Perseverance is paying off in a big way for Will Hastreiter, '21.

After more than a year of auditions, waiting for callbacks, and sweating out cast announcements, Hastreiter is ready to make his Broadway debut.

Hastreiter is going to be part of the Tony award-winning musical The Outsiders for a series of performances beginning Friday, March 27th, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in New York City. In its third season on Broadway, The Outsiders is a musical set in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma, and follows the conflict between two rival gangs divided by their socioeconomic status.

Hastreiter will be on swing coverage for a week, meaning he is filling in for a vacationing cast member. As part of swing coverage, Hastreiter has to be prepared to play four different roles and provide off-stage coverage if needed. Off-stage coverage could include being needed in the middle of a show or providing vocal support.

For someone who has been chasing his dream since his time at Midland University, getting the word he was going to be part of a Broadway show was overwhelming. “I have been pursuing this for over a year,” he said. “I was preparing to go on tour with RENT in Concert when I got a call from my agent telling me I needed to cancel because I was needed as a vacation swing for The Outsiders. I had just woken up when she called, so I needed to clear my head to make sure I heard her correctly. I was elated.”

While he is prepared for numerous roles, he will be starting off in the role of Paul Holden, one of the Socs gang members. “Paul has some cool movements, a fight scene, a few lines, and a solo,” Hastreiter said. “It’s a great character for me to tiptoe my way into Broadway.”

He is also prepared for the roles of Bob Sheldon, Soda Pop Curtis, and Darrell Curtis. “I’m excited for the chance to debut as Darrell,” Hastreiter said. “He’s the oldest brother, and I can kind of gravitate toward him as an older brother. I’m excited to put my spin on him.”

There are no guarantees for continued roles with The Outsiders, as vacation swing coverage could have him ready for work at any time or waiting in the wings. “It’s kind of up in the air when I might get called in again,” he said. “Right now, I’ve got these shows guaranteed, and when you can put a Broadway credit on your resume, that’s going to be a big boost going into future auditions.”

After deciding to move to New York City over a year ago, he estimates he has gone through about 50 auditions, so needless to say, he, his family, and friends were beyond ecstatic when he got the news.

“Everyone back home was very excited,” he said. “Dan Hays (Midland Director of Theatre Activities) was one of the first calls I made, and he was elated. He and Kathy (Dan’s wife) are coming to see my debut, and I will have 18 people from Nebraska coming to the show, along with a few other friends from around here.

“I owe one of the biggest thanks of my career to Dan. I love him, appreciate him, and am thankful for the opportunities he has placed in my lap. He has given so much to me, and I want to pay him back with the highest respect I can.”

While there may be some nerves for a Broadway debut, Hastreiter is more than prepared for something that has been his goal for many years. “I think it will set in a little bit more once I get suited up and realize this is really happening, but whatever nerves I have go away once I get on stage,” he said. “I’m built for this.”