Rannells, Gad, James, O'Malley Extend BOOK OF MORMON Contracts Through Febr

[Ejm105989]

THE BOOK OF MORMON’s original principal cast, Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells, Nikki M. James, Rory O’Malley, Michael Potts, along with Lewis Cleale and Brian Tyree Henry, have extended their contracts with the Tony Award-winning musical through February 2013. THE BOOK OF MORMON will celebrate its first year on Broadway on February 24, 2012.

THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, features 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 actors commented: “It’s unfortunate for my knees, but I feel like it is unfair to let my costars continue having all the fun without me. I could not be more thrilled to continue to play Elder Cunningham,” said Josh Gad.

“The producers said they would release the location of where they are holding my family if I resigned,” said Andrew Rannells. “I love my family and want to see them returned safely. So here I am.”

“This past year was incredible. It was nothing I could have imagined in my wildest of dreams,” said Tony Award winner Nikki M. James. “I am thrilled to be able to continue to hear audiences laugh their asses off for another year. Plus, I'm madly in love with my co-stars and cast mates. It's truly unhealthy.”

“Getting to play the fabulous Elder McKinley in this phenomenon of a show has been beyond my wildest dreams,” said Rory O’Malley. “I'm elated to continue working with the most brilliant cast I've ever been a part of and to receive the electric energy of our audiences each and every night. Also, my mother says I have to stay in the show until our entire family has seen it. I have a lot of Irish cousins still trying to get tickets. It may take a while.”

“The Angel Moroni came to me in a vision,” said Michael Potts. “He said I must continue singing ‘Hasa Diga Eebowai’ for another year. I believe his exact words were, ‘It's sort of what God is going for…’ Seriously, it happened!”

THE BOOK OF MORMON is the winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Book (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Direction (Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker), Best Featured Actress (Nikki M. James), Best Scenic Design (Scott Pask), Best Lighting Design (Brian MacDevitt), Best Sound Design (Brian Ronan) and Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman, Stephen Oremus); the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical; five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, Best Music (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Lyrics (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Director (Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker) and Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman, Stephen Oremus); four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Actor in a Musical (Josh Gad) and Best Director (Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker) and the Drama League Award for Best Musical.

THE BOOK OF MORMON stars Josh Gad as Elder Cunningham, Andrew Rannells as Elder Price, Nikki M. James as Nabulungi, Rory O’Malley as Elder McKinley and Michael Potts as Mafala Hatimbi, with Lewis Cleale, Brian Tyree Henry, Scott Barnhardt, Justin Bohon, Graham Bowen, Darlesia Cearcy, Kevin Duda, Jared Gertner, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Tyson Jennette, Clark Johnsen, Valisia LeKae, Douglas Lyons, John Eric Parker, Nic Rouleau, Benjamin Schrader, Michael James Scott, Brian Sears, Jason Michael Snow, Nick Spangler, Lawrence Stallings, Rema Webb, Maia Nkenge Wilson and Tommar Wilson.

THE BOOK OF MORMON features set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt and sound design by Brian Ronan. Orchestrations are by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus. Music direction and vocal arrangements are by Stephen Oremus.

Tickets are available at Telecharge.com, by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200 or in person at the Eugene O’Neill box office (230 West 49th Street).

Read more: http://broadwayworld.com/article/Rannells-Gad-James-OMalley-Extend-BOOK-OF-MORMON-Contracts-Through-February-2013-20120123#ixzz1kJxo39Ak

[LizzieCurry]

1. All press releases should be so entertaining.
2. Yay! Though I do love variety as well.

[Ejm105989]

“The producers said they would release the location of where they are holding my family if I re-signed. I love my family and want to see them returned safely. So here I am.”
— Andrew Rannells, announcing that he is extending his contract through to February 2013

[Harpz2006]

Wow!! I remember reading several posts saying stuff like, "Don't expect Rannells to extend because he has tons of Hollywood offers." I guess they'll be working around it!

[LizzieCurry]

I'm thinking we're going to have a few weeks of Rouleau/Duda/Spangler here and there.

[jpbran]

I thought Rannells was trying to flee Broadway for television...
(weren't there reports of him working on TV pilots?)

