Production of Mormon Boy gets cancelled week before OPENING...wonder why...

[DrTheatre]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:21am

Reason's for canceling a production seem very fishy..."...circumstances beyond our control". hummm...wonder what really happened.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/119607.html

[spencinthecity]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:31am

You know, I've often wondered if that show meant as much to people who weren't Mormon as it did to me...

I hope everything's ok!

[NDR]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 1:42pm

Yeah, I really want to know why. Anyone got the goss?

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 1:56pm

I actually saw this show a few years ago in S.D. I dont know if it was cause I grew up mormon that I enjoyed it so much but, it was a beautifull show. I wonder why they had to stop the run? I'm sure people want to assume the church had something to do with it but, I Highly doubt it.

I know he is positive so, I wonder if he maby is going through health problems..... Updated On: 7/18/08 at 01:56 PM

[whatever2]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 2:12pm

speaking as a catholic in remission, i dont believe it's necessary to be LDS (or have been raised LDS) to appreciate Mormon Boy ...

(... or Facing East, an under-appreciated gem that did a brief run at Atlantic's Stage 2 last summer ...)

(... or Big Love, which imho numbers among HBO's best.)

it does help to have an intellectual curiosity about the uniquely american phenomenon of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (as, say Tony Kushner does). and it probably doesn't hurt to have been raised in another, um ... er ... "overwhelming" religious tradition. but i think with just a little background a good Mormon-themed story can be accessible to us Gentiles.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 3:01pm

Mormon Boy has played all over the US including Salt Lake. I highly doubt that all of a sudden the throngs of British Mormons threw a hissy fit and stopped production.

It sounds like there were too few tickets sold which is sad because it is a good story told well.

[DrTheatre]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 4:45pm

I hope that is the case WOSQ, I have met Steven once and the company I work for in CA was one of the first companies to get MORMON BOY and AMERICAN PRINCESS... the company and some other friends of mine are good friends of his and are surprised that this happened.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 11:48pm

In a related story, a young Morman made a Calandar showing 12 shirtless Mormon boys. It was done as a fund-rasiser and sold very well - made lots of $ for the Mormon church. But they called the guy in and excommunicated him.

No word on whether they returned all the money he raised for the church.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 11:57pm

The New End is a very small theatre in Hampstead, North London seating just 84.
The show sold very few seats for its run. This is far from the first show to cancelled at the New End. Many of the performances of 'Mormon Boy' simply had no bookings whatsoever.

Updated On: 7/19/08 at 11:57 PM

[timinGB]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 6:57pm

I live in the UK and was hoping to see this production. I think WickedBiy2's suggestion that the uptake was too low is the most likely reason that it was cancelled. The production was due to be stage at least 5 shows a week from 28 July until the end of August - for 5 whole weeks. Interest in this play was unlikely to come from the small Mormon community in Britian and people here in general are neither very interested in religion nor know much about the Mormons.

The New End Theatre should have planned to stage just a few performances over one week, and that would have have been more likely to fill up the seats.

[tourboi]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 8:18pm

I'd like to echo that it's not neccessary to be mormon to appreciate the show. I loved it, and I'm not mormon. I'm not such a fan of his follow up show, though.

And I have to echo the praise for FACING EAST. Brilliant play. It'll have future life, though.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 11:48pm

I saw MORMON BOY Off-Broadway and was incredibly moved by the show.

I also saw FACING EAST at Atlantic Stage 2 and found it to be pretty dreadful. The acting was mostly what ruined it for me, but the writing was pretty unimpressive as well.

but i think with just a little background a good Mormon-themed story can be accessible to us Gentiles.

Way to assume that anyone who is not a Mormon is a Gentile.

Because as we know, no other type of person exists.

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 11:53pm

gen·tile (jntl)
n. often Gentile
1. One who is not of the Jewish faith or is of a non-Jewish nation.
2. A Christian.
3. Archaic A pagan or heathen.
4. Mormon Church: A non-Mormon.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 7/26/08 at 11:57pm

Exactly.

And I am Jewish.

So there are not only Mormons and Gentiles.

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 12:03am

I guess I have to spell it out:

According to the Mormon Church, a Gentile is a Non-Mormon. ie, anyone who isn't a Mormon is a Gentile. So, yes, that includes Jewish people (under that definition).

[Patash]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 12:06pm

Yes. Mormons refer to ALL non-Mormans as Gentiles. Sorry, if you don't like being called a Gentile by a Morman if you are Jewish or Muslim or Hindu or something else, but by definition that IS what you are.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 12:10pm

And if an Amish person calls you "English," and you're not from England, it doesn't matter. That's their term for a non-Amish person. Oy! (Is that appropriate? )

[fflagg]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 12:20pm

Mormon Boy is a diva. This is not the first time his show has been canceled for various reasons. He is trouble and should know better. He is an actor of limited range who makes some money from his mediocre show. Unless he gets his act together, literally and figuratively, he is prob going back to escorting.

This guy is a parent and should get his sh*t together. Shame on him.

[whatever2]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 12:43pm

sorry for the confusion, foster -- the term has a specific meaning in their temple that is different from the specific meaning it has in yours.

now come down off your cross ...

[J.D.2]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 2:03pm

That is not true. Gentiles is anyone that is not a Jew. Jesus called people either Jews or Gentiles.