My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!
Will Swenson Headshot
Get Will Swenson Alerts

Will Swenson

My Shows
Track Your Shows, Get Recommendations, and More!
Add Will Swenson's shows to your list.

BIO

Will Swenson is known as one of Broadway’s most versatile leading men and has been seen on Broadway in roles across a wide character spectrum. Will received critical acclaim for his performance as the subversive hippie Berger in the 2009 revival of Hair for which he received Tony, Drama Desk and Drama League Nominations. He went on to perform the role in London’s West End as well. He starred as Inspector Javert in the 2014 revival of Les Miserables, and played the conflicted drag queen Tick in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, (Drama League Nomination). In Waitress Will performed opposite the show’s creator Sara Bareilles. Other Broadway: Disaster!, Lestat, Brooklyn: The Musical, and his sentimental favorite 110 in the Shade: the production where he met his wife, actress Audra McDonald. Off-Broadway favorites include the recent revival of Assassins, Nantucket Sleighride, and Jerry Springer: The Opera for which he won an Obie Award. Will originated the role of Tom in Murder Ballad, and also created the role of Stacey Jaxx in the original Off-Broadway production of Rock of Ages. Other favorites include Little Miss Sunshine, Adrift in Macao, Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Pericles. Tours and Other: Miss Saigon, We Will Rock You, Camelot with the NY Philharmonic, Pirates of Penzance, Moon for the Misbegotten, The Royal Family of Broadway. Film & Television: Will played Philo Barnum in the movie musical “The Greatest Showman”, and can be seen in the feature films “This is Where I Leave You”, “The Kitchen” and “The Switch”. Will spent a season on the Netflix series “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” as the evil Professor Carcosa. He played opposite his wife in the Covid/Zombie thriller series “The Bite”. He has guest-starred on “Law & Order (SVU & CSI)”, “The Good Wife”, “No Tomorrow”, and “The Code.” He played Henry Donnenfeld on the Netflix crime drama series “Hit and Run”, and later this year will be seen as the father of the Vampire clan The Fairmont’s in the new Netflix drama “First Kill”. Some of Will’s earliest memories involve listening to his Dad’s 8-track copy of “Hot August Night”. Will can’t remember not having most of Neil Diamond’s songs permanently imprinted on his brain. And he’s super happy about that.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2022
Neil Diamond (Then)

[Off-Broadway]
Classic Stage Off-Broadway Revival, 2021
Charles Guiteau

[Immersive]
Quintessence of Dust Theatre Company Immersive Production, 2019
Bruce

[Off-Broadway]
Lincoln Center Theater Off-Broadway Premiere, 2019
Performer

[Regional (US)]
Regional World Premiere Production, 2018
Tony

[Off-Broadway]
The New Group Off-Broadway Premiere, 2018
Satan, Warm-Up

[Off-Broadway]
USS Intrepid Production, 2017
Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2016
Earl [Replacement]

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2016
Tony Delvecchio [Replacement]

[Off-Broadway]
Theatre for a New Audience Off-Broadway Production, 2016
Cleon

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2014
Javert [Replacement], Javert

[Off-Broadway]
Off-Broadway Premiere, 2013
Richard Hoover

[Off-Broadway]
2013
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
Manhattan Theatre Club Production, 2012
Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2011
Mitzi, Tick

[Toronto]
Pre-Broadway North American Production, 2010
Tick (Mitzi)

[West End]
London Revival, 2010
Berger

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2009
Berger

[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 2008
Stacee Jaxx

[Off-Broadway]
Shakespeare In The Park Revival, 2008
Berger

[Broadway]
Roundabout Revival, 2007
Cody Bridger, Bill Starbuck (Understudy)

[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 2007
Rick Shaw, Rick Shaw

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2006
Ensemble, Marquis, Laurent, Armand (Understudy), Lestat (Understudy)

[Off-Broadway]
Off-Broadway Revival, 2005
Ensemble, Ensemble

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2004
Vocalist [Replacement], Street Singer (Understudy) [Replacement], Taylor Collins (Understudy) [Replacement]

