There was this problematic (they used black face), yet successful Brazilian college production of The Book of Mormon in 2014 I think. They started small but the production stayed open for almost one year and it even played in one of the biggest theaters in Rio de Janeiro, playing to full houses in a 1,222-seat theater. I believe that was the first non-English production of the show.
Updated On: 2/18/16 at 12:16 AM
WestCoastActor/Director said: "No. Kyle is leaving the show to pursue other shows. He had already given his notice when they offered him Elder Price."
Interesting. Thanks!
And I'd heard about BoM Rio... The Stockholm production sounds a little more legal.
The production from Rio was legal, since it was a non-profit college production and Brazilian laws allow such productions to exist, even if the material is copyrighted. Whether it was ethically and morally acceptable or not (specially due to the black face in my opinion) is another matter... The Stockholm production certainly beats the Rio one in this matter (supposing they don't use blackface, which I very much hope so)
Updated On: 2/18/16 at 10:52 PM
helvizz said: "The production from Rio was legal, since it was a non-profit college production and Brazilian laws allow such productions to exist, even if the material is copyrighted. Whether it was ethically and morally acceptable or not (specially due to the black face in my opinion) is another matter... "
"Hasa Diga Ebowai" from the UNIRIO production:
Gotta say, it looks like it was a blast (albeit extremely low budget). As for the so-called "black face": It just looks like a darker brown make-up was used to make some of the "Ugandans" look darker than, say, the brown-skinned Elder Cunningham. Hardly reason to get on a moral high horse.
I was in a college production of Shaw's "Caesar & Cleopatra" and the actors playing the Egyptians used dark make-up to distinguish them from the Romans. (Except for yours truly. I instead opted to tan myself into oblivion -- and ended up looking darker than those in full make-up.) We just didn't have a population of North African/Middle Eastern students to cast from.
Updated On: 2/19/16 at 10:08 PM
Is anyone seeing the show this week? I know itis frivolous in the face of the gravity of the situation, but I am curious how audiences respond to the "Orlando" jokes this week.
^theres already a thread about that on this page.
has anyone seen the tour lately? How is it? I'm seeing it in Chicago soon.
Maybe not on this page, but you get the point. https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1093855&dt=12
Ah wow, thanks. I missed that thread completely.
FYI, 2 original cast members recently left the show - Tyson Jennette(swing) & Maia Nkenge Wilson. This leaves just three original cast members in the show - Lewis Cleale, John Eric Parker & Graham Bowen(resident dance captain).
Tyson's departure is temporary, as far as I know. Jamaal Wilson is filling in.
When did Maia leave?!
June 18, but I think her departure is temporary, too. Geisha Gilles(BOM 1st national tour) has replaced her track. However, Gilles reported on Facebook that she's only with the show until August 14th.
Does anyone know how the current tour cast is? Especially Cunningham? The last time I saw it, Ben platt was my Cunningham and I'm wondering if the current Cunningham is just as good
The current tour Cunningham is Cody Jamison Strand and he's an absolute riot. He has a lot of presence and humor to him, I personally really loved him on Broadway but I feel like he found his footing so well on tour. His two standbys - Chad Burris and Conner Peirson are two of the best standbys the show has seen in quite sometime, so if you see either of them you're also in for a great show.
Overall, I really love the current cast of the tour - Ryan Bondy went on for the last time as a standby Price during Philly's run and I really enjoyed his performance. Candace Quarrels is a darling Nabalungi with a really fantastic voice, while Daxton Bloomquist is an absolute scene stealer as Elder McKinley. The ensemble definitely is on point and present, and work so wonderfully together.
Thanks, ACL! I did read about Keisha, but had missed her end date.
Jorge: I saw Cody Jamison Strand on Broadway and again last time the tour was in Chicago, and he was hilarious -- much more of a loose cannon than Ben Platt and very wild. Ryan Bondy I wasn't as hot on, but I've only seen him once and that was when he was a standby on Broadway, so I wouldn't go by that as to how his performance is now.
Stephen Ashfield is set to replace grey Henson in the Broadway production and he's bringing his Olivier award with! http://www.playbill.com/article/olivier-winner-will-join-broadways-book-of-mormon
He's so good. I'm so glad he's coming here.
Is this this the first person from London to transfer to the states? I wouldn't really count Gavin or nic, because they were over here originally. I feel like they have been moving more people from the states over to the London production.
Yes, he is. Gavin, AJ, Nic, KJ, Brian, and three Nabulungis -- Denee Benton, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Alexandra Ncube -- are all Americans who've been in the show in London and did it here first. (Billy Tighe did it there first before joining the 1NT, but he's American.)
I've heard nothing but wonderful things about Stephen and I'm very excited to see him. I will be sad to see Grey go, but he's been doing the role for quite sometime and I'm sure he's ready to move on.
Henson's been in the show for two years, so I'm not surprised. I'm more surprised at how long Rouleau has been with the show(5 years). Starting first as the Elder Price standby, the Elder Price on Broadway, then the 1st national tour, then the West End & now back on Broadway.
Leading Actor Joined: 6/18/08
Grey has actually been with Mormon for 4 years-He opened the first national tour, then came to NY 2 years later. Not too bad for a first gig out of college.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
I still can't believe Nic isn't bored after five years.
Leading Actor Joined: 7/20/09
Speaking of the tour, does anyone happen to know if Candace Quarrels (Nabulungi) and Marcus Terrell Smith (Mutumbo) have been on in the last few weeks? I've seen it twice so far in Chicago (going for three this weekend), and they were out both times. I'd like to try to see them before the tour departs next month.
Candace was on last night, at least.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIWCOHkjTTk/?taken-by=broadwayinchicago
ACL2006 said: "Henson's been in the show for two years, so I'm not surprised. I'm more surprised at how long Rouleau has been with the show(5 years). Starting first as the Elder Price standby, the Elder Price on Broadway, then the 1st national tour, then the West End & now back on Broadway.
"
I thought he was in the 2nt. And don't forget about his other Broadway engagement prior to his west end one.
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