Will Swenson’s Naked Truth
By Tom Citrano
Tony-nominated actor, and one of the stars of HAIR, Will Swenson (Berger) shares his feelings about being nominated for his first Tony award and his pursuit of living healthy and green in New York City.
What’s this Tony nomination mean to you?
Oh, my God! I haven’t had time to let it sink in yet. I’ve been trying to be an actor for a really long time and I guess you always think about how brilliant it would be but it’s never a reality. I’ve had friends who were nominated and it always seems real when they get nominated. But now that I’m nominated…it doesn’t seem real.
How much of Will Swenson is in Berger?
Hopefully, not too much. I like to find pieces of myself that I can expand upon, so it rings of truth. I suppose Berger is something of an alter-ego, if I didn’t have the responsibility chromosome…or guilt. He’s so much fun. He’s crazy. But on a day-to-day basis, I’m somewhat reserved and shy.
Do you wish you were more like Berger?
I admire his ability to live in the moment. That’s something I don’t do enough of. I’m unfortunately always looking forward or looking back. I wish I could just be in the moment and enjoy it.
Berger is a product of his times and definitely
environmentally aware. How about Will Swenson?
I’d say above average. I credit it all to my ex-wife. She taught me some good habits while we were married. And consequently our kids are very environmentally conscious. Every time I leave the water running, while I’m brushing my teeth, they go, ‘Turn off the water, Dad! You’re wasting water!’
Do you think it’s possible to live healthy and green
in New York City?
I live in Manhattan and the only difficult thing about living healthy and green is my unfortunate taste in food. Other than that, in many ways it is easier to be healthy here in the city. Companies like Fresh Direct can bring fresh vegetables right to your door. There’s certainly access to a healthier lifestyle if you want to find it. It’s certainly a lot easier here than in many other parts of the country.
Where do you go when you want to eat healthy?
I love Zen Palate. What those folks can do with soy is kind of amazing.
You do HAIR 8 times a week on Broadway.
Is there any time left to workout?
God no! The show itself is a giant workout! I’m doing 2.5 hours of cardio each day I do the show…Five hours on matinee days! I run around the stage like a fool, so I don’t have to in real life. When I’m not in a show I do a lot of running, and I try and hit the gym now and then.
Any yoga?
The show is really physical and I’ve developed a little sciatic nerve problem. So I do some yoga stretches for 20-30 minutes before each show. And whenever I can I hit the Bikram yoga studio to loosen things up. My girlfriend is really into Bikram. I should follow her over there more often.
Natural Awakenings NYC has an ongoing feature where readers share the place where they find “Serenity in the City.”
Where do you find serenity?
I live up in Inwood, next to probably, the most beautiful park in the city. It is something of an unknown commodity, Inwood Hill Park. It’s a fantastic park. It’s about half the size of Central Park and probably has only 10% of the foot traffic. It’s the last natural forest in Manhattan. Inwood Hill Park has amazing walking trails and wildlife. Recently, when I was running, I actually saw a wild turkey. I went over there this morning with my breakfast sandwich and meditated.
Every month Natural Awakenings NYC profiles a Natural Hero who is making a difference in our lives.
Do you have a Natural Hero in your life?
It’s a three-part answer. I grew up in Southern California so I was always outdoors. My Grandma lived on a ranch in Utah and used to take us on hikes. She was my first Natural Hero because she kind of introduced us to nature. And we used to visit Yosemite, so John Muir became my next Natural Hero. And Robert Frost is my third Natural Hero. I’ve always loved his poetry, which is so full of the beauty of nature.
Do you have any big plans for this summer in the city?
I love to go to free concerts in the park. And I love playing in the Broadway Softball League in Central Park. My girlfriend and I want to get bikes and ride up and down along the Hudson River. That parkway is so beautiful. We’re even talking about riding our bikes to work.
For more information about Will Swenson or tickets to the Public Theater Production of HAIR, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in New York City, go to hairbroadway.com.
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