[Ejm105989]

“Getting to play the fabulous Elder McKinley in this phenomenon of a show has been beyond my wildest dreams. I’m elated to continue working with the most brilliant cast I’ve ever been a part of and to receive the electric energy of our audiences each and every night. Also, my mother says I have to stay in the show until our entire family has seen it. I have a lot of Irish cousins still trying to get tickets. It may take a while.”
— Rory O’Malley, announcing that he is extending his contract through to February 2013

“This past year was incredible. It was nothing I could have imagined in my wildest of dreams. I am thrilled to be able to continue to hear audiences laugh their asses off for another year. Plus, I’m madly in love with my co-stars and cast mates. It’s truly unhealthy.”
— Nikki M. James, announcing that she is extending her contract through to February 2013

[Ejm105989]

“It’s unfortunate for my knees, but I feel like it is unfair to let my costars continue having all the fun without me. I could not be more thrilled to continue to play Elder Cunningham.”
— Josh Gad, announcing that he is extending his contract through to February 2013

[somethingwicked]

I'm sure all of the principals (Rannells and Gad specifically) negotiated several outs for film and television projects in their new contracts, so it makes complete sense that they'd want to renew for another year. If the more lucrative work they have pending goes through, like a pilot being picked up to series, they'll be able to leave the show and do it. If not, they'll still have high profile jobs to fall back on. It's a complete win-win for them.

[orangeskittles]

"I thought Rannells was trying to flee Broadway for television...
(weren't there reports of him working on TV pilots?)"

Most Broadway actors flee for pilot season each year. It's just usually not headline news, and rarely leads to anything.

It would be silly to leave a guaranteed job, presumably with a salary increase, on the off-chance a pilot might be picked up, and might continue with Rannells, and might not be cancelled after 4 episodes.

[AC126748]

And remember that at this point, it's just a pilot. There's absolutely no guarantee it will get picked up. He and the others probably got a nice raise, too.

[Jonwo]

I wonder if either Andrew or Josh will transfer to the London production when that opens in Spring 2013? I would imagine Nikki M James would come over if neither the leads are available.

[somethingwicked]

Both Gad and Rannells will be well on their way to other opportunities by then, Jonwo, and I doubt James would go either. With MORMON, the show is the star, and they'll want to continue to emphasize that as more and more productions roll out.

[Jonwo]

TBH I think there are plenty of West End performers who could play the main roles, it would be nice to see them reprise their roles but not essential because as you said, the star is the show but then again a lot can change in a year.

[LizzieCurry]

I don't think that's going to happen.

[pinoyidol2006]

I don't think they'll transfer to London, either. There are a lot of great actors in London, and maybe their take on the show will be better suited for British audiences.

[everythingtaboo]

I sell tickets for a living and when someone actually is lucky enough to get a ticket for this show, they could give two sh*ts who's in the cast. Thankfully, there are folks like us who do and appreciate what they're getting.

[LizzieCurry]

Ha. Did you see the OUTRAGED comments on the BoM official Twitter when they linked to a story about Andrew Rannells booking that Ryan Murphy show? That got deleted pretty quickly.

Possibly related: Nic Rouleau tweeted that he'll be going on tomorrow, Thursday and Friday as Elder Price. http://twitter.com/#!/nicrolo54/status/161654296633548800

[showchoirguy]

So excited! Gives me another year to go to the SRO again.

[LizzieCurry]

Remember this? Thanks to The New Normal and 1600 Penn being picked up, I wonder if Boneau Bryan Brown has any regrets for putting out a whole press release now...

(I have yet to see an u/s in this show that I don't like, yet, though!)

[broadwaydevil]

Yeah, that lasted a long time. I was starting to wonder recently whether or not the cast has anything to do with this show's appeal. The Producers tapered off a HUGE amount after Lane/Broderick left even though it was a huge box office success, on par with The Book of Mormon probably. I really don't see the same thing happening with this show because unlike The Producers, which billed Lane/Broderick as the big attractions, The Book of Mormon has been far more focused on the show itself rather than the cast.

[LizzieCurry]

I've seen both Rannells and Gad out at the same performance, and I think two each of them both out at different times. (I attended all of these with the intent of seeing the covers.)

I had a blast nearly every time -- the worst, or, rather, not-as-fun, was simply an off-night, but it was still enjoyable. (I think the wildest audience was actually a performance when Nic Rouleau was on, and I stood behind some guys who were crying with laughter for pretty much the whole performance -- Kevin Duda was Price that day.)

I'm glad that while the success of the show has a lot to do with Rannells and Gad, its LONG-TERM success doesn't depend on them staying.

But I still think that whole long press release was a misstep!

[Phantom of London]

I wonder if it's coincidence that they signed up until February 2013, as the London production starts March 2013.

[LizzieCurry]

Yes.

[Blockhead24]

Any know how much longer we have to see them both in the show?

[Bwaydide92]

Can anyone tell me how good the sight lines are from orchestra row B seat 10 or that general area. I've read that side seats in Broadway theatres can sometimes have really bad sight lines