Jon Rua is an American actor, singer, and choreographer, best known for his roles in Broadway musicals such as Hamilton, In the Heights, 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 dramaBlue Bloods.
Awards and recognitions
In 2016, Rua was nominated for an Astaire Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show for Hamilton, along with Carleigh Bettiol, Ariana Debose, Sydney James Harcourt, Sasha Hutchings, Thayne Jasperson, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Austin Smith, Seth Stewart, Betsy Struxness, and Ephraim Sykes. 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
