THE BOOK OF MORMON to Open at Eugene O'Neill 3/24; Previews 2/24

THE BOOK OF MORMON, a new original musical comedy from "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q composer and co-creator Robert Lopez, will open on Broadway on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street).

The world premiere will be choreographed by three-time Tony Award-nominee Casey Nicholaw (Monty Python's Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone) and co-directed by Nicholaw and Trey Parker. Previews will begin on February 24, 2011.

Parker and Stone make their Broadway musical writing debut with THE BOOK OF MORMON. Parker and Stone have won four Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award for "South Park," the team's controversial, critically acclaimed series, which airs on Comedy Central. "South Park" recently aired its 200th episode and begins its 15th season in April, 2011.

Parker and Stone's credits also include the critically acclaimed films, South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut and Team America: World Police.

Parker co-wrote the musical numbers for South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut. The film's accomplished and outrageous score surprised and delighted critics and audiences. Parker shared an Academy Award nomination for Best Song for the music and lyrics for "Blame Canada" from the film's score. The New York Film Critics Circle also honored South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut with the organization's first award ever presented for Best Animated Film.

Robert Lopez is co-creator, composer and lyricist for Avenue Q, which won 2004 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score and received a Grammy nomination for its Original Cast Album. Avenue Q played for six years on Broadway and is currently running Off-Broadway and in London.

Casey Nicholaw received 2006 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for Best Direction and Choreography for The Drowsy Chaperone and 2005 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for Best Choreography for Monty Python's Spamalot, directed by Mike Nichols. His additional New York credits include the Encores! stagings for Follies (direction/choreography), Bye Bye Birdie (choreography) and Can-Can (musical staging); Candide starring Patti LuPone and Kristin Chenoweth at tne New York Philharmonic and South Pacific at Carnegie Hall with Reba McIntyre and Brian Stokes Mitchell (also PBS "Great Performances").

THE BOOK OF MORMON will be produced by Scott Rudin and Anne Garefino.

Cast and additional creative team will be announced at a later date.

Photos: Matt Stone and Trey Parker / Comedy Central, Bobby Lopez and Casey Nicholaw / BroadwayWorld.com