Will Swenson (born October 26, 1972) is an American actor and singer best known for his work in musical theatre. He also has developed a film career, primarily in LDS cinema. His Broadway and West End credits include principal roles in Hair (for which he was nominated for a Tony Award), Les Misérables, Waitress, Assassins, and A Beautiful Noise.
Early life Two of Swenson's grandparents, James Nathan Hale and Ruth Hale, were playwrights; Ruth was also an actor.
Swenson moved throughout the United States during his childhood. He attended Brigham Young University and later served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guayaquil, Ecuador. As of 2008, he was no longer practicing the LDS faith. After graduating from college, Swenson earned his Equity card by getting cast by Disney at Walt Disney World, performing in Beauty and The Beast Live: On Stage and the Hoop Dee Doo Review.
Career Swenson is known among members of the LDS Church for his role as Jonathan Jordan in the LDS Cinema movie The Singles Ward (2002) and its sequel, The Singles 2nd Ward (2007). Swenson co-wrote, directed and acted in the LDS Cinema mockumentary Sons of Provo (2004).
Swenson appeared on Broadway in Lestat, 110 in the Shade and Brooklyn. Off Broadway, he played the role of Stacee Jaxx in the musical Rock of Ages but did not go on to perform the role on Broadway because he was offered the starring role of Berger in the Broadway revival of Hair. He played Sir Sagramore in Camelot at Lincoln Center and Chris in the second national tour of Miss Saigon, the latter of which he performed opposite future The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Britani Bateman.
He played the role of Berger in the off-Broadway 40th Anniversary Concert of Hair opposite Karen Olivo. In 2008, Swenson was again cast as Berger in The Public Theater's revival of the show in Central Park. He went on to reprise the role when the production moved to Broadway in March 2009. He received critical acclaim for his performance on Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. He played the role of Berger again in the West End revival of Hair which began performances on April 1, 2010, and ended his limited engagement on May 29, 2010. Audra McDonald and Swenson reprised their roles in a two-week fundraising production of 110 in the Shade at the Hale Center Theater in Orem, Utah.
On October 8, 2009, Swenson appeared in the guest cameo slot for the extension performance of Katie Thompson's R.R.R.E.D.: A Secret Musical, as part of the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival. In 2010 in Toronto, Canada, Swenson played the lead role of "Tick"/"Mitzi" in the pre-Broadway North American company of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert.
In October 2013, Swenson was cast as Inspector Javert in the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Misérables, which opened in March 2014 at New York's Imperial Theatre, where the musical had previously run for 13 years.
In 2018, Swenson played Satan in the New Group's off-Broadway production of Jerry Springer: The Opera. In 2020, he appeared in the Netflix show Chilling Adventures of Sabrina as Pan.
In June 2022, Swenson began playing the role of Neil Diamond (Then) in the new musical A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical, based on the life and music of the performer, at the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston. The show moved to Broadway later in 2022 officially opening on December 4, at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City. Swenson has said he grew up surrounded by and loving Diamond's music as the singer was one of his father's favorites. Swenson added that in his youth he would sing the songs and eventually could even sing them sounding like Diamond.
In January and February 2026, Swenson is set to star in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as Sweeney Todd at the La Mirada Theatre in California.Will Swenson and Lesli Margherita to Lead Sweeney Todd Directed by Jason Alexander Playbill, November 3, 2025 He is then scheduled to return to A Beautiful Noise in Australia at the Princess Theatre from August to October 2026 and the Sydney Lyric from November to December 2026.Hall, Margaret Will Swenson to Reprise Role of Neil Diamond in A Beautiful Noise in Australia Playbill, October 2, 2025McNamara, Lauren Neil Diamond Musical ‘A Beautiful Noise’ Confirms Sydney Season Following Melbourne Debut Variety, May 18, 2026
Personal life Swenson met his first wife, Amy Westerby, while they were both performing in one of his grandmother's comedies, Hopsville Holiday. The couple have two sons, Bridger and Sawyer; they have since divorced.
Swenson and actress Audra McDonald became engaged in January 2012 and were married on October 6, 2012. In October 2016, their daughter Sally was born.
