Will Swenson News

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events in the theatre world? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer! (more...)

The New York Times is reporting that PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT will play its final performance on Broadway on June 24, 2012 after 23 previews and 526 performances. (more...)

The New York Times is reporting that PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT will play its final performance on Broadway on June 24, 2012 after 23 previews and 526 performances. (more...)

The Public Theater announced complete casting today for AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. Directed by Daniel Sullivan, AS YOU LIKE IT will begin previews on Tuesday, June 5 and continue for four weeks through Saturday, June 30, opening on Thursday, June 21. (more...)

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Tony nominees celebrate, Broadway sings Adele, the POPS turns 29, and so much more! (more...)

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT’s Tony Award nominated star and original Australian leading man Tony Sheldon unveiled his portrait at Sardi’s Restaurant tonight, May 2. See photos of Sheldon with Nick Adams, Will Swenson, Audra McDonald, Roger Rees, Christine Andreas and Judy Kaye at Sardi's below! (more...)

WCBS Newsradio 880 reporter Jim Taylor caught up with the Tony Award-winning production of Bette Midler’s PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT and it’s Tony Award-nominated leading man Tony Sheldon backstage at the Palace Theatre. Listen to the complete radio segment online here. (more...)

“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” joins “The 39 Steps,” “No Time for Sergeants,” “Ragtime,” and “Tarzan: The Musical” to the Hale Centre Theatre 2013 season. The West Valley, Utah, company is the highest attended theater in the 7,000-member American Association of Community Theatre. (more...)

We'll be talking to nominees all day for their reactions! Click here for the complete list! Audra McDonald for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS "I am honored and grateful and I'm super thrilled for the production as a whole to get so many nominations. I am so proud of this production and thankful to the Tony nominating committee for recognizing all aspects of the show. I got the news via text message. As usual, it was up at 6:15 for me to get the kids to school and I was back in bed by 8! Will was here though so it was nice to roll over when I got the news and say "Hey I got a nomination!" Then we both conked out again. When we finally got up I asked him to be my date for the Tonys - he said yes! - so I guess that was our little celebration. Now it's back to being a mom for the day and get ready for the show tonight. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone at the theater tonight to congratulate them." (more...)

www.priscillaonbroadway.comPRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT’s Tony Award nominated star and original Australian leading man Tony Sheldon will unveil his portrait Sardi’s Restaurant tomorrow, Wednesday, May 2. (more...)

FM News 101.9 theater reporter Michelle Murillo caught up with the Tony Award-winning production of Bette Midler’s PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT on the musical’s one-year anniversary at the Palace Theatre, and sat down with Tony Award-nominated stars Will Swenson and Tony Sheldon to discuss their hit year driving the big pink bus on Broadway. Listen to the complete radio segment online here. (more...)

In honor and celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater, The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) will hold a special one-night-only gala event on Monday, June 18, featuring Kevin Kline as Romeo and Meryl Streep as Juliet in a star-studded staged reading of ROMEO AND JULIET, directed by Daniel Sullivan. For information on tickets for The Public Theater’s Anniversary Gala, please call (212) 539-8547 or visit www.shakespeareinthepark.org. A limited number of free stand-by line tickets will be available on the day of the gala at the Delacorte Theater. (more...)

Today, Will Swenson shared a song he wrote several years ago celebrating "the beauty of Mormon cursing" with the company o THE BOOK OF MORMON via Twitter. Enjoy the song, Dang, Fetch, Oh My Heck by Everclean/Sons of Provo in the video below! (more...)

Australia media giant Fremantle Media will be presenting a new reality show, "I Will Survive", offering Broadway hopefuls the chance to train with the PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT company at the Palace Theatre. The reality series will be broadcast on Network Ten. (more...)

As first reported exclusively by BroadwayWorld.com last week, the Public Theater confirmed today that Tony Award-winner Donna Murphy has been cast as The Witch in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel. Murphy last performed at the Delacorte in the Shakepeare in the Park production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 1985. INTO THE WOODS will begin previews on Monday, July 23 and continue for five weeks through Saturday, August 25 with an official press opening on Thursday, August 9. (more...)

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT "Divas" trio Jacqueline B. Arnold, Anastacia McCleskey and Lisa Howard sang the National Anthem for the New York Knicks vs. Orlando Magic game at Madison Square Garden, March 28. (more...)

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) announced additional casting today for the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. Robert Joy (Le Beau, Lord) and Oliver Platt (Touchstone) join the previously announced MacIntyre Dixon (Adam), David Furr (Orlando), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia), Omar Metwally (Oliver), Lily Rabe (Rosalind), and Stephen Spinella (Jaques) in Shakespeare’s comedy AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan. (more...)

PFLAG National honored Broadway stars Audra McDonald (THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, PRIVATE PRACTICE) and Will Swenson (PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, HAIR) with the 2012 Straight for Equality in Entertainment Award, presented at the Fourth Annual Straight for Equality Awards Gala on April 2nd at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. (more...)

The Public Theater has announced additional casting today for the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. David Furr (Orlando) and Stephen Spinella (Jaques) join the previously announced MacIntyre Dixon (Adam), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Celia), Omar Metwally (Oliver), and Lily Rabe (Rosalind) in Shakespeare’s comedy AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan. (more...)

Last night, March 20, Priscilla Queen of the Desert celebrated the musical's landmark one year anniversary at the Palace Theatre. Following the celebratory performance, Priscilla's half millionth audience member was crowned on stage along with a secret "Oprah-style" prizing moment and a special surprise performance from the cheerleading squad "Cheer New York." Check out highlights from the big event below! (more...)