Will Swenson, a Tony Award nominee and Broadway star, will headline the 2026 Hermitage Greenfield Prize Dinner, a night honoring visual artist Charisse Pearlina Weston.
The Hermitage’s annual spring gala isn’t just a celebration; it’s a gathering of artists at the top of their game, and this year, Swenson’s taking the stage alongside returning Hermitage Fellow Britton Smith.
Swenson’s career shines with versatility. He’s earned Tony and Obie awards, recently wowed audiences as Neil Diamond in A Beautiful Noise, and made waves in the revival of Hair with the late and beloved Gavin Creel, who was also a Hermitage Fellow. His role as Berger landed him Tony and Drama Desk nominations, while his turn as Charles Guiteau in Sondheim’s Assassins picked up nods from the Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel, and the Drama League. He clinched an Obie for Jerry Springer: The Opera.
Swenson’s resume reads like a wish list for Broadway fans: Les Misérables, Waitress, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, Murder Ballad (by Hermitage Fellow Julia Jordan), Rock of Ages, Pericles, Little Miss Sunshine, Adrift in Macao, and plenty more. He’s familiar to film and TV audiences, too, with appearances in The Greatest Showman, The Kitchen, This Is Where I Leave You, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Law & Order, The Good Wife, Hit and Run, The Bite, First Kill, and Elsbeth.
Britton Smith, a fellow Hermitage artist and 2024 Greenfield Prize finalist, will also perform original music developed at the Hermitage. Smith’s got Broadway bona fides, plus a Tony for his work with the Broadway Advocacy Coalition.
As the lead of Britton and the Sting, a “funk liberation band,” Smith commands attention. Broadway World calls him a “force to be reckoned with” and a “tornado of talent and energy.” Hermitage audiences know him well, especially from his standout appearances in the “Hermitage Sunsets @ Selby Gardens” series and his recent jazz and soul showcase.
Andy Sandberg, Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO, summed up the excitement: “I’ve known Will Swenson for twenty years, and I’m thrilled he’ll be sharing his incredible talents with our Hermitage audiences. Will and Britton are both extraordinary performers—guests at this year’s Greenfield Prize Dinner are in for something special. It’s going to be a night to remember.”
Past Greenfield Prize Dinner performers have included big names: Rachel Bay Jones, Eden Espinosa, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, and Hermitage Fellow, Gavin Creel. That’s an impressive guest list.
Ellen and Richard Sandor chair this year’s event. The Hermitage Greenfield Prize is a partnership with the Greenfield Foundation, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County as lead sponsor, and media support from The Herald-Tribune and SRQ Magazine. You can find a list of all sponsors and benefactors at HermitageArtistRetreat.org/HGPDinner2026.
The Hermitage Development Office has tables and sponsorships available. To secure your seat, contact the Hermitage Development Office at (941) 475-2098, Ext. 2. Sponsorships range from $2,000 to $10,000. If you want in, you’ll want to act quickly, as capacity is nearly full.
