Broadway Backstory Newsletter
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The Pioneer Center is thrilled to welcome back “by popular demand” the fanfavorite musical hit The Book of Mormon for a 5-performance limited engagement. If this is your first time experiencing the show, you are in for a wild ride. There is a reason that theater critics have dubbed it “the funniest musical of all time” If you’ve seen the show before, you already know why... We are glad to see you back for more! The 30th Anniversary Season of Broadway Comes to Reno continues to be one to remember and we are honored to have you joining us!
The Broadway Backstory Newsletter is created by Pioneer Center Education to help you learn more about the shows in our Broadway Comes to Reno series. Below you will find information and links [in blue] to websites, videos, and articles about the history and creators of the show. Don’t forget to forward this email to the other subscribers and Broadway lovers in your party.
Your tickets to The Book of Mormon were emailed to you as a PDF attachment on January 6th. Look for the subject line “Confirmation of Order Number.” We look forward to seeing you at the Pioneer Center soon!
Book of Mormon
Writer/directors Trey Parker and Matt Stone are best known for creating the animated TV hit South Park. Their animated feature films South Park: Bigger, Louder & Uncut and Team America: World Police were musical comedies for which they also contributed lyrics.
In 2003, Broadway and film producer Scott Rudin sent Parker and Stone to see Avenue Q on Broadway where they met the songwriter Robert Lopez. Parker, Stone, & Lopez began researching, writing, and workshopping material that would eventually become the musical satire The Book of Mormon. Lopez went on to become an EGOT winner, co-writing the songs for Disney’s Frozen and Frozen 2 with wife Kristen.
In 2008, the show had its first staged reading with director Jason Moore (Pitch Perfect) who later left the production. In 2010, Casey Nicholaw was hired to co-direct with Parker and also choreograph. Nicholaw’s Broadway credits include Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone, Disney’s Aladdin, Something Rotten, Mean Girls, The Prom, and our next Broadway Comes to Reno musical Some Like It Hot, for which he won the Tony for Best Choreography. Nicholaw and Trey Parker won Best Director Tonys together for Book of Mormon.
·Stephen Oremus was brought on as Music Director, also creating the Tony-winning orchestrations. His Broadway credits include Wicked (also the feature films), Avenue Q, All Shook Up, Kinky Boots, and Frozen.
Producers scrapped a planned off-Broadway tryout, and The Book of Mormon opened directly on Broadway at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on March 24, 2011, making instant stars of Andrew Rannells as Elder Price and Josh Gad as Elder Cunningham. It was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, winning 9 of them including Best Musical. The production continues today with over 5,000 performances on Broadway
This is the third time The Book of Mormon has come to the Pioneer Center in Reno. This tour will continue on to play Salt Lake City, Detroit, Boston, and Denver among other major cities.
After winning the Olivier Award for Best Musical in 2013, The Book of Mormon continues to play London’s West End. It has enjoyed 3 US National tours as well as touring productions in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Brazil, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain.
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Learn more about the cultural significance of The Book of Mormon the musical
The LDS Church has over 17 million members and gain new membership in countries worldwide thro extensive missionary work. Read about how the LD responded to the Broadway musical HERE.
Director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw shares h his long Broadway career and creative journey. W video.
Terry Gross interviewed Trey Parker and Matt Sto Fresh Air in 2011 about The Book of Mormon. Liste
As a satire, The Book of Mormon on Broadway inte pushes the boundaries in an effort to allow society to reflect upon itself. Read the article HERE.
Listen to the Original Broadway Cast Recording on Spotify Click H
