Rachel Bay Jonesis an American actress and singer. She has played the roles of Catherine in the 2013 Broadway revival ofPippinandEvan Hansen's mother, Heidi Hansen, inDear Evan Hansen.The latter earned her anEmmy Award,aGrammy Award,and the 2017Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.She emerged asone of few artists to have received three of the four major American entertainment awards.
Rachel Bay Jones | |
|---|---|
 Jones in 2013 | |
| Born | November 8, 1969 New York City,U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Partner | Benim Foster |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editJones was born on November 8, 1969 in New York City and grew up inBoca Raton, Florida.Her mother is Jewish.[1]Her parents were both Shakespearean actors. She dropped out of high school to perform in a local play, then moved to New York City to pursue acting at 19.[2]
Career
editJones's first Broadway role was as an understudy for the lead role of Esther inMeet Me in St. Louisin 1989.[2][3]
In the early 1990s, she was in the touring company ofGrand Hotel,as well as other national and international tours, performingRentin German andEvitain Spanish.[2]She performed in the 2009 Broadway revival ofHairas the replacement for Mother, Buddahdalirama, and Member Of The Tribe.[4]She was one of the original cast members starring in the revival ofPippin,[2]playing Catherine, Pippin's lover, during the entire run.[5][6]
Jones portrayed Evan's mother Heidi in the musicalDear Evan Hansen,which premiered at theArena StageinWashington, D.C.in July 2015.[7]She reprised the role in theOff-Broadwayproduction at theSecond Stage Theatrein May 2016,[8]and then onBroadwaystarting in November 2016.[9]At the71st Tony Awards,she won forBest Featured Actress in a Musicalfor her portrayal of Heidi Hansen.[10]
After leavingDear Evan Hansenon August 5, 2018, Jones performed at several small venues inSomething Beautiful,a one-woman cabaret show that draws music from her expansive career and bringing meaning from her life into the lyrics.[11][12]
In 2018, Jones appeared in the CBS television drama seriesGod Friended Me,playing the role of Susan.[13][14]She has also had guest roles onModern FamilyandGrey's Anatomy.
She appeared in the concert ofSweet Charityat the Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Music Center on June 17, 2019, presented by the Transport Group.[15]
From January 29 to February 3, 2020 she starred as Diana inNext to Normalat theKennedy CenterBroadway Center Stage series.[16][17]
In 2021, Jones joined the cast ofThe Good Doctoras Salen Morrison.[18]This reunited her with formerDear Evan Hansenco-starNoah Galvin(who played the title role, the son of Jones's character, Heidi).
Jones originated the role of Marianne in Stephen Sondheim'sHere We Arein 2023.[19]
Personal life
editShe has a daughter, Miranda, and is partner to actor Benim Foster.[12]Jones has one sibling, her brother Darren.[2]
Acting credits
editFilm
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Ben Is Back | Beth | |
| 2020 | Critical Thinking | Principal Kestel | |
| 2024 | Bob Trevino Likes It | Jeanie |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Louie | Barbara | Episode: "Untitled" |
| 2016 | The Family | Sally | Episode: "Election Day" |
| 2018 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Teresa | Episode: "In Loco Parentis" |
| 2018 | God Friended Me | Susan | 6 episodes |
| 2019 | Modern Family | Farrah Marshall | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | Grey's Anatomy | Carly | Episode: "Breathe Again" |
| 2021 | Panic | Sherri Nill | 6 episodes |
| 2021 | Why Women Kill | Maisie Moran | 3 episodes |
| 2021–2022 | United States of Al | Lois | Recurring role |
| 2021–2022 | The Good Doctor | Salen Morrison | 10 episodes |
| 2022–2024 | Young Sheldon | Audrey McAllister | Recurring role[20] |
| 2024 | Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage | Main cast |
Theatre
editSource: Internet Broadway Database[21]
| Year | Production | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Meet Me in St. Louis | Ensemble | The Gershwin Theatre |
| 1990 | Grand Hotel | Hildegarde Bratts / Trude | National tour |
| 2000 | Fiddler on the Roof | Hodel | National tour |
| 2009–2010 | Hair | Mother / Buddahdirama / Ensemble | Al Hirschfeld Theatre |
| 2010 | Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown | Swing | Belasco Theatre |
| 2011 | A Christmas Story: The Musical[22] | Mother | US National tour |
| 2011 | Hello Again[23] | The Actress | Off-Broadway,Transport Group |
| 2011 | The King and I | Anna Leonowens | Kansas City Starlight Theatre |
| 2012 | Pippin | Catherine | American Repertory Theatre |
| 2013–2015 | Music Box Theatre | ||
| 2015 | First Daughter Suite[24] | Rosalynn Carter / Laura Bush | Off-Broadway,The Public Theatre |
| 2015 | Dear Evan Hansen | Heidi Hansen | Arena Stage |
| 2016 | Second Stage | ||
| 2016–2018 | Music Box Theatre | ||
| 2020 | Next to Normal[25] | Diana Goodman | Kennedy Centre |
| 2023–2024 | Here We Are | Marianne Brink | Off-Broadway,The Shed |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Awards | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical[26] | Dear Evan Hansen | Nominated |
| 2017 | Tony Awards | Best Featured Actress in a Musical[27] | Won | |
| Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance[28] | Nominated | ||
| Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical[29] | Won | ||
| 2018 | Grammy Awards | Best Musical Theater Album | Won | |
| Emmy Awards– Daytime (Daytime Creative Arts Emmys) | Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program[30] | Won |
References
edit- ^"A Jewish Guide to the Tonys - Atlanta Jewish Times".
