Jon Rua

{{short description|American actor, singer, and choreographer}} {{Update|date=December 2024}} {{BLP sources|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2017}}

{{Infobox person | name = Jon Rua | native_name_lang = sp | image = Jon Rua at 2015 Obama greet.png | caption = Rua in 2015 | birth_date = 1983 August 14th | birth_place = Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA | mother = Maria Nohelia Castañeda Cano | father = Elibanier 'Marco' Rua | alma_mater = Rutgers University | occupation = {{hlist|Actor • choreographer • singer • dancer • writer}} | years_active = | movement = [http://www.jonrua.com/thegrit TheGrit] }}

'''Jon Rua''' (born Jonathan Rua) is an American actor, dancer, choreographer, singer, and writer, best known for his roles in Broadway musicals such as ''Hamilton'',<ref name="AutoQS-1"/> ''In the Heights'', ''The SpongeBob Musical'', and ''Hands on a Hardbody''.

Rua was the choreographer for dance sequences in the 2025 ''Lincoln Center Theater Broadway'' production of ''Floyd Collins'' and served as an associate choreographer for the 2025 Broadway musical ''Boop! the Musical.''

== Early life == Rua was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey 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 marching band and musical theatre. 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 dance to younger students.

== Career == {{unreferenced section|date=October 2025}} After college, Rua joined a dance company as an unpaid commitment, and eventually became a professional dancer doing live performance, music video work, and danced for Mariah Carey, Don Omar, Soulja Boy, Target, Billboard, Puma, Reebok, IBM, and Panasonic. Rua then transitioned into musical theatre and acting.

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. He stepped into the leading role of Usnavi several times as understudy.

As an original Broadway cast member of ''Hamilton'' in 2015, Rua originated the role of Charles Lee and performed in the ensemble, which he plays in the ''Hamilton Movie'' on Disney Plus. 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 the Hamilton Alternate. In addition, Jon has originated the roles of 'Jesus Pena' in ''Hands on a Hardbody'' and 'Patchy the Pirate' in ''The SpongeBob Musical''. Rua's off-broadway and regional theater credits include: ''The Hombres'', ''¿ Kung Fu'', ''Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity'', ''Somewhere'', ''West Side Story'', ''Pirates'', ''In the Heights'', and ''Damn Yankees'' at NYCC Encores

His film & television credits include guest star and supporting roles in ''Smile 2, The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, Law & Order''. He also appeared in the televised version of the ''SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical'', which is currently on the ''Paramount+'' streaming app. In 2025, Rua joined the original cast of ''Hamilton'' to perform on the 78th Tony Awards.

Rua's choreographer career has focused on originating new work as well as reinvigorating past musicals. He has choreographed the world premiers of ''The Unauthorized Untitled Hunter S. Thompson Musical'', ''3 Summers of Lincoln, The Hombres'', as well as regional producer ''Macbeth, Rent, Godspell, Aida, Jesus Christ Superstar,'' amongst other workshops of developmental musicals. He has been the specialty choreographer/assistant for Broadway's ''The Cher Show'' and ''The SpongeBob Musical,'' as well as the rom-com ''Isn't it Romantic''. Rua took his vision to the next level as a Co-Creative Director and the Choreographer for PHISH New Year's Eve Show at Madison Square Garden in 2019-2020 with 'Send in the Clones'. He has conceived music videos and commercials for Coheed & Cambria ("Old Flames"), Lawrence ('More"), and the New York Lotto to name a few.

Rua is an associate choreographer for ''Boop! The Musical'', which started performances on March 11, 2025, and officially opened on April 5th. As well as the choreographer for dance sequences for Floyd Collins, which started performances on March 18th, 2025, and officially opened on April 21st.

==Educator / Movement Director== 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.

== Awards and recognitions == '''Other awards:''' * 2025 nominee Tony Awards for Best Choreography for ''Boop! The Musical'' as an Associate Choreographer * 2022 SDCF Breakout Award<ref>{{cite web | title=Jon Rua Honored with SDCF Breakout Award | date=February 3, 2022 | url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2022/02/03/jon-rua-honored-with-sdcf-breakout-award/ }}</ref> * 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 for ''Hamilton'' * 2016 Winner Grammy Awards for Best Musical Album for ''Hamilton'' * 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)

==Credits== ===Theatrical credits=== ====Broadway==== {| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%;" |- !style="width: 30%;"| Title !style="width: 20%;"| Role !style="width: 30%;"| Details !style="width: 20%;"| Notes |- | ''Floyd Collins'' !- | Vivian Beaumont Theatre | Choreographer |- | ''Boop! The Musical'' !- | Broadhurst Theatre | Associate Choreographer |- | ''The Cher Show'' !- | Neil Simon Theatre | Co-Choreographer for "Believe" |- | ''SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical'' | Patchy the Pirate and Ensemble (2017–2018)<ref name=Salamone/> | Palace Theatre | Actor, Co-Choreographer for "WTGGT" |- | ''Hamilton'' | Charles Lee and Ensemble<br>(2015-2016); Alexander Hamilton (s/b 2017; u/s 2015–2016) | Richard Rodgers Theatre, Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler | Actor |- | ''Hands on a Hardbody'' | Jesus Peña | Neil Pepe, Sergio Trujillo | Actor |- | ''In the Heights'' | Graffiti Pete Sonny, Usnavi (u/s) | Richard Rodgers Theatre, Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler | Actor |}

