Book of Mormon Rocks the UK
After nearly seven years of development, the show opened on Broadway in March 2011. The Book of Mormon has garnered positive critical response and numerous theatre awards including nine Tony Awards, one of which was for Best Musical, and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. An original Broadway cast recording was released in May 2011 and became the highest-charting Broadway cast album in over four decades, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard charts.
This hit musical has finally transferred to London’s West End after a hit Broadway run along with an LA production and US National Tour. This musical is one of the most eagerly anticipated new shows in decades, and excitement has been building since early 2012.
Rehearsals have now started for the London Production of ‘The Book of Mormon’ which opens at the Prince of Wales Theatre to a sell out crowd on February 25, before an official press opening on March 21 2013.
The show tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries who are sent to a small town in Uganda to bring news of the Latter Day Saints. They are shocked at the cultural differences, as a War Lord threatens the local villages and controls the area by fear. Both missionaries attempt to share the scriptures with the local people, although only one of them knows it well enough. Famine, poverty and AIDS threaten the town, and the duo must battle their own beliefs in order to succeed and make a change.
Gavin Creel and Jared Gertner will lead the company in the roles of Elder Price and Elder Cunningham. They will be joined by West End star Alexia Khadime as Nabulungi.
GAVIN CREEL
ELDER PRICE
Gavin opened the US National Tour of The Book of Mormon in the role of Elder Price.
Theatre includes: Hair (West End) and Mary Poppins (West End), Hair (Hirschfeld, Tony Award nomination), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Marquis, Tony Award nomination) and La Cage aux Folles. Off-Broadway: Bat Boy (Union Square) and Mystery Plays (Second Stage). US National Tours: The Book of Mormon and Fame. US Regional: Bounce (Goodman Theatre/Kennedy Center), Prometheus Bound (A.R.T.) and Mystery Plays (Yale Rep).
Television includes: Eloise at the Plaza and Eloise at Christmastime both co-starring Julie Andrews.
Recordings include: GoodTimeNation, Quiet, Get Out and the single ‘Noise’.
Co-founder: Broadway Impact. School: University of Michigan. Dog: Wally.
JARED GERTNER
ELDER CUNNINGHAM
Jared was the Elder Cunningham standby in the original Broadway cast of The Book of Mormon and eventually took over the role. He then opened the First National US Tour of The Book of Mormon as Elder Cunningham.
Theatre includes: in New York, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Broadway), Ordinary Days (Roundabout) and the Off-Broadway improv show Don’t Quit Your Night Job. US Regional: San Francisco/Boston company of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (IRNE Award, Best Actor), Paper Mill Playhouse, Goodspeed, Cincinnati Playhouse, St Louis Rep, First Stage Milwaukee, Fulton, The Gem and Pennsylvania Centre Stage.
Film includes: The Suicide Auditions and Between Love and Goodbye
Television includes: How I Met Your Mother, Ugly Betty, The Good Wife and the web series Submissions Only.
Education: NYU/Tisch.
For: Mom, Dad, and Jeffrey.
