Jon Rua

The recipient of the 2022 SDCF Breakout Award, Jon Rua is recognized as a 'rising star' creative director & choreographer for his innovative work on stage. He has helmed Phish’s ‘Send in the Clones’ performance at the sold-out Madison Square Garden, the world premier of The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical at La Jolla Playhouse, an associate choreographer of BOOP! The Musical, co-choreographed individual production numbers for Broadway’s The Cher Show, SpongeBob Squarepants, SpongeBob Musical Live on Nick, the rom-com Isn’t It Romantic, and numerous regional productions such as Macbeth & Rent (Osf), West Side Story (Mil Rep), Godspell (PCLO), The Hombres (Two River), Jesus Christ Superstar & Aida (Muny). Crossing all mediums, Jon has conceived music videos and commercials for Coheed & Cambria (“Old Flames”), Lawrence (“More”), and the New York Lotto to name a few.

As a performer, Jon has been a part of four Tony-nominated Broadway shows, originating roles in the Tony and Grammy Award-winning hit musical Hamilton, SpongeBob Squarepants, Hands on a Hardbody, and In The Heights. On screen, Rua has guest-starred on Blacklist, Blue Bloods, Law & Order, and in films such as Smile 2, Fall to Rise, First Reformed, and Isn’t It Romantic.

Always innovating and creating, Jon's explorative short film Unknown was selected for the 2022 New York Latino Film Festival. And currently, First Gen, his new play with movement and music, is being developed with La Jolla Playhouse.