10 things to know before 'Book of Mormon' says 'Hello!'
One of Broadway's most buzzed-about musicals in years, "The Book of Mormon," begins its quick run at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center Tuesday. Here are 10 things to know about the mature-audiences-only show from the creators of "South Park" before the first doorbell rings.
1. People love it. Since its 2011 debut, it's been called "the best musical of this century" by the New York Times, "the funniest musical of all time" by Entertainment Weekly and "is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals" by the Washington Post.
2. Tickets are available, but you might not want to delay. "The Book of Mormon" has been a hot ticket for years on both Broadway and on the national tours. None of the eight shows at the Fox Cities PAC have sold out but some slots are selling better than others. Tara Brzozowski, director of marketing and public relations for the PAC, said the Tuesday and Sept. 21 evening shows have the best availability.
3. It's previous stop was well-received. Before arriving in Appleton, the "Book of Mormon" tour had a four-week stay in Minneapolis. "The just-opened production at the Orpheum Theatre," wrote Rohan Preston of the Star Tribune, "has the smiling earnestness, the irresistible zeal and profane heart of the previous tour, from February 2013, and the Broadway version, which is still a triumph three years on."
4. It's new here. This is the second national tour of the musical but the first time it has been in Wisconsin. Count that as a win for the Fox Cities PAC. Madison will get its turn in March and then Milwaukee gets the show in May.
5. It's still winning awards. "The Book of Mormon" piled up Tony and Drama Desk awards back in 2011. But it also picked up four Olivier Awards earlier this year, including Best New Musical. The Olivier Awards are essentially the British version of the Tony Awards and the musical's haul came after its record-breaking debut in London's West End in early 2013.
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6. The music isn't just funny, it's good. Beyond the stage awards, "The Book of Mormon" original cast recording won the Grammy Award for Best Music Theater Album in 2011. It also became the first musical cast album to crack the top 10 on Billboard's pop charts in more than 40 years.
7. It's still hot on Broadway. It's been a hot ticket for years and is still busting guts. "Three years is a long time for a peppy musical to stay peppy," wrote Ben Brantley of the New York Times in August. "But gosh darn if I didn't feel born again all over again, ready to spread the word about the faith that this show preaches and, more importantly, practices." In 2013, "Book of Mormon" pulled in more than $90 million on Broadway, good for third place behind "Lion King" and "Wicked," both of which play in larger venues.
8. It's a star-maker. The original Broadway cast included Josh Gad as Elder Cunningham and Andrew Rannells as Elder Price. Gad went on to make appearances on "New Girl" and "Modern Family" and starred in the NBC sitcom "1600 Penn." He also voiced Olaf the snowman in "Frozen." Rannells, meanwhile, has had a recurring role in HBO's "Girls" and starred in NBC's "The New Normal."
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9. There's a book on "The Book." In 2012, "The Book of Mormon: The Testament of a Broadway Musical" was released by Newmarket Press for It Books in hardcover and features stories by the creatives, actors and production team on the creation of the show. It features more than 700 photos and drawings and loads of behind-the-scenes insights from those behind "The Book of Mormon" from the very beginning.
10. The show goes on. After leaving Appleton, the show heads to Pittsburgh for a two-week stint. Meanwhile, another company is in Toronto through November. In all, the "Book of Mormon" tours are booked through the middle of September 2015.
—Shane Nyman: 920-993-1000, ext. 240, or snyman@postcrescent.com; on Twitter @shanenyman