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Regional Reviews: Phoenix The Book of Mormon
The story follows two young Mormon missionaries, the earnest Elder Price and the well-meaning but socially awkward Elder Cunningham, who are sent from Salt Lake City to a struggling village in Uganda. They were expecting a spiritually uplifting adventure, and Elder Price was hopeful they'd be assigned to his dream destination of Orlando, so they are shocked when they encounter poverty, disease, violence, and a community that has little interest in their pre-rehearsed lessons. As the missionaries struggle to connect, both Cunningham and Price are forced to confront their own doubts, motivations, and ideas about faith, while the villagers, including Mafala Hatimbi and his naïve yet strong daughter Nabulungi, seek hope wherever they can find it. Much of the show's success lies in the smart, fast-paced lyrics and relentlessly upbeat music by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone. Parker and Stone are known for their adult comedy and satirical TV series "South Park" and the style of humor from that show is on full display here, yet there is an underlying heart in all of the characters that shines throughout. The score gleefully parodies classic Broadway styles while delivering songs that are genuinely memorable and expertly constructed; an act two musical segment is an expert satirical take on "The Small House of Uncle Thomas" from The King and I. The COVID shutdown in 2020 gave the creators the chance to take a fresh look at the show and they made a handful of thoughtful updates that give more agency to the Ugandan characters and soften a few elements that leaned too heavily on stereotype, while preserving the show's irreverent tone. The humor remains deliberately offensive at times, but it is equal opportunity satire, skewering religion, colonialism, pop culture, and human foolishness with equal enthusiasm, which keeps the comedy sharp rather than cruel. The non-Equity touring cast is uniformly strong. Elder Price is portrayed with golden boy confidence and soaring vocals by Sam McLellan, making his eventual unraveling all the more entertaining to watch. Jacob Aune is a comic standout as Elder Cunningham, leaning into physical humor and awkward sincerity while also revealing the character's deep desire to belong. Their chemistry anchors the show and gives emotional weight to the chaos around them. As Nabulungi, the young Uganda woman, Charity Arianna brings warmth and optimism, grounding the story with her genuine longing for a better life, as well as impressively powerful and clear vocals, and Jarius Miquel Cliett is great as her over-protective father. As Elder McKinley, a missionary stationed in Uganda who is grappling with his sexuality, Craig Franke shines, both in leading the showstopping "Turn It Off" and in delivering well-timed bursts of humor that turn the role into a charming, crowd-pleasing standout. The large ensemble depict the villagers and Mormon missionaries with commitment and good comic timing. Jennifer Werner's direction and choreography closely mirror the original Tony Award winning Broadway staging (direction by Parker and Casey Nicholaw and choreography by Nicholaw), preserving the show's crisp transitions and visual jokes. Scott Pask's sets, Brian MacDevitt's lighting, and Ann Roth's costumes are adapted directly from the Broadway designs, with a few adjustments for touring purposes, allowing the production to retain its polished look and theatrical impact while simplifying a few elements for traveling. Braden Chudzik's music direction delivers tight harmonies and bright vocals from the entire cast and a rich, full sound from the nine-piece orchestra. Over a decade since it opened on Broadway, the national tour of The Book of Mormon proves that the show remains a daring, laugh out loud musical that balances outrageous satire with unexpected humanity. The Book of Mormon runs through January 11, 2026, at ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Avenue, Tempe AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.asugammage.com or call 480-965-3434. For information on the tour, visit thebookofmormontour.com. Book, Music and Lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone Cast: |
