The buzz is spreading about Hale Centre Theater Orem's fundraising run of "110 in the Shade," starring Tony Award-winning actor Audra McDonald and Utah native Will Swenson in a reprisal of the pair's 2007 Broadway performance.

"There's been quite a stir," said Anne Swenson, the theater's managing director. "We knew there would be. We wanted to make a concerted effort to get this information out to their fans."

The 300-seat theater-in-the-round has received calls from Georgia, New York, and Scotland seeking information about the June 28-July 10 run of the show.

Some 4,848 tickets are available, and the company has about 6,000 regular season ticket holders, so the theater company predicts tickets will sell out quickly.

The Broadway actors will donate their pay to the nonprofit company. After July 10, the show will continue until Aug. 7 with local actors in the lead roles.

For the theater's season ticket holders or patrons who have donated $1,000 or more, show tickets (priced at $99 to $149) will go on sale Jan. 5 at 10 a.m. in person or over the phone. Orem residents will be able to purchase tickets (also in person or by phone) on Jan. 11. On Jan. 14, sales will be opened up to other Utah residents. A limited number of VIP packages will also be available.

Online and general public tickets will go on sale Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. Transactions are limited to eight tickets per customer.

"We want to make sure that our patrons, especially season ticket holders and Orem residents, are first in line for those tickets," Swenson said. "It's really limited and we don't want them to miss out."

Theater officials decided not to conduct initial sales online because of fear the Web system would overload and crash. They also decided to conduct the sale during January, which is a slower time for box-office employees. During the sale period, additional employees will be hired to help on the phones and at the theater.

"This sort of thing hasn't really happened in this area," Swenson said of the celebrity casting for the fundraising production. "We are trying to foresee all the different avenues that we're going to need to cover."

McDonald, currently starring in TV's medical evening soap "Private Practice" on ABC is a four-time Tony award winner in the supporting actress catetory for her roles in "A Raisin in the Sun" and "Master Class," as well as "Carousel" and "Ragtime." She earned more Utah fans thanks to her appearance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in December 2005.

Will Swenson, a member of Utah's Hale family, got his start at the Orem theater, now run by his sister-in-law, Anne, and brother, Cody. He received a Tony nomination last year for his performance as Berger in the Broadway revival of "Hair." He's remembered by Utah audiences for his performances in Mormon Cinema roles, starring in "The Singles Ward" and "The R.M.," and directing and starring in the "Spinal Tap"-like parody "Sons of Provo." He's also acted in church-produced movies portraying Book of Mormon prophets, and provided the voice of Jesus for a movie that screened at the Temple Square visitor's center.

The company hopes to raise $300,000 to $400,000, which will benefit the nonprofit Hale Center Foundation for the Arts and Education, Anne Swenson said.

For those who don't secure a ticket, the company plans to set aside eight tickets for a lottery. An hour and a half before each performance, names will be drawn, and winners can purchase a ticker for $25. In addition, a standby line will be formed an hour and a half before each performance.

Depending on ticket availability, the company will consider offering student and senior discounted tickets, which will go on sale April 1.