# Jon Rua

Jon Rua (born Jonathan Rua) is an American actor, singer, and choreographer, best known for his roles in Broadway musicals such as Hamilton, In the Heights, The SpongeBob Musical, and Hands on a Hardbody.
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

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 musical theatre program and began dancing socially. 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

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'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. 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!, 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. 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 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

Rua is an associate choreographer for Boop! The Musical, which is expected to start performances on March 11, 2025, and then officially open on April 5th.

## Educator / Movement Director

Rua lives in New York City, where he teaches at the Broadway Dance Center. 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

In 2016, Rua was nominated for an Astaire Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show for Hamilton.
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 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.
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

| Title | Role | Details | Notes |
| SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical | Patchy the Pirate and Ensemble (2017–2018) | 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

| 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

| 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

| 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

| 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

| 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

| 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

| 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 |