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Jon Rua | |
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![]() Rua in 2015 | |
Alma mater | Rutgers University |
Occupation |
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Movement | TheGrit |
Jon Rua (born Jonathan Rua) is a Colombian-American actor, dancer, choreographer, singer, and writer, best known for his roles in Broadway musicals such as Hamilton , [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.
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.
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.
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 awards:
Title | Role | Details | 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) [3] | Palace Theatre | Actor, Co-Choreographer for "WTGGT" |
Hamilton | Charles Lee and Ensemble (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 |
Title | Role | Details | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Hamilton | Charles Lee / Ensemble | Public Theatre/Thomas Kail | Actor |
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 |
Title | Role | Details | 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 |
Title | Role | Details | 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 |
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 |
Title | Role | Details | 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 |
Title | Role | Details | 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
Title | Role | 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 |
Queen of the Stardust Ballroom | Fernando | Jerry Mitchell, Marvin Hamlisch |
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 |