The Book of Mormon
Playing at Eugene O’Neill Theatre
Musical or play? Musical
Lottery or Rush Tickets? Digital Lottery Available through Lucky Seat
What I Paid: $199.00
Official Website: https://bookofmormonbroadway.com/
Something incredible is happening 8 times a week on Broadway. It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON! Winner of 9 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, this hilarious smash hit follows a mismatched pair of Mormons sent on a mission to a place that’s about as far from Salt Lake City as you can get. Entertainment Weekly calls THE BOOK OF MORMON “the funniest show ever.” The New York Times simply calls it “the best musical of this century.”
REVIEW
It took me twelve years, but I finally made it to The Book of Mormon on Broadway! This show opened the first semester that I lived in New York City, and it soon became one of hardest tickets to get. I remember entering the in-person lottery many times when that was still a thing. It was always a fun experience because hundreds of people would turn out daily! As you can guess, I was never successful in winning the lottery. Thankfully, the show is still running over a decade later, and the tickets are more affordable and attainable.
I purchased my ticket at the box office the day before the show, and got a third row seat in Orchestra Center, Row C. I did pay full price, which annoyed me a bit, since I knew if I waited one more day I could likely get a steep discount at TKTS. Nonetheless, I had an incredible seat, and I was happy to be so close to the action!
While I knew the basic premise of the show, I somehow managed to avoid major spoilers all these years. The show follows two Mormon missionaries, Elder Price and Elder Cunningham, as they are sent off to Uganda to convert as many locals as possible to the church. Things go wrong for the pair as soon as they get off the plane, and they are in for a huge reality shock when it comes to what life is like in Uganda.
As I expected, The Book of Mormon is absolutely hilarious. I love the mis-matched pairing of rule-following Elder Price with disheveled Elder Cunningham, and while I wish I had the opportunity to see the original cast, the current actors are fabulous. Kevin Clay is an amazing Elder Price. His voice is great, and his performance is reminiscent of the little I’ve seen of Andrew Rannells in the role. When I saw the show, Noah Marlowe went on as Elder Cunningham, and he was absolutely perfect! He was so funny and I couldn’t imagine how he was the standby and not the regular lead!
Moreover, I did want to mention how this show is even cruder than I imagined. Yes, it is written by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, but it is definitely boundary pushing. There is no curse word left unspoken, and the show has very adult themes. Also keep in mind that the entire show is making fun of the Mormon church and their out-there beliefs. I noticed that some people sitting near me left at intermission, and I’ve read that is common at this show for those who don’t realize what it entails.
Similarly, I wasn’t sure what to make of how the show treats race. This was an area where the book did feel a bit dated, and not up to 2023 standards. While I understand the show is a satire, and depicting to the audience how the Mormons view the Ugandans, I did feel like the it toed the line of perpetuating negative stereotypes. Sure enough, I learned that there were changes made to the show when it re-opened after the COVID-19 closures to “sharpen the satire of Mormonism.” Was this fully successful? Honestly, I’m not sure.
All of that said, I really enjoyed the music and dancing in the show. The songs are quite catchy, and I’m always thrilled when there’s a tap dance number! I also loved how the entire cast works together and interacts throughout the show. Every ensemble member gets featured at one point or another, and it looked like they were genuinely having a great time during the performance. That’s one of the reasons I really like sitting up close – I can see the performers’ expressions really well!
In the end, I’m so glad I finally made it to The Book of Mormon! This felt like a full circle moment for me, and I’m grateful the show has remained on Broadway all of these years. If you’re looking for a musical that will have you laughing from start to finish, this is a great option. Just be sure to keep in mind the subject matter!
STAGE DOOR
I did want to quickly note that I did not stop for the stage door after this performance. I would have loved to meet the cast, but I did not see any barriers set up around the stage door, so I decided to head back to my hotel rather than wait. If you’ve had success at the stage door for The Book of Mormon in recent years, please let me know in the comments!