The Book of Mormon • January 20, 2025 • Eccles Theater
It’s not often that a musical can stop through a town and connect with so many people and the culture is such a specific satirical in the way the Tony Award winning, The Book of Mormon does when it comes to Salt Lake City. I’d like to think, when South Park Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and co-songwriter for Frozen and Coco, and Avenue Q creator, Robert Lopez were writing this musical, they envisioned the production coming to Salt Lake City and how so many would love the inside jokes that are so specific to the area and culture. If they did imagine such a day, I’m sure they would know how much people would love the inside jokes.
Parker and Stone have shared in multiple interviews that they spent extensive time in Utah when they were doing research for the musical. Even taking a road trip with Lopez and speaking with members and ex members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Their research seems to have paid off. Judging how many people in the audience would roar with laughter when they were in on a joke.
This production is led flawlessly by Sam McLellan and Diego Enrico. Who is remarkably making his professional debut. The two are hilarious and constantly impressed with how they were able to so much physically and yet sing every note of their musical numbers so perfectly. Having the good fortune of being close to the stage, it was great to see their facial expressions throughout the show. That enhanced their performances for me. Tremendous actors who were very well cast.
The rest of the cast were equally as impressive. Keke Nesbitt as Nabulungi was amazing. She has a great voice and seemed to be adored by the audience. Craig Franke as Elder McKinley was hilarious and had so much personality. Dewight Braxton Jr. as The General was definitely a crowd favorite. The entire cast was A list top to bottom. They were beloved by this audience. They seemed to be blown away by the unanimous standing ovation and screams and cheers for them at the end of the show.
“Hello” opens the show in the just the way you’d want a musical about Mormon missionaries should open. This drew the audience in immediately and set the tone of what we were about to watch. Some other show stoppers, “Hasa Diga Eebowai”, and “Turn it Off” are just what you expect and hope to get from Matt Stone, Trey Parker, and Robert Lopez. I was told by someone raised LDS, that “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream” was very relatable.
Salt Lake City has to be the place where The Book of Mormon musical has the most relevance. It was so fun to see this audience join together in laughter and applause, getting all of the inside jokes and feeling like the production understands the things they have experienced in their upbringing. Whether they still be a part of the LDS faith or not. This show is definitely not for the faint hearted or sensitive in their beliefs. But if you’re LDS and you can take a little roasting, a good time is there to be had.
The Book of Mormon musical will be at The Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City until January 26. Click here for ticket information.