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Where’s That Cast Now? The Book of Mormon Edition

Book of Mormon

When The Book of Mormon opened at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in March 2011, it was an instant cultural earthquake—raucous, irreverent, and packed with a powerhouse cast. Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Robert Lopez’s satirical masterpiece took home nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and cemented its place in Broadway history. But what happened to the original cast after they bid farewell to Uganda? Let’s check in.

Andrew Rannells (Elder Price)

The breakout star of The Book of Mormon, Rannells earned a Tony nomination for his pristine comedic timing and powerhouse vocals. After leaving the show, he jumped to HBO’s Girls as Elijah, a role that made him a TV fan favorite. He’s also appeared in The New Normal, Black Monday, and the film adaptation of The Prom. On Broadway, he returned in Falsettos (another Tony nomination), The Boys in the Band, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He’s now an established multi-hyphenate—actor, singer, and author (Too Much Is Not Enough), and came back to Broadway most recently in 2023 in Gutenberg! The Musical! opposite Mormon castmate Josh Gad.

Josh Gad (Elder Cunningham)

Josh Gad left The Book of Mormon with a Tony nomination and a rocket strapped to his career. He became a household name as the voice of Olaf in Disney’s Frozen franchise, starred in films like Beauty and the Beast as LeFou, Artemis Fowl, and Murder on the Orient Express, and fronted series like Central Park and Avenue 5. Recently, he co-created and starred in the Apple TV+ series Wolf Like Me. He returned to the stage in Gutenberg! The Musical! in 2023 and Broadway fans are eagerly awaiting his next project.

Nikki M. James (Nabulungi)

James earned a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her luminous performance as Nabulungi. Since then, she’s built a wide-ranging career spanning stage and screen. She appeared in Les Misérables (2014 revival), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and received a Tony Award nomination for playing Ida B. Wells in Suffs. On TV, she’s had recurring roles in BrainDead, The Good Wife, Severance, Daredevil: Born Again, and Proven Innocent. She continues to be a beloved Broadway presence and versatile performer.

Rory O’Malley (Elder McKinley)

O’Malley’s hilarious, scene-stealing “Turn It Off” won him a Tony nomination. After Mormon, he starred in Hamilton as King George III on Broadway and on the road, and has appeared in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and American Princess. Beyond acting, he co-founded Broadway Impact, an organization advocating for marriage equality. He remains a champion for social causes and LGBTQ+ rights within the theater community.

Michael Potts (Mafala Hatimbi)

Potts has built a robust career in both theatre and television. He starred in the Tony-winning revival of The Iceman Cometh alongside Denzel Washington and earned acclaim for The Piano Lesson on Broadway. TV fans know him from The Wire (Brother Mouzone), True Detective, and Show Me a Hero. His career continues to balance powerful stage work with scene-stealing screen roles.

Lewis Cleale (Price’s Dad / Mission President)

A Broadway veteran before Mormon, Cleale has continued working steadily, appearing in The Book of Mormon for several years and in productions like The Fantasticks. He’s also lent his voice to recordings and is a respected name in the theatre community.

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Broadway’s Best Shows’ Best Shows of 2024

As we at Broadway’s Best Shows celebrate the start of another wonderful year of theater, we want to take a moment to reflect on some of the Best Shows of 2024. So without further ado, here is Broadway’s Best Shows’ Best Shows of 2024 (in alphabetical order)…

All In

A series of hilarious short stories written by Simon Rich, performed by a rotating cast of some of the funniest people in show biz, with direction from Alex Timbers, and you get a wonderful evening of theater. Playing through February 16th at the Hudson Theatre.

Cats: The Jellicle Ball

One of the hottest tickets of the summer was the radically reimagined production of one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most famous works at PAC NYC. Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch’s retelling of Cats within the context of ballroom culture was a revelation and has a well-deserved spot on this list.

Elf the Musical

The musical adaptation of the beloved movie played a limited engagement on Broadway through the holidays. The high energy, hilarious musical comedy with a delectable score from Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin was a festive standout of the year. 

Mary Jane

MTC’s production of Mary Jane was a standout of the 2023-2024 season. With seamless direction by Anne Kauffman, Rachel McAdams gave one of the most emotional stirring performances of the year in her Broadway debut.

Maybe Happy Ending

The new musical that is taking Broadway by storm. Will Aronson and Hue Park’s Robot Romcom Adventure opened in November to resounding critical acclaim. Expertly directed by Tony Award winner Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending perfectly balances humor and heart in a way few Pixar movies even achieve.

Oh, Mary!

The new comedy from Cole Escola broke the box-office record in its first full week at the Lyceum theater. The hilarious, entirely fictional, portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln as a wannabe cabaret star was one of the funniest performances of the year and remains one of the hottest tickets of the season.

Our Town

From Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon, the revival of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play that played at the Barrymore Theatre was a masterful reimagining of a timeless classic. With Jim Parsons as the iconic Stage Manager, the cast of 28 also featured Katie Holmes, Zoey Deutch, Billy Eugene Jones, Ephraim Sykes, Richard Thomas, Michelle Wilson, and more.

Table 17

The new play from playwright Douglas Lyons kicked off MCC’s 2024-2025 season.  Starring Tony Award winner Kara Young, the romantic comedy about two exes reflecting on their relationship over drinks was the perfect addition to a stacked year of Off-Broadway plays.

