'South Park' creators' musical comedy 'Book of Mormon' gets Broadway dates

Fans of "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have a lot to look forward to in 2011. The 15th  season of their hit Comedy Central series is scheduled to begin in the spring. And in a bit of showbiz synergy, their new stage musical, "The Book of Mormon," will open on Broadway around the same time.

A religious satire with song-and-dance numbers, "The Book of Mormon" is scheduled to open March 24 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, according to reports Monday. Previews are set to begin Feb. 24. Casey Nicholaw, who received a Tony nomination for directing "The Drowsy Chaperone," will stage the new musical, along with Parker. Nicholaw most recently directed the premiere of "Robin and the 7 Hoods" at the Old Globe in San Diego.

Also collaborating with Parker and Stone will be Robert Lopez, the co-creator, composer and lyricist for "Avenue Q."

In April, New York Post gossip columnist Michael Riedel reported that the new musical tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries who are sent off to spread the word in a dangerous part of Uganda. Their tale is told in parallel with the story of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Parker and Stone are newbies to Broadway, but they have experience in the musical genre. They both worked on the movie "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut," which featured a number of satirical song-and-dance routines, including the Oscar-nominated song "Blame Canada."

-- David Ng

Photo: Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Credit: Michael Yarish / Comedy Central

[Updated: the version of the post corrects Casey Nicholaw's directing credits.]

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Comments

[Donald Frazell]

LOL!!! Considering native Americans are considered demons in that text, i wouldnt go the bigotry route.

if you read the interview, the two South Park guys say they are doing it because they grew up around lots of Mormons, and also that they are the nicest people in the world. I agree, my you youngest went to school in Utah for a while, and they are wonderful people. With the craziest book to work from, but pehaps they go together. Perhaps they are making up for it subconsciously.

Hardly bigotry, Mormons have done quite well in all phases of American life, both Mo Udall and Mitt Romney have come closse to being President, while it took a mutt like Obama to get a black President(Obama's word, my son also a "mutt", get over it. PC is for wimps, and avoids humor and so truth)

Just let it go, SP hits all targets equally. All targets have their faults, we are human, lighten up. it is far from burning, get real. That is an attack on a religion and basically a declration of war agaisnt it. muslims can burn our flag, fine, thats a political statement. We dont like it, but is against a government and what they consider a decadent culture, they make some good points there. Not a people or even the political system.

If one doesnt have a sense of humor about oneself, one is hiding something, as you are way too uptight, and must be hitting a spot. Its not like a slut like Gaga or Beyonce being marketed to teens, South Park is for adults only, as they put in their warning before each episode, laughing at themselves. Try it, you just might like it.

art collegia delenda est

[Reasoned Righty]

Calm down 'South Park Bigots' and Disgusted.

Parker and Stone have made fun of EVERYONE on EVERY SIDE of every issue they have explored. They've done a few episodes making fun of Mormons on South Park and while making fun of Mormon's quirkiness they have said/shown that Mormons are the happiest nicest people they've ever met.

Freaking out about this is, without seeing it, reminds me of conservatives freaking out that "Team America" was making fun of the war on terror. For people who watched the movie (instead of freaking out about it) they found out that not only is it freaking funny; but they threw stones at conservatives, they saved the 50 cal. for liberals.

[Holly]

It worry's me about the commeents that it is ok to make fun of mormons. Only because violence has been done against the church fairly recently. After prop 8 passed churches had bricks and rocks thrown trough windows, and yes a Book of Mormon was burned out side of the doors at a church. In California a Bishop was murdered in a Church with his son in the building. This did not happen years ago it happed a month ago. No Holy book should be burned, and yes some consideration should be shown right now.

To all you who were up in arms about the Koran beeing burned and said nothing about the Book of Mormon shows that you can only do what is popular and not what is right.

[P.]

Actually, there's a SP-episode about Mormonism, the message of which, basically is: there might be flaws in Joseph Smith's story, but that doesn't make Mormons bad people. The final statement is:

"Maybe us Mormons do believe in crazy stories that make absolutely no sense, and maybe Joseph Smith did make it all up. But I have a great life and a great family, and I have the Book of Mormon to thank for that. The truth is, I don’t care if Joseph Smith made it all up, because what the Church teaches now is loving your family, being nice and helping people. And even though people in this town might think that’s stupid, I still choose to believe in it. All I ever did was try to be your friend, Stan, but you're so high and mighty you couldn't look past my religion and just be my friend back. You've got a lot of growing up to do, buddy. "

[followed by a typical SP closing statement]

[Purpleslog]

They did a South Park Mormon Musical episode as well:

http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/712

It made fun of the Joseph Smith and the Origin Story. It did not make fun of contemporary Mormons. In fact, the South Park character who was mean to the Mormon kid was portrayed as being jerky.

[Stephanie]

Cannibal! The Musical was Trey and Matt's first go at the musical genre, release by Troma Entertainment in '96.

[jn3792]

An earlier commenter, "Moroni", stated -

"religion is the source of ignorance, oppression, abuse, and war."

The idiocy of this comment is apparent. This is a good way to lose credibility for your entire post.

The fact that many commenters are encouraging the mockery of what others may hold sacred is also troubling. Respect for the beliefs of others is seriously lacking in our world and these two talented men are apparently putting their abilities toward things that tear down instead of building up something that they believe in.

