As part of the ensemble, Emmerling has been touring with the record-breaking musical comedy since it opened in 2012 in Chicago, visiting more than 80 cities across the country.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
'The Book of Mormon' remains fresh and funny
As part of the ensemble, Emmerling has been touring with the record-breaking musical comedy since it opened in 2012 in Chicago, visiting more than 80 cities across the country.
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This article was heart-warming. I have been a long-time fan of “Book of Mormon”, but I have only managed to watch half of it (my friend bought me a ticket for her birthday, but I had to leave early). I have recently been trying to purchase tickets with my boyfriend, and we were forced to give one pair – our Pittsburgh one – away. That being said, it is unfortunate that I will not be able to attend Emmerling’s show while he is here, but it is really intriguing to get the insight of someone who has worked with a changing show for so long. I always wondered how “Something Rotten!” would be like without Christian Borle, John Cariani, and the rest of the original cast that decided to leave. However, Emmerling’s statement of different casts causing different punchlines is very thought-provoking. It is possible to enjoy the same show in two utterly different ways based on the way it is presented. It can almost make certain plays timeless in the sense that audiences will always enjoy the shows no matter how many times they have seen it already (because, in reality, they are seeing a different version every time they attend).
Yay! I’m so pleased that The Book of Mormon is still doing well. I remember first listening to the sound track in high school and obviously loving it. I finally got to see it Kansas City about two years ago and it was everything I’d hoped it would be and more. The article states: “The ridiculously funny show scandalized some audiences, while charming others with its warm-hearted story. With the tour returning to cities a second, third and even a fourth time, many fans have seen it multiple times. This is its third visit to Pittsburgh.” I’d like to see the show again in Pittsburgh, and I may have some time next week to do so. The Book of Mormon has kind of been buried under Hamilton, and I’m glad to see that it’s still doing well in America. I can’t imagine doing a four year run of the show though, regardless of if I was an actor, technician or management. Four years doing the exact same thing seems way too mundane and tedious.
I love hearing about The Book of Mormon, and the different places it is going, offending and delighting people left and right, and it always draws me back to the first time i got to see it in San Francisco. I had heard rave reviews about it from my theater friends(who were always trying to make me listen to the soundtrack) and i was not disappointed, it was funnier than i could have hoped. I would love to see it again, and maybe i could one day, but probably not next week. i think this article pulls attention to something that interests me about touring shows. while i cant yet imagine doing the same show over and over without it getting boring or too tedious to bear, i wonder if the reaction of the audience, and the different ways the show is received helps actors or managers make it through such a repetitive schedule.
I remember seeing Book of Mormon back in my good Christian kid days not knowing much about the show except for the fact that it was done by the south park guys. Wow was I shocked. I did not come prepared so it’s funny to see this article punctuated with a mild trigger warning that what you’ll witness is going to be wild. I didn’t know this was traveling to Pittsburgh soon so I’m definitely going to try and make it out there to see it. Once you strip away the shock value, the story is actually really funny and original. The theatricality of the design also does a great job of boosting the story forward instead of filling the stage with crap for no reason. I always like to see how innocent and sweet some of these people are after having to live out of a suitcase for months.
I love the Book of Mormon! It has been one of my favorite shows ever since I saw it for the first time back in 2013. I am going to see it with my boyfriend next Sunday, so I am happy to hear that this production is excellent as well. I think a lot of times, the meaning of the Book of Mormon is lost because of all of the offensive jokes that are considered out of context. When people are citing the reasons why the Book of Mormon is the worst ever, they almost always point directly to Hasa Diga Ebowai (admittedly, very understandably so). However, when the song is taken within the context of the show, it makes so much sense. Sure, it's not great to hear, but the people in the show have absolutely no reason to believe that there is a higher power watching over them. I remember I was reading a book about the production of the show, and someone on the show was talking about one specific line in the song. Toward the end of the song, the Ugandans sing, "If you don't like what we say, try living here a couple days. Watch your friends and family die, Hasa Diga Eebowai." I think that one line really drives home the meaning behind the song. It is very easy for us to be uncomfortable, coming from such a privileged standpoint, lounging in a theatre, but this is their every day life. Anyways, I am so excited to see this show again!
I saw this show in New York about four years ago. On the contrary to popular opinion, I did not find the show very funny. I understood the jokes but they just were not that funny. I do understand that I had listen to the cast recording a bunch so I know that some of the jokes were coming. One of the highlights from when I saw it, was that Ben Platt was in it and now is starring in Dear Evan Hansen. I loved the design elements for the show and completely agree that it was a well-made musical. The clearly put a lot of time in all the factors of that it takes to put on aa show Its intriguing that a cast member from the tour has been in the show for years. I wonder what it feels like to have to do the same show for years. I wish the article went in depth more of what it’s like not have a home for four years and just traveling all the time.
The Book of Mormon was one of my favorite soundtracks to listen to in high school. My dad was, and still is, a huge South Park fan so he took me to see the show on Broadway for my birthday and I loved it! The songs and the book of the show were hilarious, but I also thought that the scenic and lighting design was beautiful. Something that I didn't expect from it was that underneath the crude humor there was actually a fairly heartwarming story. I actually saw the show again with my 75 year old grandparents and I was a little nervous about taking them, but they loved it just as much I did. Obviously the show will offend some audiences, but that's only natural coming from the writers of South Park and Avenue Q. I do have to disagree with one point in the article, which is that it's just as funny to come into the show knowing the punchlines. I almost wish that I hadn't known anything about Book of Mormon going in, as it think the surprise would have made it an even better experience overall.
This show is has a special place in my heart always. Since the iconic 2011 tony award performance of "I believe" done by andrew rannells, my love for this show has been constant and vocal. I was fortunate enough to see the touring production in west palm beach, fl with alumni Denee Benton portraying the lead, Nabalungi. She was phenomenal and captivating and made me want to fight for her character- while still being funny and belting face. I remember meeting her backstage and discussing CMU with her.
This show is cool because of the small satirical presences and references to other top musicals. This (what i would describe as a farce) show is so unique because it literally took the melodies of other shows and made them so funny. The team of writers clearly had their iconic touch of south park in the show with numbers like Hasa Diega. I think this show is one for everyone too see- eventually.
I adore Book of Mormon, mostly because I saw it on broadway like the month after it opened because I won the lottery, and it was probably the most exciting thing that had ever happened to me (until I got into CMU, and then won the Hamilton Lottery) but it was still amazing. I didn't know anything about the show except for that it was supposed to be like the funniest thing ever written, and so when I walked in I was expecting to laugh harder than I ever had. And I did, but I was also moved, and I left the theater thinking about some pretty heavy stuff. This is the magic of this musical to me. It is hilarious, but it is about so much more than making fun of religion, it is about a fundamental ideology that separates our culture sometimes in half, and sometimes into many subgroups. It is about the value of that and the community that that brings, but it is also about the destruction that that causes for our culture, and how damaging separating groups by what they believe can be. I love this show, I always will. It is funny, it is topical and universal at the same time, but it also makes me question religion, and non religious ideology together which I believe is an incredibly difficult task.
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