Rebecca Naomi Jones facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rebecca Naomi Jones
Jones in 2023
Born	(1981-03-31) March 31, 1981 (age 44) New York City, U.S.
Education	University of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA)
Occupation	Actress singer

Rebecca Naomi Jones (born March 31, 1981) is an American actress and singer. She is well known for her roles in Broadway musicals like Passing Strange, American Idiot, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Rebecca also made history as the first woman of color to play Laurey in Oklahoma! on Broadway. More recently, she starred in the Shakespeare in the Park show As You Like It in New York City.

Rebecca's Early Life and Career

Rebecca Naomi Jones was born in New York City. Her father was a musician, and her mother was a photographer. Her mother is Jewish, and her father is African-American.

Growing Up with Music and Theater

As a child, Rebecca sang in the children's choir of the Metropolitan Opera. She graduated from the Berkeley Carroll School in 1999. She loved theater and singing throughout middle and high school. Rebecca later earned a degree in drama from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. After college, she toured the country in musicals like Rent and Caroline, or Change.

Broadway Success and Key Roles

In 2007, Rebecca made her first big appearance in an Off-Broadway show called Passing Strange. This show later moved to Broadway in 2008. She then created the role of Whatsername in the Green Day rock musical American Idiot, which opened on Broadway in 2010. Paper magazine said she was the "girl to call when there's a cooler-than-thou musical in town."

In 2012, Rebecca played the Narrator in the Off-Broadway musical Murder Ballad. For this role, she was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award. She also appeared in a new musical version of Love's Labour's Lost in Central Park. In 2014, Rebecca received a Lilly Award, which honors women in theater.

On April 14, 2015, Rebecca took over the role of Yitzhak in the Broadway show Hedwig and the Angry Inch. She played this part until the show closed in September. In 2017, she starred as Vanessa in Significant Other on Broadway.

A big moment in her career was in 2018. Rebecca starred as Laurey Williams in a new production of Oklahoma!. This show moved to Broadway in 2019, where she continued her role. In 2022, she played Rosalind in As You Like It at Shakespeare in the Park.

Rebecca's Work in Film and TV

Rebecca Naomi Jones has appeared in many movies and television shows.

Movies

Television Shows

Rebecca's Stage Performances

Rebecca Naomi Jones has performed in many plays and musicals on stage.

Awards and Nominations

Rebecca Naomi Jones has received several awards and nominations for her acting.