In October 2020, Swenson joined other Broadway stars in a virtual letter-writing event hosted by nonpartisan voter advocacy group VoteRiders. The mission was to educate at-risk voters on their options in the upcoming election, focusing specifically on voters in Florida and Wisconsin.
Theatre credits YearShowRoleCategory1999-2000Miss SaigonChris ScottUS National Tour2001Jekyll & HydeDr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward HydeWestchester Broadway Theatre2004BrooklynVocalist; u/s Street Singer, u/s Taylor CollinsBroadway2005Two Gentleman of VeronaEnsembleOff-Broadway2006LestatEnsemble; u/s Armand, u/s LestatBroadway2007Adrift in Macao Rick ShawOff-Broadway110 in the ShadeCody Bridger; u/s Bill StarbuckBroadwayHairBerger40th Anniversary Concert2008Camelot Sir Sagramore Lincoln CenterThe Slug Bearers of Kayrol IslandPsychiatrist Off-BroadwayHairBergerRock of AgesStacee Jaxx2009-2010HairBergerBroadway2010West End Bonnie & Clyde Clyde WorkshopPriscilla, Queen of the DesertTick (Mitzi)Toronto Broadway2013Murder BalladTomOff-BroadwayLittle Miss SunshineRichard Hoover2014Les MisérablesInspector JavertBroadwayBull DurhamCrash DavisAlliance Theatre2014-2015Les MisérablesInspector JavertBroadway2015The Rocky Horror ShowFrank 'N' FurterPioneer Theatre CompanyLes MisérablesInspector JavertBroadway2016PericlesCleonTheatre for a New Audience Disaster!TonyBroadwayThe Pirates of PenzanceThe Pirate KingBarrington Stage Company2017HairBergerLincoln Center2017-2018WaitressEarl Hunterson Broadway2018Jerry Springer - The OperaSatanOff-BroadwayThe Royal Family of BroadwayTony CavendishBarrington Stage CompanyParadeTom WatsonWorkshop2019Nantucket Sleigh RideMcPheeLincoln CenterFun HomeBruce BechdelWorkshop2021-2022AssassinsCharles J. GuiteauOff-Broadway2022Broadway ConcertA Beautiful NoiseNeil Diamond (then)Boston2022-2023Broadway2026Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetSweeney ToddLa Mirada TheatreA Beautiful Noise Neil Diamond (then)Australia
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1996 Treasure Chest Thor Short film 2002 The Singles Ward Jonathan Jordan 2003 The R.M. Kori Swenson 2004 Sons of Provo Will Jensen Also executive producer Dear John Tyson Short film 2007 The Singles 2nd Ward Jonathan Jordan 2010 The Switch Actor on stage 2013 Gods Behaving Badly Ares Unreleased 2014 This Is Where I Leave You Young Mort Altman 2017 The Greatest Showman Philo Barnum
Television Year Title Role Notes 2002 All My Children Purse-snatcher Episode: August 14, 2002 2006 As the World Turns Vanya Episode: December 18, 2006 2007 Six Degrees Photoshoot man Episode: "Slings and Arrows"; uncredited 2008 Live from Lincoln Center Sir Sagramore Episode: "Camelot"2009 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Joe Lazar Episode: "Rock Star" Late Show with David Letterman Berger Episode: April 30, 20092012 The Good Wife Justin Varney Episode: "Pants on Fire" Pzazz 101 Will Episode: "Method Acting" 2016 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Mitch Hampton Episode: "Broken Rhymes" 2016–17 No Tomorrow Pete 2 episodes 2020 Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Pan 5 episodes 2021 The Bite Brian Ritter 2022 First Kill Sebastian Fairmont Recurring role 2025 Elsbeth Axel Frostad Episode: "Hot Tub Crime Machine"
Web series Year Title Role Notes 2014 Submissions Only Fred Planer Episode: "Having Foresight"
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResult2009Tony AwardBest Featured Actor in a MusicalHairDrama Desk AwardOutstanding Actor in a Musical2018Obie AwardPerformanceJerry Springer: The Opera2022Drama League AwardDistinguished PerformanceAssassinsOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Featured Actor in a MusicalLucille Lortel AwardOutstanding Featured Performer in a Musical2023Drama League AwardDistinguished PerformanceA Beautiful Noise
References
External links
Will Swenson at IOBDB