[Regional (US)]
Las Vegas Production, 2004
Ensemble

Movies

The Singles Ward
[ 2002 ] Jonathan Jordan
The R.M.
[ 2003 ] Kori Swenson
Sons of Provo
[ 2004 ] Will Jensen
The Singles 2nd Ward
[ 2007 ] Jonathan
The Switch
[ 2010 ] Actor on Stage
Gods Behaving Badly
[ 2013 ] Aries
This Is Where I Leave You
[ 2014 ] Younger Mort
The Greatest Showman
[ 2017 ] Philo Barnum
The Kitchen
[ 2019 ] Michael Mariano
Hidden Island
[ 2025 ] Colin

TV Shows

No Tomorrow
Pete
Elsbeth
[ 2024-2025 ]

Awards and Nominations

Drama League Awards - 2023 - Distinguished Performance Award

Will Swenson, A Beautiful Noise

Drama League Awards - 2022 - Distinguished Performance Awards

Will Swenson, Assassins

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2022 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Will Swenson, Assassins


winner
Obie Awards - 2018 - Performance Award

Will Swenson, Jerry Springer: The Opera

Drama Desk Awards - 2009 - Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Will Swenson, Hair

Tony Awards - 2009 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Will Swenson, Hair

Videos

News


A BEAUTIFUL NOISE To Play The Sydney Lyric
by Marissa Faith Curley - May 17, 2026

Producers Paul Dainty and TEG Dainty, Ken Davenport and Bob Gaudio have announced the internationally acclaimed production A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL will play a strictly limited engagement at The Sydney Lyric from November 2026. 
AT THIS PERFORMANCE… Will Return to The Green Room 42 in May
by Stephi Wild - May 11, 2026

Stephen DeAngelis will present the 196th edition of AT THIS PERFORMANCE…, spotlighting understudies from RAGTIME, BEACHES, THE WILD PARTY, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, and GODDESS at The Green Room 42.
AN EVENING WITH AUDRA MCDONALD Announced At Westport Country Playhouse
by A.A. Cristi - May 7, 2026

Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald will perform AN EVENING WITH AUDRA MCDONALD at Westport Country Playhouse, accompanied by longtime music director Andy Einhorn.
Photos: Audra McDonald and Bonnie Milligan Visit BEACHES on Broadway
by Bruce Glikas - Apr 21, 2026

Performances are now underway for the Broadway production of Beaches, A New Musical. Audra McDonald and Bonnie Milligan recently paid a visit to the show, and posed with the cast backstage after the performance. Check out photos here!
Charisse Pearlina Weston Honored at 2026 Hermitage Greenfield Prize Gala
by Stephi Wild - Apr 15, 2026

Visual artist Charisse Pearlina Weston was honored at the 18th Hermitage Greenfield Prize celebration, raising over $400,000, with performances by Tony nominee Will Swenson and Hermitage Fellow Britton Smith.
Review: MURDER BALLAD at SLAC Takes Us to the Edge of Desire
by Tyler Hinton - Apr 9, 2026

The regional premiere of MURDER BALLAD at Salt Lake Acting Company takes us to the edge of desire.
Performers From CHESS, THE OUTSIDERS, and More Set For AT THIS PERFORMANCE... at the Green Room 42
by Stephi Wild - Apr 1, 2026

AT THIS PERFORMANCE… will return to The Green Room 42 featuring Standbys, Understudies and Alternates from Wicked; Chess; The Outsiders; Operation Mincemeat; Bigfoot! A New Musical; Going Bachrach: The Songs Of An Icon, and About Time.
Tony-Nominee Will Swenson Set to Perform at Hermitage Greenfield Prize Dinner 2026
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 16, 2026

Will Swenson will perform at the 2026 Hermitage Greenfield Prize Dinner in Sarasota County, Florida. The event will honor visual artist Charisse Pearlina Weston and feature additional performances by Britton Smith.
Interview: Julie Reiber & Bryce Ryness of North Carolina Symphony's HOLLYWOOD HITS
by Jeffrey Kare - Mar 6, 2026

On March 13th & 14th, the North Carolina Symphony will be presenting HOLLYWOOD HITS. Two guest vocalists are coming down to the Triangle area to perform iconic songs from memorable movies and binge-worthy TV such as A STAR IS BORN, TOMMY, ROCKETMAN, BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, ROCK OF AGES, LOVE ACTUALLY, TOP GUN, ELVIS, and more.
Australian Cast Announced for A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL
by Gillian Blum - Feb 15, 2026

