Overview

Synopsis

The hit Broadway musical The Book of Mormon, written by “South Park”’s Trey Stone and Matt Smith and Frozen’s Robert Lopez, is an irreverent, hysterical, and surprisingly sweet send-up of religion, culture shock, and classic musical theatre. In The Book of Mormon, two very different young LDS missionaries --the talented, eager Elder Price and the nerdy, pathologically lying Elder Cunningham-- are paired together and sent to Uganda to perform their two-year mission. To the missionaries’ disappointment, the local population seems to be more focused on the poverty, famine, AIDS epidemic, and despotic warlord in their midst than on religion. It’s going to be a fight for salvation. While Elder Price combats his own expectations and doubts, Elder Cunningham battles his inability to remember scripture or tell the truth, fellow missionary Elder McKinley crushes his homosexual urges, and the beautiful Ugandan Nabalungi fights to keep her hopes and dreams alive in the midst of great terror and uncertainty. It will take a little inventiveness, a lot of teamwork, and perhaps an excommunication or two for the Elders to succeed in their mission.

Show Information

Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Mature Audiences (M)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2011
Genres
Comedy, Satire
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
utah and uganda, the present
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Some Dance
Ideal For
Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mature Audiences, Large Cast, Includes Late Teen, Young Adult, Adult Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Elder Kevin Price

Lead

Male

Tenor

Elder Arnold Cunningham

Lead

Male

Tenor

Elder McKinley

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Nabalungi

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Mafala Hatimbi

Supporting

Male

Baritone

General

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Price’s Dad

Featured

Male

Spoken

Mission Training Center Voice

Featured

Male

Cunningham’s Dad

Featured

Male

Baritone

Mrs. Brown

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Joseph Smith

Featured

Male

Baritone

Moroni

Featured

Male

Baritone

Mission President

Featured

Male

African Villagers

Ensemble

Either Gender

Mormons

Ensemble

Either Gender

Songs

Act One

  • Hello – Price, Cunningham and Mormon Boys
  • Two by Two – Price, Cunningham and Mormon Boys
  • You and Me (But Mostly Me) – Price and Cunningham
  • Hasa Diga Eebowai – Mafala, Price, Cunningham, Nabulungi and Ugandans
  • Turn It Off – McKinley and Missionaries
  • I Am Here for You – Cunningham and Price
  • All American Prophet – Price, Cunningham, Joseph Smith, Angel Moroni and Company
  • Sal Tlay Ka Siti – Nabulungi
  • I Am Here for You (Reprise) – Cunningham
  • Man Up – Cunningham, Nabulungi, Price and Company

Act Two

  • Making Things Up Again – Cunningham, Cunningham’s Dad, Joseph Smith, Mormon, Moroni, Uhura, Hobbits and Ugandans
  • Spooky Mormon Hell Dream – Price and Company
  • I Believe – Price and Company
  • Baptize Me – Cunningham and Nabulungi
  • I Am Africa – McKinley, Cunningham and Missionaries
  • Orlando – Price
  • Joseph Smith American Moses – Nabulungi, Mafala and Ugandans
  • Hasa Diga Eebowai (Reprise)† – Nabulungi
  • Tomorrow Is a Latter Day – Price, Cunningham, McKinley, Nabulungi and Company
  • Hello (Reprise) – Company
  • Finale – Company

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a medical condition caused by the HIV virus that weakens the immune system. It has had a profound impact on the performing arts community, particularly in the late 20th century, as many artists and organizations have addressed its social and personal effects through theatre.

    A staple of musical theatre where the protagonist expresses a deep personal desire, setting the emotional tone for the narrative.

    Short for 'legitimate theatre,' referring to traditional stage drama as opposed to musical or commercial performance. The term is also used to describe a classical vocal tone suitable for operatic or legit musical theatre roles.

    The complete text of an opera, musical, or other extended vocal work, including all spoken dialogue and lyrics. The libretto provides the dramatic structure and narrative arc, serving as a guide for both performers and directors to align story and music.

    What a character wants to achieve in a scene or play. Defining objectives helps actors clarify intention and emotional stakes.

    A force or condition that prevents a character from achieving their objective. Recognizing obstacles helps define conflict and dramatic tension.

    An introductory speech or scene that sets up the context or themes of a play. Prologues are commonly used in classical drama to prepare the audience for what follows.

    A genre or technique that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize human folly or societal flaws. Satire is common in political and literary theatre.

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