Four longtime Book of Mormon Broadway cast members are about to say goodbye instead of hello. On October 26, Cody Jamison Strand (who plays Elder Cunningham), Keziah John-Paul (Nabulungi), PJ Adzima (Elder McKinley) and Lewis Cleale (Joseph Smith/Mission President) will leave the show. Notably, Strand has played Elder Cunningham for over 13 years on Broadway, on national tour and in London, amassing more performances in the role than any other actor in the show’s history.
Cleale, an original cast member, has played the roles of Joseph Smith/Mission President for over 14 years since 2011. He has done over 5,000 performances—more than any other actor still performing in their original principal role in the show’s original Broadway production.
The long-running Broadway comedy will welcome a new cast beginning Tuesday, October 28. Diego Enrico will make his Broadway debut as Elder Cunningham, Sydney Quildon will make her Broadway debut as Nabulungi, former Mormon ensemble member Charlie Franklin will play Elder McKinley, and Jay Wilkison (Rent) will play Joseph Smith/Mission President.
The Book of Mormon opened on Broadway March 24, 2011, subsequently winning the Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album. The Broadway production also won five Drama Desk Awards, including Best Musical; the NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical; the Drama League Award for Best Musical; and four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Musical.
The Book of Mormon features a book, music, and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone. The production is choreographed by Casey Nicholaw and is directed by Nicholaw and Parker.
The musical also has set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, sound design by Brian Ronan, hair design by Josh Marquette, orchestrations by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus, music supervision and vocal arrangements by Oremus, dance music arrangements by Glen Kelly, musical direction by Justin Mendoza, and casting by Carrie Gardner.
The West End production opened in February 2013, winning four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical.
