Posted: 11/4/21 at 11:13am
The 2011 Tony winner for Best Musical, The Book of Mormon, returns to Broadway's Eugene O’Neill Theatre November 4 at 8 PM with a free performance for fans. (The production, which has been closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic, officially resumes November 5.)
Posted: 11/4/21 at 11:26am
Ma'hanaibu, Eebowai!
Upon reopening, the musical says “Hello!” to five new ensemblists, two new swings, a new standby, and one new principal cast member: Kevin Clay as Elder Price.
As previously announced, Anne Garefino has taken over as the sole lead producer of the musical. Also, creators Robert Lopez, Trey Parker, and Matt Stone have discussed potential changes to the show with the cast, especially towards the depiction of the Ugandan townsfolk and the racial stereotypes they conveyed in Mormon’s pre-shutdown form.
Who’s joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
Posted: 11/4/21 at 11:42am
I’m going tomorrow, having turned down last-minute offers to go to the fan performance tonight. I’m too old to do two in a row anymore unless I’m traveling. 
The last time I saw the show was in January 2020 and I’ve seen it multiple times in three countries (OK, I only saw it once in Melbourne, Australia, but that’s because I went two weeks after they opened, it was sold out after, and I lost lotto multiple times there). I’m really looking forward to seeing what the changes are, and Kevin Clay is a great Elder Price.
Posted: 11/4/21 at 12:08pm
I also have a ticket for the reopening tomorrow and I didn't try for the fan performance tonight because I have to work. I was lucky enough to be at the final dress rehearsal via the fan performance back when the show originally opened, so I had previously had a similar experience.
My last time seeing the show was in January 2020 on Broadway and I've seen the show multiple times between Broadway and both tours in different cities. I am looking forward to a refresh of the show overall as I feel like the show had fallen into the pattern of a long running show being stale and the changes that have been made.
Updated On: 11/4/21 at 12:08 PM
Posted: 11/4/21 at 12:28pm
I'd like to revisit The Book of Mormon sometime next year. My first visit to this show was in September 2019 in NYC. The entire day was nothing but awful so I went in to the show miserable. I'd like to give it another chance when I'm in a different mindset and a better mood. Can't wait to hear how the fan performance goes tonight!
Posted: 11/4/21 at 12:43pm
I'll be curious to check this out post-refresh as well. If a show was ever in need of one, it was this one. It was a very different time when this show was the hottest ticket in town. Even when I first saw it during previews, I felt it would have a limited shelf life. Outside of the first national tour, the sales became sluggish in many cities. I look forward to hearing from folks.
Posted: 11/4/21 at 1:59pm
Posted: 11/4/21 at 2:03pm
Posted: 11/4/21 at 8:44pm
Guests at the fan performance were given custom-made masks saying "Hasa Diga COVID". Very clever!
Edited: The performance is being filmed! I wonder what for?
Updated On: 11/4/21 at 08:44 PM
Posted: 11/4/21 at 9:06pm
Posted: 11/4/21 at 9:19pm
A friend texted me a selfie from the lobby that said, "So many cameras..." I only saw one in the photo so will have to find out about a recount. 
Posted: 11/4/21 at 9:25pm
Posted: 11/4/21 at 9:27pm
Cameras!
https://twitter.com/BenMakesTV/status/1456430994555392001
Posted: 11/4/21 at 11:56pm
I was sitting up in the mez and from the box that Trey and Matt were in for the speech there was a camera recording reactions for a large chunk of the show.
Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:05am
dearalanaaaa said: "Alright, at least six cameras, here. there's hasta dogs covid shirts and masks. they also had custom playbillsnstuff for tonight. the only changes I recognize this far are a change to the raping a baby line (now it's about a brother), and there's several references to Facebook and posting in place of the ones about messaging and sending texts"
Because there’s nothing smarter than changing the actual content of the show more than necessary after a decade of success. Wonder where “be less racist” turned into into low hanging social media references happened in the writer’s room
Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:07am
Posted: 11/5/21 at 12:58am
I attended the Nov 4 fan performance and the energy was great. Changes I can recall compared to 6 pre-pandemic viewings:
- Elder Cunningham no longer describes Nabulungi as a “hot shade of black;” he simply says she’s so hot
- as a previous poster mentioned, the baby-rape joke is now about an character’s unseen brother, and he heard about virgin babies curing AIDS on “Facebook”
- Facebook is referenced a number of times as a source of misinformation
- Nabulungi‘s typewriter is now an iPad
- in Man Up, the chorus says “listen to the weird white guy” instead of “listen to the fat white guy”
- choreography has been adjusted in I Am Africa to signal the Ugandans’ dissatisfaction with the elders’ appropriation and the absurdity of the lyrics (in my opinion)
- Arnold’s lies make more use of references to the marvel cinematic universe
- a character dabs (could have just been the actor’s choice but I don’t recall seeing a dab before)
That’s all I can recall right now. I’m a bit tired. If I missed anything, please add!
edit: removed something inaccurate
Updated On: 11/5/21 at 12:58 AM
Posted: 11/5/21 at 1:11am
Posted: 11/5/21 at 1:17am
Regarding "Man Up" - I know that "weird white guy" has been an alt line for quite a while, used whenever Elder Cunningham wasn't played by a larger actor. I don't know what the current casting is, is that the case now or is it just a permanent change?
Posted: 11/5/21 at 2:01am
Daniel M said: "
- the “if you don’t like what we say...” passage from Hasa Diga Eebowai has been omitted"
Whaaat? Why? I think thats such a powerful moment in that song, where the book takes a break from the hilarity and speaks directly to the audience to stamp out any tsk-tsk at the whole cursing God thing. What Woke concept am I missing that would compel them to edit that out?
Posted: 11/5/21 at 6:45am
Posted: 11/5/21 at 7:30am
Smaxie said: "Not sure how Daniel M missed it but “If you don’t like what we say…” was not cut. They sang it last night. "
As I said, I was tired 
Posted: 11/5/21 at 8:16am
I was also at the Dress last night. I've seen the show probably 15 times over the years, and think the show is in really good shape. I know the original script word-for-word, and the changes are minimal-maybe 2% of the piece, more in Act 2 than Act 1, but they all work. A few specifics that haven't been mentioned yet:
After the Mormon boys have their bags stolen, Mafala says to Nabalungi something to the tune of "Stay the F*** away from them, and just let me do my job." It nicely reframes the show to the perspective that the villagers don't want outsiders there, as much as the outsiders don't want to be there.
The line about turning the wicked folks yellow is gone-replaced with the afformentioned Marvel references. Nabalungi's last line which drives the General away is also a Marvel reference, but I couldn't fully make it out from the applause that started as soon as she began speaking.
And yes, there were probably a few too many Facebook references, but the pay-off, the new line which replaces the moment where Nabalungi used to present the Mormons with the play "Written in Text" might be my favorite line, original or new, in the whole show.
Also on the new merch front, they have a long-sleeve shirt with the logo on the chest, and "The Mission Continues November 2021" on the sleeve, limited run and sale timeline-I'd imagine the Hasa Diga Covid shirt will be around for the rest of the run of the show.
I had never sat in the mezz at this theater-I usually see the show from standing room, but it's a really nice view from up there.
Posted: 11/5/21 at 10:25am
MattieIce2018 said: "Regarding "Man Up" - I know that "weird white guy" has been an alt line for quite a while, used whenever Elder Cunningham wasn't played by a larger actor. I don't know what the current casting is, is that the case now or is it just a permanent change?"
It's Cody Jamison Strand. I'm surprised they're using that...? He was there at the time of the shutdown.
Posted: 11/5/21 at 11:30am
