"South Park" creators-writers Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Tony-winning Avenue Q songwriter Robert Lopez collaborated on the script and score to The Book of Mormon, which earned Tony Awards for Best Book, Best Score and Best Musical. The big-hearted, irreverent and profane musical traces the journey of two mismatched missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who take the trip of a lifetime.
Creel (Hair, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mary Poppins) stars as the straight-laced, apple-cheeked Elder Price, who dreams of an assignment in Orlando, opposite Broadway cast member Jared Gertner as his "Star Wars" and "Lord of the Rings"-loving missionary pal, Elder Cunningham.
Co-directed by Parker and Casey Nicholaw, The Book of Mormon opened to critical acclaim March 24, 2011, at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. Both earned Tony Awards for their work and repeat their duties for the tour. The production plays a sold-out run in Colorado through Sept. 2. The musical will play a Denver return engagement in October 2013.
A separate Chicago production of The Book of Mormon will begin previews at the Bank of America Theatre Dec. 11.
Principal national tour casting also features Samantha Marie Ware (the Lion King) as Nabulungi, Grey Henson as Elder McKinley and Kevin Mambo (Fela!, Ruined) as Mafala Hatimbi.
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| Gavin Creel | ||
| photo by Robert Mannis |
Current tour dates follow:
Denver, CO (Aug. 14-Sept. 2 at Ellie Caulkins Opera House)
Los Angeles, CA (Sept. 5-Nov. 25 at the Pantages Theatre)
San Francisco, CA (Nov. 27-Dec. 30 at the Curran Theatre)
Portland, OR (Jan. 1-6, 2013, at the Keller Auditorium)
Seattle, WA (Jan. 8-20, 2013, at the Paramount)
Des Moines, IA (Jan. 24-Feb. 24, 2013, at the Civic Center of Des Moines)
Minneapolis, MN (Feb. 5-17, 2013, at the Orpheum Theatre)
St. Louis, MO (Feb. 19-March 3, 2013, at the Fox Theatre)
Rochester, NY (March 5-10, 2013, at the Auditorium Theatre)
Detroit, MI (March 12-24, 2013, at the Fisher Theatre)
Pittsburgh, PA (March 26-April 7, 2013, at the Benedum Center)
Boston, MA (April 9-28, 2013, at the Boston Opera House)
Toronto, ON (April 30-June 9, 2013)
Buffalo, NY (June 11-16, 2013, at the Shea's PAC)
Cleveland, OH (June 18-July 7, 2013, at the Palace Theatre)
Washington, DC (July 9-Aug. 18, 2013, at the Kennedy Center)
The Book of Mormon has designs by Scott Pask (sets), Ann Roth (costumes), Brian MacDevitt (lighting) and Brian Ronan (sound). Orchestrations are by Larry Hochman and music supervision is by Stephen Oremus.
The Book of Mormon also picked up Tony Awards for Best Performance by a Featured Actress (Nikki M. James), Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus), Best Scenic Design (Scott Pask), Best Sound Design (Brian Ronan) and Best Lighting Design (Brian MacDevitt).
Visit BookofMormontheMusical.com.
Here's Playbill Video's interview with the Book of Mormon authors:
