Rachel Bay Jones Explained

Rachel Bay Jones
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Years Active:1989–present
Partner:Benim Foster
Children:1

Rachel Bay Jones is an American actress and singer. She has played the roles of Catherine in the 2013 Broadway revival of Pippin and Evan Hansen's mother, Heidi Hansen, in Dear Evan Hansen. The latter earned her an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, and the 2017 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She emerged as one of few artists to have received three of the four major American entertainment awards.

Early life

Jones was born in New York City and grew up in Boca 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

Jones's first Broadway role was as an understudy for the lead role of Esther in Meet Me in St. Louis in 1989.[3]

In the early 1990s, she was in the touring company of Grand Hotel, as well as other national and international tours, performing Rent in German and Evita in Spanish. She performed in the 2009 Broadway revival of Hair as the replacement for Mother, Buddahdalirama, and Member Of The Tribe.[4] She was one of the original cast members starring in the revival of Pippin, playing Catherine, Pippin's lover, during the entire run.[5] [6]

Jones portrayed Evan's mother Heidi in the musical Dear Evan Hansen, which premiered at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. in July 2015.[7] She reprised the role in the Off-Broadway production at the Second Stage Theatre in May 2016,[8] and then on Broadway starting in November 2016.[9] At the 71st Tony Awards, she won for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Heidi Hansen.[10]

After leaving Dear Evan Hansen on August 5, 2018, Jones performed at several small venues in Something 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 series God Friended Me, playing the role of Susan.[13] [14] She has also had guest roles on Modern Family and Grey's Anatomy.

She appeared in the concert of Sweet Charity at 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 in Next to Normal at the Kennedy Center Broadway Center Stage series.[16] [17]

In 2021, Jones joined the cast of The Good Doctor as Salen Morrison.[18] This reunited her with former Dear Evan Hansen co-star Noah Galvin (who played the title role, the son of Jones's character, Heidi).

Jones originated the role of Marianne in Stephen Sondheim's [Here We Are] in 2023.[19]

Personal life

She has a daughter, Miranda, and is partner to actor Benim Foster.[12] Jones has one sibling, her brother Darren.

Acting credits

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
2018Ben Is BackBeth
2020Critical ThinkingPrincipal Kestel
2024Bob Trevino Likes ItJeanie

Television

Year Title RoleNotes
2015LouieBarbaraEpisode: "Untitled"
2016The FamilySallyEpisode: "Election Day"
2018Teresa Episode: "In Loco Parentis"
2018God Friended MeSusan 6 episodes
2019Modern FamilyFarrah Marshall 3 episodes
2019Grey's AnatomyCarly Episode: "Breathe Again"
2021PanicSherri Nill6 episodes
2021Why Women Kill Maisie Moran3 Episodes
2021–2022United States of AlLoisRecurring role
2021–2022The Good DoctorSalen Morrison10 episodes
2022-2024Young SheldonAudrey McAllisterRecurring role[20]
2024Georgie & Mandy’s First MarriageMain cast (upcoming role)

Theatre

Source: Internet Broadway Database[21]

!Year!Production!Role!Notes
1989Meet Me in St. LouisEnsembleThe Gershwin Theatre
1990Grand HotelHildegarde Bratts / TrudeNational tour
2000Fiddler on the RoofHodelNational tour
2009-2010HairMother / Buddahdirama / EnsembleAl Hirschfeld Theatre
2010Women on the Verge of a Nervous BreakdownSwingBelasco Theatre
2011[22] MotherUS National tour
2011Hello Again[23] The ActressOff-Broadway, Transport Group
2011The King and IAnna LeonowensKansas City Starlight Theatre
2012PippinCatherineAmerican Repertory Theatre
2013–2015Music Box Theatre
2015First Daughter Suite[24] Rosalynn Carter / Laura BushOff-Broadway, The Public Theatre
2015Dear Evan HansenHeidi HansenArena Stage
2016Second Stage
2016–2018Music Box Theatre
2020Next to Normal[25] Diana GoodmanKennedy Centre
2023-2024Here We AreMarianne BrinkOff-Broadway, The Shed