Producers Paul Dainty and TEG Dainty, Ken Davenport and Bob Gaudio announced the Australian cast of the smash-hit musical A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical.
Around The BroadwayWorld: Top News, Reviews, Interviews & More from January 2026
by Team BWW - Feb 10, 2026

Around the BroadwayWorld is our monthly snapshot of the biggest stories making waves across the global theatre community.
Review: Will Swenson Leads New SoCal Revival of SWEENEY TODD at La Mirada Theatre
by Michael Quintos - Feb 5, 2026

In what is clearly proving to be the must-see stage production of the new year so far here in Southern California, McCoy Rigby Entertainment's stunning new production of the 1979 Tony Award-winning classic SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET—now playing a limited engagement at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through February 22, 2026—has been revived locally with thrilling visuals, Broadway-caliber showmanship, creative hutzpah, and a spectacular cast led by Tony nominee Will Swenson as the titular vengeful London barber and the hilarious Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita as pie shop proprietor Mrs. Lovett.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld February 5, 2026- Bob the Drag Queen In MOULIN ROUGE! First Look
by - Feb 5, 2026

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is February 5, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Video: Will Swenson & Lesli Margherita in SWEENEY TODD at La Mirada Theatre
by Joshua Wright - Feb 4, 2026

Get a first look at Tony Award nominee Will Swenson Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita in Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd in this all-new video. The production has musical direction by Darryl Archibald, choreography by Lee Martino, and direction by Tony Award-winner Jason Alexander.
Exclusive: Will Swenson & Lesli Margherita Sing 'My Friends' From SWEENEY TODD
by Joshua Wright - Jan 31, 2026

Get a first look at Tony Award nominee Will Swenson Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita in Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. The production has musical direction by Darryl Archibald, choreography by Lee Martino, and direction by Tony Award-winner Jason Alexander.  
Photos: First Look At Will Swenson And Lesli Margherita In SWEENEY TODD At La Mirada Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 30, 2026

Production photos have been released for La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment’s revival of SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET, now running through February 22, 2026, at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Interview: Will Swenson & Lesli Margherita of SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET
by Shari Barrett - Jan 23, 2026

I decided to speak with its two stars, Will Swenson and Lesli Margherita about the challenges faced during their journeys to taking on Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett and how working with Director Jason Alexander for the La Mirada production has inspired them to bring these two iconic characters to life.
Exclusive: Will Swenson & Lesli Margherita In Rehearsals For SWEENEY TODD
by Joshua Wright - Jan 22, 2026

Get a first look at Tony Award nominee Will Swenson  Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita in rehearsals for Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. The production has musical direction will be by Darryl Archibald, choreography by Lee Martino, and direction by Tony Award-winner Jason Alexander.
Video: Will Swenson Takes On the Title Role in SWEENEY TODD at La Mirada
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 21, 2026

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts will present Tony award-nominee Will Swenson starring as “Sweeney Todd” in its upcoming major revival of the Stephen Sondheim masterpiece, SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET. Watch the video as Will describes what it's like to star in his favorite musical of all-time. 
Review: A BEAUTIFUL NOISE is Dually Rousing and Intimate at the Eccles Theater
by Tyler Hinton - Jan 21, 2026

A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL, currently playing at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, is dually rousing and intimate.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Will Swenson been in?

Will Swenson has appeared on Broadway in 9 shows.

How many West End shows has Will Swenson been in?

Will Swenson has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.

What was Will Swenson's first West End show?

Will Swenson's first West End show was Hair which opened in 2010

What awards has Will Swenson been nominated for?

Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for A Beautiful Noise, Distinguished Performance Awards (Drama League Awards) for Assassins, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Assassins, Performance Award (Obie Awards) for Jerry Springer: The Opera, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Hair and Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Hair.

What awards has Will Swenson won?

Will Swenson has won a Performance Award at the Obie Awards for his role in Jerry Springer: The Opera.

Get Will Swenson Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Videos


TICKET CENTRAL
Hot Show
Tickets From $58
Hot Show
Tickets From $69
Hot Show
Tickets From $59
Hot Show
Tickets From $101