Mondays Off Broadway: What Oklahoma's Rebecca Naomi Jones Does on Her Day Off
Exactly why are most shows “dark” on this day? Mark Peikert, editor in chief of Playbill points to the loosening of blue laws in the 70s when business were allowed to open on Sundays. And so Monday became Broadway’s day of rest. (Generally, a select few shows like Phantom of the Opera. Tootsie, Chicago, Betrayal, and Waitress do perform on Monday.) So what do our favorite performers do with their one single day not on stage?
Eight times a week, Rebecca Naomi Jones can be found—in a pair of high waisted Rag & Bone jeans—onstage at Circle in the Square Theater playing Laurey Williams in the Tony-award-winning revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein Oklahoma! On Mondays, her sacred day not spent at the theater, Jones may keep on her jeans, but don’t dare ask her to step foot in Midtown.
Before Oklahoma! Monday was about:
Auditioning, exercising, dinners out.
Now Mondays are about:
The opportunity to power down and recharge. Committing to as few engagements as possible, so I can recuperate and get my brain and body ready for another week of doing my absolute best.
Does Monday start post-show on Sunday night?
In a way, yes. Since beginning rehearsals for this show I’ve made the choice to cut out alcohol during the work week and imbibe only on Sunday night, the night before the day off. Our stage manager hosts a little gathering for us to celebrate the week of hard work, and then I get to go out to dinner with my boyfriend (something we love to do together) or go to my parents’ house down in TriBeCa where my stepdad cooks incredible meals and we all have too much wine, and it’s such a nice thing to be able to be together. In that sense, Sunday night feels like it kicks off my Monday because it’s time when I actively let the week go.
Where can we find you on a Monday?
You can find me at my apartment in Brooklyn or on a massage table in Nolita. But please don’t find me.
Early to rise or sleep in?
Early-ish to rise. When doing a show I always find that it’s helpful to sleep in a bit, after outputting so much energy late at night. But I’ve always had an active brain that’s eager to get up and accomplish things, so my version of sleeping in is pretty tame.
Green juice or orange?
Green smoothie every day!
Morning news or morning workout?
Now: Mornings are about catching up on emails and outstanding correspondences. News is inevitably wrapped up in that package. Before Oklahoma it was a morning workout! I’ve been on Classpass for 4 years now and it really changed my relationship to working out. I love boxing (Overthrow, Shadowbox, Box + Flow), dance cardio (DanceBody), yoga (Sacred), and even sometimes indoor running (Mile High Run Club), but while doing this show my heart belongs exclusively to Pilates (mostly at New York Pilates but I also love Core Pilates, Physio-Logic, and Xtend Barre).
Time to yourself or time with friends?
Time to myself while doing this show. I miss my friends!
Workout or Hang out?
Workout!
Sweats or jeans?
Jeans
Midtown or Downtown?
Downtown forever.
What it takes to get you to the theater district on a Monday:
Ugh. Occasionally I’ll do a TV audition on a Monday if it can’t be rescheduled.
Indulge us and give us your pre theater diner staples.
My go-to meals are usually from staples like Sweetgreen, Little Beet, Westville, Dig Inn, Mulberry and Vine, or recently By Chloe (gluten free Kale Caesar with extra shiitake bacon please).
Beauty/Wellness Appointment or Appointment television?
Regular massage appointment (duh) BUT I do have my shows! Currently watching Fleabag, Ramy, Chernobyl, and Queer Eye.
High Culture or Guilty Pleasures?
High Culture honey!
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