Jon Rua

Last updated

Jon Rua
Jon Rua at 2015 Obama greet.png
Rua in 2015
Alma mater Rutgers University
Occupation
  • Actor • choreographer • singer • dancer • writer
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 .

Contents

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

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:

Credits

Theatrical credits

Broadway

TitleRoleDetailsNotes
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 HardbodyJesus PeñaNeil Pepe, Sergio TrujilloActor
In the Heights Graffiti Pete

Sonny, Usnavi (u/s)

Richard Rodgers Theatre, Thomas Kail, Andy BlankenbuehlerActor

Off-Broadway

TitleRoleDetailsNotes
Hamilton Charles Lee / EnsemblePublic Theatre/Thomas KailActor
Kung Fu Matthew, Barry, Fung Fung, etc.Signature Theatre, Leigh SilvermanActor
The Elaborate Entrance of Chad DeityMace (understudy)Second Stage Theatre, Eddie TorresActor
In The Heights Sonny/Graffiti Pete; u/s UsnaviTommy Kail/A. BlankenbuehlerActor
Damn Yankees EnsembleNew York City Center, John RandoActor

Regional

TitleRoleDetailsNotes
Hands on a HardbodyJesus PeñaLa Jolla Playhouse, Neil PepeActor, Choreographer
3 Summers of LincolnCo-Choreographer La Jolla Playhouse World Premier
BOOP! The Musical Associate ChoreographerCIBC TheaterWorld Premier
Hunter S. Thompson MusicalChoreographerLa Jolla PlayhouseWorld Premier
MacbethChoreographer Oregon Shakespeare Festival
RentChoreographerOregon Shakespeare Festival
The HombresBeto/ChoreographerTwo River TheaterWorld Premier
GodspellChoreographerPOLO
Jesus Christ SuperstarChoreographerThe
AidaChoreographer The Muny
Hands on a HarbodyJesus PenaLa Jolla PlayhouseActor, World Premier
SomewhereAlejandro CandelariaThe Old Globe, Giovanna SardelliActor (Craig Noel Leading Actor Nominee)
Bring It On: The Musical TwigUniversal Studios and Beacon Pictures, Andy BlankenbuehlerWorld Premier
West Side Story ChinoThe Muny, Gordon GreenbergActor
PiratesSamuelThe Muny, Gordon GreenbergActor

Film

TitleRoleDetailsNotes
Smile 2 AntonDirected by Parker Finn Actor
Hamilton Charles Lee / EnsembleDirected by Thomas Kail Actor
Fall to RiseMagicDirected by Jayce BartokActor
First ReformedRepairmanDirected by Paul Schrader Actor
The Things We Do They Don't UnderstandEduardoDirected by Ashley Michel HobanActor
Isn't It RomanticDancerDirected by Todd Strauss-Schulson Assistant Choreographer
In the Heights Background vocalsDirected by Jon M. Chu

Television

TitleRoleDetailsNotes
Blacklist Guest-StarNBC/Dir. Bill RoeActor
Blue Bloods Guest-StarCBS/Dir. Alex ZakrzewskiActor
The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage Krabby Patty Nickelodeon Actor
Law & Order: "Bailout" Co-StarNBC Universal, Dir. Jean De SegonzacActor
Celebrity Wife SwapSelfABC NetworkChoreographer
Marcy Place feat. Don OmarCo-StarOrfanato Music Group, Chor. Bam BamActor
Verizon CommercialSecurity GuardNational TelevisionActor

Stage and concerts

TitleRoleDetailsNotes
LawrenceChoreographer, DancerTerminal 5performance of "More"
T.A.B.Creative Director/ChoreographerThe Beacon Jams 2020The Beacon Theater
PhishChoreographer, DancerFall Tour 2013, Atlantic City
Mariah CareyDancerNBC Universal, Chor. Bam BamDancer
Soulja BoyDancerChor. Mark Martinez, YouTube NYCDancer

Commercials and music videos

TitleRoleDetailsNotes
Old FlamesChoreographer, DancerRoadrunner Records, Coheed and CambriaMusic Video
Hands on a HardbodyJesus PeñaLSerino, Coyne ProductionsActor, Commercial
Bring It On: The MusicalTwigUniversal Studios and Beacon PicturesCommercial
Marcy Place feat. Don OmarDancer, Featured ActorOrfanato Music Group, Chor. Bam BamMusic Video
Target IndustrialPrincipal Dancer, ActorDir: Vivian RosenthalIndustrial
In the HeightsDancerBunker Prod. Co., Warren FischerBroadway Commercial

Readings and Workshops

TitleRoleDetails
Eighty SixedRichardSam Salmond, Jeremy King
Rivers/Cross: What Becomes An Urban Legend Most?OscarLonny Price, David Parr
Magic MikeTitoBrian Yorkey, Tom Kitt
American PopAs castNew York Stage & Film, Michael Friedman
The Solid Sand BelowFloresAtlantic Theatre Company, Martin Zimmerman
Queen of the Stardust BallroomFernandoJerry Mitchell, Marvin Hamlisch
Ever AfterGustaveDir. Susan V. Booth
Bread and RosesRubenNYMF FESTIVAL 2016
Hamilton As Cast, Jefferson/BurrPublic Theater/Dir. Tommy Kail
Hands on a HardbodyJesusNeil Pepe, Doug Wright
KingdomAndresPublic Theater
FlyLottyJeffrey Seller, Bill Sherman
PaperdollsJiorgioSundance Theater, Mark Brokaw
Stuck Elevator/Like Water for ChocolatePrincipalSundance Theater Lab
BareLucasStafford Arima, Lynne Shanke

References

  1. Henry, Sally. "Humanizing the $10 Founding Father: Understudy Jon Rua Talks Being Born to Play HAMILTON". Broadway World. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  2. "Jon Rua Honored with SDCF Breakout Award". February 3, 2022.
  3. 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.