Jon Rua (born Jonathan Rua) is an American actor, singer, and choreographer, best known for his roles in Broadway musicals such as ''
Hamilton
Hamilton may refer to:
* Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States
* ''Hamilton'' (musical), a 2015 Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda
** ''Hamilton'' (al ...
St. Louis
St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...
, and a creative consultant for the 2016 musical ''
SpongeBob SquarePants
''SpongeBob SquarePants'' is an American animated television series, animated comedy television series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. It first aired as a sneak peek after the 1999 Kids' C ...
'', joining its Broadway cast in 2017.
Early life
Rua was born in
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a City (New Jersey), city in and the county seat of Union County, New Jersey, Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.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
Rutgers University ( ), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of three campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's C ...
. 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
Lin-Manuel Miranda (; born January 16, 1980) is an American songwriter, actor, singer, filmmaker, rapper, and librettist. He created the Broadway musicals '' In the Heights'' and ''Hamilton'', and the soundtracks for the animated films '' Moana' ...
'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
Hamilton may refer to:
* Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States
* ''Hamilton'' (musical), a 2015 Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda
** ''Hamilton'' (al ...
'' 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
''The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz"'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls (and others) and book by William F. Brown. It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's children's novel '' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' ...
''. 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.
Rua is an associate choreographer for '' Boop! The Musical'', which started performances on March 11, 2025, and officially opened 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
Hamilton may refer to:
* Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States
* ''Hamilton'' (musical), a 2015 Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda
** ''Hamilton'' (al ...
''.
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 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.