My name is Ruoyin (Jonyca) Jiao, and I come from Xi'an, China. (If you have heard of the famous Terra-Cotta Warriors, that is in my city ha!) I am a singer song-writer, an actress, a performer, and a translator. 

       I came to the United States when I was 15, and I went to Baylor School, a co-ed high school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where I found my passion for theater and music. I got into Northwestern University as a theatre major in 2019, and I am about to graduate soon in June this year. I am a Theatre major with a certificate in Music Theatre, and also a Film Media Studies minor with a module in Acting for the Screen. 

      While in school, some of my favorite acting credits include Mulan in The Ballad of Mulan (a play with music), and Mum in Me...Jane (musical). In the fall of 2021, I established the EighthDay Theatre Club, the one and only Chinese theatre club in Northwestern, where we dedicate to produce and perform authentic Chinese stories on Northwestern campus, and also to challenge the theater community to re-examine the significance of diversity and inclusivity. Within two years, I have directed and we produced three shows on campus. 

        Coming from China, and as a multi-cultural artist, I really value my culture and my history. I want to create music and theater works to connect the American culture and Chinese culture. Because I am proud of my culture and identity, I want to share my culture on a global stage. I also believe that art brings people a sense of belonging. I want to spend time to get to know more artists from different cultural backgrounds, and collectively, share our unique culture and stories through our creations, and thus challenge the norm of the industry. 

        By the way, I love Chinese food and I make authentic Chinese food~~~