- ^abcde"Tony Awards: Rachel Bay Jones' 'Dear Evan Hansen' Nomination Caps Three-Decade Quest".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedMay 26,2017.
- ^Meet Me in St. Louisplaybill (vault), accessed March 29, 2019
- ^Hairplaybill (vault), accessed March 29, 2019
- ^Champion, Lindsay."Rachel Bay Jones on Being Scared of Clowns, Her 'Terrifying' Evita Story & Joining the Pippin Circus"broadway, June 13, 2013
- ^Blank, Matthew."CUE & A: Pippin Star Rachel Bay Jones"playbill, April 9, 2013
- ^Gioia, Michael (July 30, 2015)."Pasek and Paul'sDear Evan Hansen,About the High School Struggle to Fit In, Premieres in D.C. "Playbill.RetrievedFebruary 12,2022.
- ^"Tickets Go on Sale Today for Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen – Playbill".Playbill.June 19, 2016.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
- ^"Dear Evan Hansen Opens on Broadway December 4 – Playbill".Playbill.December 4, 2016.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
- ^Sullivan, Lindsey (June 11, 2017)."Good for You!Dear Evan Hansen's Rachel Bay Jones Wins Her First Tony Award ".Broadway.RetrievedNovember 29,2018.
- ^"Rachel Bay Jones: Something Beautiful"theatermania, accessed March 29, 2019
- ^ab"Rachel Bay Jones Brings 'Something Beautiful' to Feinsteins at the Nikko"broadwayworld, July 19, 2018
- ^Fierberg, Ruthie."Dear Evan Hansen's Rachel Bay Jones Lands CBS Comedy Pilot"Playbill, March 26, 2018
- ^"Listings 'God Friended Me', Air Date March 31, 2019"thefutoncritic, retrieved May 17, 2019
- ^Gans, Andrew."Rachel Bay Jones, Santino Fontana, More Set for 'Sweet Charity in Concert'"Playbill, May 17, 2019
- ^McPhee, Ryan."Rachel Bay Jones to Star in 'Next to Normal' at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center; New Season Also Includes 'To Kill a Mockingbird' Tour Premiere"playbill, March 28, 2019
- ^"Broadway Center Stage: Next to Normal".RetrievedApril 23,2020.
- ^"The Good Doctor's 'Internal Nemesis' Revealed in Game-Changing Season 5 Premiere — Grade the Episode!".yahoo.September 28, 2021.RetrievedOctober 8,2021.
- ^"Here We Are".
- ^Campione, Katie (October 26, 2022)."'Young Sheldon': Rachel Bay Jones & Will Sasso Join CBS Comedy As Recurring ".MSN.Deadline.RetrievedOctober 28,2022.
- ^"Rachel Bay Jones Broadway and Touring"ibdb, accessed August 25, 2020
- ^Blank, Matthew."PHOTO CALL: 'A Christmas Story, The Musical!' on Tour"playbill, November 11, 2011
- ^Jones, Kenneth."Alan Campbell, Max von Essen, Elizabeth Stanley Among Interlocking Lovers in NYCHello Again"Playbill, January 11, 2011
- ^First Daughter Suiteiobdb, accessed August 25, 2020
- ^Gans, Andrew (February 28, 2020)."Watch Rachel Bay Jones, Brandon Victor Dixon, More in Scenes From Kennedy Center's Next to Normal".Playbill.RetrievedFebruary 21,2021.
- ^Fierberg, Ruthie (June 5, 2016)."Drama Desk Awards NameShuffle AlongBest Musical ".Playbill.RetrievedFebruary 12,2022.
- ^Hetrick, Adam."The Complete List of 2017 Tony Winners: 'Dear Evan Hansen' and 'Hello, Dolly!' Lead the Pack"playbill, June 11, 2017
- ^"Ben Platt, Sutton Foster, and Josh Groban Among 2017 Drama League Award Nominees – Playbill".Playbill.April 19, 2017.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
- ^BWW News Desk."OSLO Big Winner at the 2017 Lucille Lortel Awards, Full List!".broadwayworld.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
- ^McPhee, Ryan."Ben Platt and Dear Evan Hansen Co-Stars Win Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Award"Playbill, April 28, 2018
