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 a Daytime 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's mother is Jewish. 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.
Career Jones's first Broadway role was as an understudy for the lead role of Esther in Meet Me in St. Louis in 1989.Meet Me in St. Louis playbill (vault), accessed March 29, 2019
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.Hair playbill (vault), accessed March 29, 2019 She was one of the original cast members starring in the revival of Pippin, playing Catherine, Pippin's lover, during the entire run.Champion, Lindsay. "Rachel Bay Jones on Being Scared of Clowns, Her 'Terrifying' Evita Story & Joining the Pippin Circus" broadway.com, June 13, 2013Blank, Matthew. "CUE & A: Pippin Star Rachel Bay Jones" playbill, April 9, 2013
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. She reprised the role in the Off-Broadway production at the Second Stage Theatre in May 2016, and then on Broadway starting in November 2016. At the 71st Tony Awards, she won for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Heidi Hansen.
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."Rachel Bay Jones: Something Beautiful" theatermania.com, accessed March 29, 2019"Rachel Bay Jones Brings 'Something Beautiful' to Feinsteins at the Nikko" broadwayworld.com, July 19, 2018
In 2018, Jones appeared in the CBS television drama series God Friended Me, playing the role of Susan.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.com, retrieved May 17, 2019 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.Gans, Andrew. "Rachel Bay Jones, Santino Fontana, More Set for 'Sweet Charity in Concert'" Playbill, May 17, 2019
From January 29 to February 3, 2020, she starred as Diana in Next to Normal at the Kennedy Center Broadway Center Stage series.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
In 2021, Jones joined the cast of The Good Doctor as Salen Morrison. This reunited her with former Dear Evan Hansen co-star Noah Galvin (who played the title role, the son of Jones's character, Heidi).
In 2022, she joined the television cast of Young Sheldon, creating the role of Audrey McAllister, the mother-in-law of adult Georgie Cooper. She continued this role in the Young Sheldon spin-off Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage.
Jones originated the role of Marianne in Stephen Sondheim's Here We Are in 2023.
Personal life She has a daughter, Miranda, and is partner to actor Benim Foster. Jones has one sibling, her brother Darren.
Acting credits Film Year Film Role Notes 2018 Ben Is Back Beth 2020 Critical Thinking Principal Kestel 2024 Bob Trevino Likes It Jeanie
Television Year Title Role Notes 2015 Louie Barbara Episode: "Untitled" 2016 The Family Sally Episode: "Election Day" 2018 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Teresa Carisi 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 2024-present Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage Main cast
Theatre Source: Internet Broadway Database"Rachel Bay Jones Broadway and Touring" ibdb.com, accessed August 25, 2020 + 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 Mother US National tourBlank, Matthew. "PHOTO CALL: 'A Christmas Story, The Musical!' on Tour" playbill, November 11, 2011 2011 Hello Again The Actress Off-Broadway, Transport GroupJones, Kenneth. "Alan Campbell, Max von Essen, Elizabeth Stanley Among Interlocking Lovers in NYC Hello Again" Playbill, January 11, 2011 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 Rosalynn Carter / Laura Bush Off-Broadway, The Public TheatreFirst Daughter Suite iobdb.com, accessed August 25, 2020 2015 Dear Evan Hansen Heidi Hansen Arena Stage 2016 Second Stage 2016–2018 Music Box Theatre 2020 Next to Normal Diana Goodman Kennedy Centre 2023–2024 Here We Are Marianne Brink Off-Broadway, The Shed
Awards and nominations Year Awards Category Work Result Ref. 2016 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Dear Evan Hansen 2017 Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Tony Awards Best Featured Actress in a Musical Hetrick, Adam. "The Complete List of 2017 Tony Winners: 'Dear Evan Hansen' and 'Hello, Dolly!' Lead the Pack" playbill, June 11, 2017 2018 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Musical Performance in a Daytime Program McPhee, Ryan. "Ben Platt and Dear Evan Hansen Co-Stars Win Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Award" Playbill, April 28, 2018 Grammy Awards Best Musical Theater Album
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