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While waiting onstage before his first entrance, hidden behind a backdrop, Dylan Knight Weaver — donning a suit and tie with a “The Book of Mormon” prop in hand — takes a moment to close his eyes and feel the energy of the audience.

In this ritual, Weaver just focuses on channeling and feeling the audience’s energy.

“There’s thousands of people sitting together waiting to see the same thing. All of (the) energy is focused on one person or one thing happening on the stage,” Weaver said. “And so I try to just feel that energy and let it come into my body, and then just release all that and just go into the show.”

But, the energy in the audience this weekend may feel a little different than the other cities where Weaver has performed in the national tour of “The Book of Mormon.” Several seats will be filled by former professors who taught him at his “home away from home” for four years: Syracuse University’s Department of Drama.

“When I saw that Syracuse was on the schedule this year, I was just literally beside myself with excitement,” Weaver said. “I have so many professors that are going to come through and that’s going to be so cool to kind of show them that I’ve done the thing.”

Weaver, who grew up in Colorado and graduated from SU’s College of Visual and Performing Arts in 2023 with a degree in musical theater, is returning to his alma mater’s hometown this weekend at the Landmark Theatre to play Elder Price, the lead role of “The Book of Mormon” musical.

From the creators of “South Park,” “The Book of Mormon” is hailed as an outrageous musical comedy, telling the story of a mismatched pair of missionaries sent halfway across the world to “spread the Good Word.” Weaver, an understudy for Elder Price, typically plays Elder Grant and Elder Church. This month, he took over full-time playing Elder Price. After playing Elder Price about 150 times in the last two years, the month happened to align with his return to the role and the return to the hometown of his alma mater.

During Dylan Knight Weaver’s years at Syracuse University, he called SU’s Department of Drama a “home away from home.” As a senior, Weaver appeared in Syracuse Stage’s production of “The Little Mermaid” as Prince Eric. Courtesy of David Lowenstein

In the show, Elder Price is an exciting and fun role to play — especially when you can tell the audience is “biting on it.” He described the character as a kind of “golden boy” who’s so enamored by his own greatness that he doesn’t see the world for what it truly is.

“It’s a great, well-written show and the character is just one of those characters that I’ve always wanted to play,” Weaver said. “To be able to do it is just so, so, so fun and, even for this limited run, I love doing it every single night.”

At SU, Weaver appeared in Syracuse Stage’s production of “The Little Mermaid” as Prince Eric, as well as in “Sweet Charity,” “As You Like It” and “Sender” with SU Drama.

These experiences as a student working in professional theater taught Weaver what a professional production would be like, he said. He learned how to properly take care of his voice and his body.

Weaver first heard about the audition through an SU alum, who had served as the Dance Captain/Swing for “The Book of Mormon” on Broadway and the national tour. Now, Weaver performs “The Book of Mormon” eight times a week, totaling around 500 shows so far in his two years on tour. Learning how to pace yourself is important in this industry — something he said he learned while juggling schoolwork and performances of “The Little Mermaid.”

“It’s quite difficult and it’s really rewarding though to be able to kind of do this marathon week in, week out. And I think I really learned that through Syracuse Stage,” Weaver said.

David Lowenstein, an SU Department of Drama alum and now SU professor who performed alongside Weaver in “The Little Mermaid,” said Weaver met every challenge with maturity and a “relaxed confidence.”

Dylan Knight Weaver performs in the national tour of “The Book of Mormon” eight times a week. In his two years on the tour, Weaver has performed in roughly 500 shows so far. Courtesy of Julia Cervantes

“He has a great combination because he’s really talented, and he has this maturity and this confidence, and he’s just a really nice young man,” said Lowenstein, who also directed Weaver in “Sweet Charity” and taught him in class. “It’s really nice to see great things happen to nice people.”

Early on in his time at SU, Weaver said his professors “hammered” the importance of work ethic into him. Persevering through classes in the COVID-19 pandemic — which he acknowledged could’ve been a reason to pivot careers — strengthened his commitment to pursuing musical theater professionally.

Sometimes, it can be tempting for students to sleep through early morning classes or take the “easy way out” if they can, said Danita Emma, a ballet instructor in the drama department. But, Weaver — who Emma taught ballet for three years at SU — was always there at Emma’s 8:25 a.m. ballet class, smiling.

“He was very dedicated. He was always present. He always came, and he took on challenges,” Emma said. “He took everything very seriously, and he grew immensely in SU, but part of that is the character, and his character is what is the foundation of his success.”

Weaver said his dance faculty helped him dance at the level he is today; many things he learned at SU prepared him to dance in “The Book of Mormon.”

Emma, who already has her ticket to see Weaver Friday night, said she gets teary-eyed when she sees her former students onstage.

“I see them onstage and it’s like, wow, where they were (for) four or three and a half years, and where they are now, and I’m seeing their dream come true,” Emma said. “It’s very rewarding and exciting and heartfelt for me. It’s nothing more than seeing the success of a former student, and I can’t wait to see him.”

Lowenstein also graduated from the program and was cast in a tour just a few months later that eventually came back to the Landmark Theatre. He said he understands how Weaver feels.

“It’s like I have the dual emotional response to ‘I know exactly how that feels,’ and experiencing it from this side of it as the teacher,” Lowenstein said. “(I’m) just so proud and so excited to see my students just do the thing, do the thing that we practiced doing in class and through their four years at SU.”

When Weaver is not onstage this weekend, he is hoping to stop at his favorite spots around town, like Water Street Bagel Co., Pastabilities and Salt City Coffee — where he worked during his time as a student.

“I love Syracuse. It was my home away from home for four years,” Weaver said. “It’s gonna be so surreal and just a really exciting, full-circle moment for me.”

Published on March 18, 2026 at 11:07 pm
Contact Kendall: kaluther@syr.edu