====Off-Broadway==== {| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%;" |- !style="width: 30%;"| Title !style="width: 20%;"| Role !style="width: 30%;"| Details !style="width: 20%;"| Notes |- | ''Hamilton'' | Charles Lee / Ensemble | Public Theatre/Thomas Kail |Actor |- | ''[https://www.davidhenryhwang.com/work-1/2019/6/14/kung-fu 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 |- | ''In The Heights'' |Sonny/Graffiti Pete; u/s Usnavi |Tommy Kail/A. Blankenbuehler |Actor |- | ''Damn Yankees'' | Ensemble | New York City Center, John Rando |Actor |}

====Regional==== {| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%;" |- !style="width: 30%;"| Title !style="width: 20%;"| Role !style="width: 30%;"| Details !style="width: 20%;"| Notes |- | ''Hands on a Hardbody'' | Jesus Peña | La Jolla Playhouse, Neil Pepe | Actor, Choreographer |- |''3 Summers of Lincoln'' |Co-Choreographer |La Jolla Playhouse |World Premier |- |''BOOP! The Musical'' |Associate Choreographer |CIBC Theater |World Premier |- |''Hunter S. Thompson Musical'' |Choreographer |La Jolla Playhouse |World Premier |- |''Macbeth'' |Choreographer |Oregon Shakespeare Festival | |- |''Rent'' |Choreographer |Oregon Shakespeare Festival | |- |''The Hombres'' |Beto/Choreographer |Two River Theater |World Premier |- |''Godspell'' |Choreographer |POLO | |- |Jesus Christ Superstar |Choreographer |The | |- | ''Aida'' | Choreographer | The Muny | |- | ''Hands on a Harbody'' | Jesus Pena | La Jolla Playhouse | Actor, World Premier |- | ''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 | World Premier |- | ''West Side Story'' | Chino | The Muny, Gordon Greenberg | Actor |- | ''Pirates'' | Samuel | The Muny, Gordon Greenberg | Actor |}

===Film=== {| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%;" |- !style="width: 20%;"| Title !style="width: 30%;"| Role !style="width: 20%;"| Details !style="width: 30%;"| Notes |- | ''Smile 2'' | Anton | Directed by Parker Finn | Actor |- | ''Hamilton'' | Charles Lee / Ensemble | Directed by Thomas Kail | Actor |- | ''Fall to Rise'' | Magic | Directed by Jayce Bartok | 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 | Assistant Choreographer |- | ''In the Heights'' | Background vocals | Directed by Jon M. Chu |}

===Television=== {| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%;" |- !style="width: 30%;"| Title !style="width: 20%;"| Role !style="width: 30%;"| Details !style="width: 20%;"| 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=== {| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%;" |- !style="width: 30%;"| Title !style="width: 20%;"| Role !style="width: 30%;"| Details !style="width: 20%;"| Notes |- | Lawrence | Choreographer, Dancer | Terminal 5 | performance of "More" |- |T.A.B. |Creative Director/Choreographer |The Beacon Jams 2020 |The Beacon Theater |- |Phish |Choreographer, Dancer |Fall Tour 2013, Atlantic City | |- | Mariah Carey | Dancer | NBC Universal, Chor. Bam Bam | Dancer |- | Soulja Boy | Dancer | Chor. Mark Martinez, YouTube NYC | Dancer |}

===Commercials and music videos=== {| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%;" |- !style="width: 30%;"| Title !style="width: 20%;"| Role !style="width: 30%;"| Details !style="width: 20%;"| Notes |- |''Old Flames'' |Choreographer, Dancer |Roadrunner Records, Coheed and Cambria |Music Video |- | ''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 |} '''Readings and Workshops''' {| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%;" |- ! style="width: 30%;" | Title ! style="width: 20%;" | Role ! style="width: 30%;" | Details |- | ''Eighty Sixed'' | Richard | Sam Salmond, Jeremy King |- |''Rivers/Cross: What Becomes An Urban Legend Most?'' |Oscar |Lonny Price, David Parr |- | ''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

== References == {{Reflist|30em|refs= <ref name="AutoQS-1">{{cite web |last1=Henry |first1=Sally |title=Humanizing the $10 Founding Father: Understudy Jon Rua Talks Being Born to Play HAMILTON| url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Humanizing-the-10-Founding-Father-Understudy-Jon-Rua-Talks-Being-Born-to-Play-HAMILTON-20160228 |website=Broadway World |access-date=February 28, 2016 }}</ref> <ref name=Salamone>{{cite news |title=Playing a giant Krabby Patty in 'SpongeBob SquarePants' musical can leave you feeling fried |first=Gina |last=Salamone |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=November 30, 2017 |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/meet-krabby-patty-actor-spongebob-squarepants-musical-article-1.3666281 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052252/http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/meet-krabby-patty-actor-spongebob-squarepants-musical-article-1.3666281 |archive-date=2017-12-22 }}</ref>

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rua, Jon}} Category:1983 births Category:20th-century American male actors Category:21st-century American male actors Category:American male musical theatre actors Category:American people of Colombian descent Category:Linden High School (New Jersey) alumni Category:Living people Category:Male actors from New York City Category:American choreographers Category:Singers from New York City Category:Tony Award winners Category:Rutgers University alumni Category:American male dancers Category:Male actors from Elizabeth, New Jersey Category:People from Linden, New Jersey