Swenson to temporarily replace Bart in Disaster!
Tony nominee Will Swenson will temporarily replace Tony winner Roger Bart as Tony Delvecchio in the Broadway transfer of musical comedy Disaster! from 29 April to 6 May 2016. Mr Bart departs due to a shooting schedule conflict, but is set to return to the show on 7 May 2016.
Co-writer and star Seth Rudetsky commented:
"When I was at Will and Audra McDonald's wedding, part of me was thinking, 'He's so funny and handsome. Perfect for Audra!' As well as, 'He's so funny and handsome. Perfect to play Tony in Disaster!.'"Will Swenson earned a Tony nomination for 'Hair' in 2009. He was last seen on Broadway as Javert in 'Les Misérables.' His other Broadway credits include 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert,' '110 in the Shade,' 'Lestat,' and 'Brooklyn.' His off-Broadway credits include 'Murder Ballad' and 'Little Miss Sunshine.'
Directed by Jack Plotnick, the cast of Disaster! includes Tony winner Roger Bart (Tony), Tony nominee Kerry Butler (Marianne), three-time Tony nominee Kevin Chamberlin (Maury), Tony nominee Adam Pascal (Chad), Tony winner Faith Prince (Shirley), Rachel York (Jackie), three-time Emmy nominee Seth Rudetsky (Ted Scheider), Jennifer Simard (Sister Mary Downy), Max Crumm (Scott), Lacretta Nicole (Levora), Baylee Littrell, Paul Castree, Manoel Felciano, Casey Garvin, Travis Kent, Alyse Alan Louis, Maggie McDowell, Olivia Phillip and Catherine Ricafort.
Disaster! features a book by Seth Rudetsky & Jack Plotnick along with hits from the 1970's. Previews began at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre on 9 February 2016, before an official opening on 8 March and a limited engagement through to 3 July 2016.
Synopsis: "Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the theatre comes Broadway's new musical comedy Disaster! Earthquakes, tidal waves, infernos and rampant wildlife can't stop an outrageous cast of characters from dancing, gambling and singing the night away aboard New York's first floating casino and discotheque. Disaster! features some of the most memorable pop, rock and disco hits of the 1970's, including 'Hot Stuff,' 'I Am Woman,' 'Knock On Wood,' 'Daybreak' and more."
The creative team behind Disaster! features choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, scenic design by Tony nominee Tobin Ost, costume design by six-time Tony winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony winner Jeff Croiter and sound design by Mark Menard.
Disaster! is produced on Broadway by Robert Ahrens, Mickey Liddell/LD Entertainment, Hunter Arnold, James Wesley and Jim Burba & Bob Hayes in association with Katherine McGregor, Mary J. David and Stephen CuUnjieng.
The musical comedy began life at the Triad Theatre in NYC, where it ran from 22 January 2012 through to 25 March 2012. It then transferred to off-Broadway's St. Luke's Theatre, where it played from 14 October 2013 through to 11 April 2014.
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