[Everyone Relax]

Wow, you people are sensitive. These guys have the right to make up a musical just like good old Joe made up your religion...

[Everyone Relax]

...And if you were confident about the credibility of your own religion, you wouldn't care what these guys do. Ooops, you've been exposed.

[Dave]

Am I really the only one who's going to point out the main difference between South Park-style lampooning of religion and burning a Koran?

Matt and Trey actually go through the effort of laying out what's ridiculous about the things they parody; they bother to examine the religion's origins and beliefs and satirize specific flaws about them. Religion is, after all, a viewpoint on how the world works, and like any other viewpoint it should be open to examination and even ridicule if applicable.

Burning a Koran doesn't do ANY of that. Throwing a holy book on the fire isn't making any kind of analysis or satire about the religion itself, it's just being a dick to be a dick. It doesn't actually say anything.

[Levi]

Wow, I would just like to reiterate the point that good always has opposition, and that it just testifies that there is such thing as good and evil.
One earlier post I read is definitely anti-mormon, anti-god, but declare that we should all love. You can't have morals (love is definitely a moral called charity) without including eternal truths (called the gospel).

About these intellectual people, I've read and heard of these "intellectual beings" that try to disprove the Book of Mormon. The funny thing, and I am laughing just writing this, is that these "intellectual people" are ex-mormons. You can leave the church, but you can't leave it alone. Besides, if anyone wants to physically prove/disprove the Book of Mormon, they should probably begin in North America rather than in South America. Besides, that is where Joseph Smith declared the Nephite Nation existed. Have you ever heard of the mound people... but really, I don't think it matters to anyone who can look at right and wrong and declare they don't exist.
The Book of Mormon wasn't written to be proven or disproven, but was written for the intent that each individual in this world will read and pray about it. It is simple, and too simple for many. I know its true, and not only do I know because I've prayed (though that is the foundation of my testimony) but also because I have had way too many answers to prayers, and know of the physical evidences that back it up. Ever heard of the DVD, "DNA evidence of the Book of Mormon?" I would give it a look if you're sincerely interested in truth.

[Adam Johnson]

There should be a lot of material to use in LDS doctrine, with Mormons being the largest polytheistic religion in North America. I will say it is a potshot though, as Mormonism peaked in the early 90's, but membership and attendance has been in a steep decline since (attributed to the accessibility of information on the internet regarding the truth behind LDS).

[Bob French]

I love to see brave artists taking on dangerous topics with their satire. The Mormons, a peaceful, industrious, family-centered people, who will not raise any fuss or opposition. I don't see Mr. Parker and Mr. Stone drawing any cartoons of or writing any musicals about Mohammed...

[BYU graduate]

"Get a life so you don't have to torment others because you don't have one."

Isn't that what you Mormons do??? Knock on peoples doors and try to convert them; baptize the dead. I call this tormenting others ....

[Ted Jenkins]

Sheep.....

[tucker]

people need to stop getting so upset over this, just cause it makes fun of religion, doesnt mean you have to drop what your doin and protest. ignore it, and get on with your life. those of us who want to laugh will watch it.

[mightymac]

srsly, i'm sad that this is in NY. I'm in AZ and can't really sneak out to see it.

I'm LDS, have read The Book of Mormon nearly 30 times. In the grand scheme of things I can't say that this will 'hurt' or slow down the LDS religion. If anything, it's Joseph Smith's all-to-true yet often misquoted belief that we should be light hearted, not light minded.

I've seen enough southpark that I'm not overly worried about this show...

Big love on the other hand, is just stupid and Tom Hanks should be ashamed of that... mess.

[Jess]

WOW DO YOUR RESEARCH, YOU OVERLY SENSITIVE MORMONS! All those offended by this satire obviously have not seen many south park episodes. EVERY religion is satired, with Judaism and Catholicism taking the brunt of the beatings. examples from the top of my head...Jesus compared to mythical figures like Pop-eye and the Easter Bunny, Jesus killing people with AK-47...Scientologists being money-making crazies...extermination of Jews by Hitler Cartman..God is a flying spaghetti monster...Virgin Mary statue bleeding out of its ass. Need I say more? So take a chill pill and sit down Mormons. Everybody's fair game on SP

[Not A Mormon]

I think many of you should check your facts. I'm not a mormon, but according to a study that is covered in the Nov 13, 2009 issue of US News & World Report the mormon religion is the fastest growing religion in the world.

[JoJo]

What the two choose to do is all in good fun. And the reason why the duo has chosen the Book of Mormon is because their sincere infatuation with the LDS Church. That is why they didn't choose to write about the Muslims who, aside from the extremests, are a peaceful people as well (but that is how it is with any religion). It isn't because the duo is afraid, it is simply because they don't share that same infatuation with the Muslims. And as far as the musical goes, the two did not mean it in a disrespectful way at all. Actually one Mormon was even quoted as saying “I was expecting to be offended but was pleasantly surprised by how incredibly sweet it was,” and her mother backed that by saying “they treated us with affection. And they did their homework. So the next time you want to rag on the duo, who have at one point or another picked on every religion (not ONLY Mormons) in their show South Park, do a little research.