
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rua, Jon
1983 births
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
American male musical theatre actors
American people of Colombian descent
Linden High School (New Jersey) alumni
Living people
Male actors from New York City
American choreographers
Singers from New York City
Tony Award winners
Rutgers University alumni
American male dancers
People from Elizabeth, New Jersey
People from Linden, New Jersey