PHOTO CALL: The Book of Mormon Opens on Broadway; Arrivals, Curtain Call and Party
By Matthew Blank
and Irina Khodorkovsky
March 25, 2011
Broadway answered the door to The Book of Mormon — from Emmy Award-winning "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q Tony Award winner Robert Lopez — March 24 when the irreverent new musical officially opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.
Josh Gad ("The Daily Show with Jon Stewart") and Andrew Rannells (Jersey Boys) star as an unlikely pair of Mormon missionaries who venture from Salt Lake City to AIDS-ravaged Uganda in the hopes of converting villagers with the story of Joseph Smith and the founding of the Mormon Church. The problem is: Only one of them has actually read the book. Broadway previews began Feb. 24.
Parker co-directs with Tony Award nominee Casey Nicholaw (The Drowsy Chaperone, Spamalot), who also choreographs. Book, music and lyrics are by Parker, Stone and Lopez.
Here is a look at the opening night:
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Gad and Rannells star as Elders Cunningham and Price, respectively, with Rory O'Malley (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) as Elder McKinley, Nikki M. James (All Shook Up) as Nabalungi and Michael Potts (Grey Gardens) as Mafala Hatimbi.
The cast also includes Lewis Cleale, Scott Barnhardt, Justin Bohon, Darlesia Cearcy, Kevin Duda, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Brian Tyree Henry, Clark Johnsen, John Eric Parker, Jason Michael Snow, Benjamin Schrader, Michael James Scott, Brian Sears, Lawrence Stallings, Rema Webb, Maia Nkenge Wilson, Tommar Wilson, Graham Bowen, Ta’Rea Campbell, Jared Gertner, Tyson Jennette and Nick Spangler.
For tickets, $59-$137, phone (212) 239-6200 or visit Telecharge. The Eugene O'Neill Theatre is located at 230 West 49th Street.