Awards and nominations

YearAwardsCategoryWorkResult
2016Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Featured Actress in a Musical[26] Dear Evan Hansen
2017Tony AwardsBest Featured Actress in a Musical[27]
Drama League AwardsDistinguished Performance[28]
Lucille Lortel AwardsOutstanding Featured Actress in a Musical[29]
2018Grammy AwardsBest Musical Theater Album
Emmy Awards – Daytime (Daytime Creative Arts Emmys)Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program[30]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A Jewish Guide to the Tonys - Atlanta Jewish Times .
  2. News: Tony Awards: Rachel Bay Jones' 'Dear Evan Hansen' Nomination Caps Three-Decade Quest. The Hollywood Reporter. May 26, 2017. en.
  3. http://www.playbill.com/production/meet-me-in-st-louis-george-gershwin-theatre-vault-0000011042 Meet Me in St. Louis
  4. http://www.playbill.com/production/hair-al-hirschfeld-theatre-vault-0000008201 Hair
  5. Champion, Lindsay. "Rachel Bay Jones on Being Scared of Clowns, Her 'Terrifying' Evita Story & Joining the Pippin Circus" broadway.com, June 13, 2013
  6. Blank, Matthew. "CUE & A: Pippin Star Rachel Bay Jones" playbill, April 9, 2013
  7. Web site: Gioia. Michael. Pasek and Paul's Dear Evan Hansen, About the High School Struggle to Fit In, Premieres in D.C.. Playbill. July 30, 2015. February 12, 2022.
  8. Web site: Tickets Go on Sale Today for Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen – Playbill. Playbill. June 19, 2016. July 12, 2017.
  9. Web site: Dear Evan Hansen Opens on Broadway December 4 – Playbill. Playbill. December 4, 2016. July 12, 2017.
  10. Web site: Sullivan. Lindsey. Good for You! Dear Evan Hansens Rachel Bay Jones Wins Her First Tony Award. Broadway.com. June 11, 2017. November 29, 2018.
  11. https://www.theatermania.com/shows/florida-theater/rachel-bay-jones-something-beautiful_326787 "Rachel Bay Jones: Something Beautiful"
  12. https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/Rachel-Bay-Jones-Brings-SOMETHING-BEAUTIFUL-to-Feinsteins-at-the-Nikko-20180719 "Rachel Bay Jones Brings 'Something Beautiful' to Feinsteins at the Nikko"
  13. Fierberg, Ruthie. " Dear Evan Hansen's Rachel Bay Jones Lands CBS Comedy Pilot" Playbill, March 26, 2018
  14. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20190311cbs07/ "Listings 'God Friended Me', Air Date March 31, 2019"
  15. Gans, Andrew. "Rachel Bay Jones, Santino Fontana, More Set for 'Sweet Charity in Concert'" Playbill, May 17, 2019
  16. 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
  17. Web site: Broadway Center Stage: Next to Normal. 2020-04-23.
  18. Web site: The Good Doctor's 'Internal Nemesis' Revealed in Game-Changing Season 5 Premiere — Grade the Episode!. 2021-10-08. www.yahoo.com. September 28, 2021 . en-US.
  19. Web site: Here We Are .
  20. Web site: 'Young Sheldon': Rachel Bay Jones & Will Sasso Join CBS Comedy As Recurring. MSN. Deadline. Katie. Campione. en. 2022-10-26. 2022-10-28.
  21. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/rachel-bay-jones-486880 "Rachel Bay Jones Broadway and Touring"
  22. Blank, Matthew. "PHOTO CALL: 'A Christmas Story, The Musical!' on Tour" playbill, November 11, 2011
  23. Jones, Kenneth. "Alan Campbell, Max von Essen, Elizabeth Stanley Among Interlocking Lovers in NYC Hello Again" Playbill, January 11, 2011
  24. http://www.iobdb.com/Production/6048 First Daughter Suite
  25. Web site: Gans. Andrew. 2020-02-28. Watch Rachel Bay Jones, Brandon Victor Dixon, More in Scenes From Kennedy Center's Next to Normal. 2021-02-21. Playbill. en.
  26. Web site: Fierberg. Ruthie. Drama Desk Awards Name Shuffle Along Best Musical. Playbill. June 5, 2016. February 12, 2022.
  27. Hetrick, Adam. "The Complete List of 2017 Tony Winners: 'Dear Evan Hansen' and 'Hello, Dolly!' Lead the Pack" playbill, June 11, 2017
  28. Web site: Ben Platt, Sutton Foster, and Josh Groban Among 2017 Drama League Award Nominees – Playbill. Playbill. April 19, 2017. July 12, 2017.
  29. Web site: OSLO Big Winner at the 2017 Lucille Lortel Awards, Full List!. BWW News Desk. broadwayworld.com. July 12, 2017.
  30. McPhee, Ryan. "Ben Platt and Dear Evan Hansen Co-Stars Win Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Award" Playbill, April 28, 2018