The Outsiders

Dark, gritty, and full of gravel, the musical adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s coming-of-age novel is the reigning winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical. Directed by Danya Taymor, who won the Tony for Best Direction of Musical, The Outsiders is intimate and yet larger than life.

Ragtime

New York City Center’s production of the Flaherty & Ahrens musical as part of their Encores! Series was a resounding success, masterfully balancing the massive ensemble and orchestra, which created the most beautiful wall of sound emanating from the stage.

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Broadway's Best Cover Story

Broadway’s Best Guide to Spring 2024

It is an absolutely packed spring ahead on Broadway, with 18 new plays and musicals set to open in March and April ahead of the cutoff date for this year’s Tony Awards! 

Here is Broadway’s best guide to all the first previews, opening nights, and closing nights in the near term:

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Water for Elephants

Where: Imperial Theatre

Opening: March 21

This circus-centric musical, based on the best-selling novel, combines emotional highs and lows of musical theater with the literal highs and lows of trapeze and aerial stunts. Starring Grant Gustin and Isabella McCalla, with direction by Jessica Stone and music by PigPen Theatre Co. For more information, click here.

The Who’s Tommy

Where: Nederlander Theatre

Opening: March 28

The rock opera that changed music history. The Who’s Tommy arrives on Broadway, pushing the boundaries of musical theater to the tunes of ‘Pinball Wizard,’ ‘Amazing Journey,’ and more iconic classic rock. For more information, click here.

The Outsiders

Where: Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre

Opening: April 11

The all-American tale comes to the stage. Set in 1967 Tulsa, this thrilling musical portrays the battle between the Greasers and the affluent Socs. A story of friendship, family, and self-discovery, with a Roots Rock-infused score by Jamestown Revival. For more information, click here.

Lempicka

Where: Longacre Theatre

Opening: April 14

A sweeping musical portrait of Polish artist Tamara de Lempicka, who changed art and culture forever. Directed by Tony winner Rachel Chavkin and starring Eden Espinosa as the title artist. For more information, click here.

The Wiz

Where: Marquis Theatre

Opening: April 17

A reimagined version of the beloved musical, following Dorothy’s journey through Oz. Soulful music, vibrant characters, and a fresh twist on a classic tale starring Wayne Brady and Nichelle Lewis. For more information, click here.

Suffs

Where: Music Box Theatre

Opening: April 18

A captivating exploration of the women’s suffrage movement, set against a backdrop of courage and determination. Written by and starring Shaina Taub, this historical retelling is transferring to Broadway following its sold-out run at Off-Broadway’s Public Theater (sounds familiar…). For more information, click here.

Stereophonic

Where: John Golden Theatre

Opening: April 19

Closing: July 7

Blending song and story in a totally new way, Stereophonic by David Adjmi chronicles the making of our central band’s new album. Very Fleetwood Mac/Daisy Jones & The Six-coded, the play is every music lover’s dream. A limited engagement, so catch it while you can! For more information, click here.

Hell’s Kitchen

Where: Shubert Theatre

Opening: April 20

A gritty, intense semi-autobiographical musical set in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, written by one of our biggest pop stars. Exploring loyalty, betrayal, and survival, Alicia Keys combines her hits with new music to tell her own story, in her own words. For more information, click here.

Cabaret

Where: August Wilson Theatre

Opening: April 21

The iconic Kander & Ebb musical set in pre-World War II Berlin, featuring memorable songs and captivating characters, is back on Broadway ten years after its latest revival. Starring Eddie Redmayne as the Emcee reviving the role following its run across the pond, Gayle Rakin joins as Sally Bowles for the Broadway transfer. For more information, click here.

The Heart of Rock and Roll

Where: James Earl Jones Theatre

Opening: April 22

A high-energy celebration of rock music, love, and chasing dreams, this brand new musical features the music of Huey Lewis and the News. For more information, click here.

Patriots

Where: Ethel Barrymore Theatre

Opening: April 22

Closing: June 23

Set in post-Soviet Russia, this history play portrays the power struggle between billionaire Boris Berezovsky and the rising politician Vladimir Putin. Tony and Emmy Award nominee Michael Stuhlbarg stars as Berezovsky, with direction by Rupert Goold. For more information, click here.

Mary Jane

Where: Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

Opening: April 23

Closing: June 2

Academy Award nominee Rachel McAdams leads this compassionate story of a single mother facing impossible family circumstances. Written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Herzog, it explores inner strength, friendship, and unflagging optimism. For more information, click here.

Uncle Vanya

Where: Vivian Beaumont Theater

Opening: April 24

Closing: June 16

Anton Chekhov’s masterpiece comes back to life in this new adaptation from Heidi Schreck, starring Steve Carrell alongside a who’s who of top-notch Broadway talent. It delves into unrequited love, aging, and disappointment. For more information, click here.

The Great Gatsby

Where: Broadway Theatre

Opening: April 25

Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel, this new musical features music and lyrics by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen, and stars Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada. Follow the impassioned tale of eccentric millionaire Jay Gatsby and his tragic pursuit of Daisy Buchanan. For more information, click here.

Mother Play

Where: Hayes Theater

Opening: April 25

Pulitzer Prize winner Paula Vogel brings her latest to Broadway in a new production for the non-profit Second Stage. The memory play stars Jessica Lange, Jim Parsons, and Celia Keenan-Bolger for this limited run. For more information, click here.