The company of “The Book of Mormon” North American. Photo by Julieta Cervantes.
Fifteen years after making its Broadway debut and winning the Tony for Best Musical, “The Book of Mormon” is still delivering side-splitting hilarity with its impeccable blend of catchy songs, biting satire, and nothing-is-off-limits humor. Two Latter-Day missionaries, an overconfident Elder Price (Ethan Davenport) and socially awkward Elder Cunningham (Jacob Aune) are sent to a remote village in Northern Uganda to spread the faith—wildly unprepared for the poverty, sickness, and murderous warlord awaiting them. The naiveté of the youthful elders quickly runs up against reality, however, and the African villagers, rather than mere unbelievers to be saved, become their teachers. Together they navigate an epically humorous clash of cultures with fast-paced dance numbers, sharp and witty dialogue, and several absurd twists along the way.
…unapologetically bold and dazzlingly irreverent. If you haven’t yet seen this musical, it’s high time you do and, if you have, it’s well worth another visit.
The cast has just about cornered the market on comic timing, vocal talent, and acting chops. Davenport infuses “golden boy” Elder Price with self-centered obliviousness, and Aune plays an endearingly insecure Elder Cunningham. Charity Arianna portrays Nabulungi as innocent but determined, and Elder McKinley (Craig Franke), somehow manages to be irrepressibly cheerful and deeply repressed at the same time. The story’s villain, Shafiq Hicks’s General, is a towering physical presence who also possesses a balanced blend of menace and humor. Members of the ensemble are constantly changing roles (villagers, missionaries, background characters) while delivering thrilling dance numbers and providing rich choral support.
Set Designer Scott Pask frames the stage with stained glass, topped by the Angel Maroni blowing his trumpet. Clean-cut suburbs seamlessly shift from a rural African village to Elder Price’s beloved Orlando, from Upstate New York to a spooky Mormon Hell dream, and back again to Uganda in this fast-moving narrative. Beyond the immediately recognizable missionaries’ black ties and name tags, Costume Designer Ann Roth has created colorful, East African-styled clothing, and some quick-change, extra-bold outfits that explode with sequins and sparkle.
Book, music, and lyrics are by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone. The orchestra, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the show’s energy and momentum, is led by conductor and keyboardist Eric Huffman.
“The Book of Mormon” is unapologetically bold and dazzlingly irreverent. If you haven’t yet seen this musical, it’s high time you do and, if you have, it’s well worth another visit. The script has been updated a bit to reflect contemporary developments, adding a fresh layer of surprise and ensuring that even returning audiences will find something new to laugh about.
Running Time: Two hours and 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.
Advisory: Contains explicit language.
“The Book of Mormon” runs through May 3, 2026, at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. For more information and to purchase tickets: in person at the Box Office Monday-Friday, 12-6 pm (Extended hours during performance days: Tuesday-Sunday, 12-7 pm) or go online.
