WSU alum returns to Utah as a Broadway sensation

From the Austad Auditorium at Weber State University to the theaters of Broadway, Andre Ward BA ’95, has performed his way to becoming a successful stage actor.

For Ward, performing came naturally. Raised Pentecostal, he began singing at an early age in his church choir, learning to carry a tune long before acting ever seemed like a possible career. When a school teacher suggested his parents enroll him in acting classes because of his energetic personality, Ward took to the stage and quickly excelled.

From elementary through high school, Ward’s passion for acting grew. A talented actor, singer and dancer, he was offered multiple scholarships from various colleges when the time came. But it was Weber State that caught his attention after he auditioned in the Val A. Browning Center. He found a welcoming community and was offered a full scholarship for the theatre arts program. It was an offer he couldn’t refuse.

“I feel like Weber State chose me,” Ward said. “I auditioned for a scholarship, and I just loved my experience there. Then, when I was offered a full scholarship, it felt like an opportunity to repay my family for all the sacrifices they had made for me through the years.”

Mentored by his professors and supported by his peers, he graduated with a full portfolio and network of connections that helped him quickly launch his career in the professional realm.

A few years after graduating, he landed his first big role on Broadway in a production of Saturday Night Fever. More than 20 years later, Ward’s portfolio has continued to grow. He has starred in stage productions that include Rock of Ages, Xanadu, Escape to Margaritaville and the national tour of Dream Girls, as well as guest starring on several TV shows, such as Inventing Anna and Pose.

Ward will return to Utah in November 2022 to perform in Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City. He plays Toulouse-Lautrec, an eccentric screenwriter who finds himself in the middle of a tragic love story between his friends. Ward took on the role earlier in 2022, traveling the country for the production’s first national tour.

“I feel so fortunate to be a part of this show and to share the beauty and energy of it with the audience every night,” Ward said. “It’s such a diverse group of people, and everyone is celebrated and represented. This show is about truth, beauty, freedom and love, and who can’t get on board with that?”