BWW EXCLUSIVE FEATURE: GETTING SIRIUS WITH SETH - Rudetsky Chats MORMON with Gad & O'Malley

Welcome to BroadwayWorld's newest feature: GETTING SIRIUS WITH SETH, a sneak peek preview of Rudetsky's weekly popular Sirius Radio program. Each Thursday, we're bringing you highlights from the program, which airs nationally on Fridays. Want the scoop before the rest on your favorite stars in entertainment? Check GETTING SIRIUS WITH SETH each week here!

In this week's feature, stars of the hottest show in town, BOOK OF MORMON's Josh Gad and Rory O'Malley visit with Seth and discuss their current hit show and their earlier days as college roomies.

Both actors attended Carnegie Mellon University where circumstances brought them together as roommates. "I basically moved into Josh's room against his will," admitted O'Malley. "Yeah, it was kind of forced on me" Gad retorted, "but I wound up enjoying it... for about a month. Then I realized it was not quite what it was cracked up to be!" Despite their rocky start, the actors remained close friends and went on to share their Broadway experiences. "We've both done two Broadway shows and both have been with each other, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE and BOOK OF MORMON." explained Gad as he described their close relationship. "In fact, my wife and I were thinking about inviting Rory to move in with us but we realized, that might be crossing the line".

Rudetsky asked the actors how they respond to critics who accuse the BOOK OF MORMON of being anti-religious and its language of being inappropriate. "You know, I understand if people don't want to see it because of language," responded O'Malley. "If you don't want to hear the F-word ever on the stage then this is not the show for you. But there is a huge message in the show about faith - it's inspiring! It may not be a very religious doctrine show, but it is actually to me, a very pro-faith show. It's a definite story about what it means to have faith and have that faith challenged. It's one thing to be in suburban Salt Lake City and say 'yes, I have faith', but take that faith to Northern Uganda and what these people are dealing with and it's a whole other story."

"The most surprising and rewarding part of doing the show for me is the fact that practicing Mormons continue to come up to us and tell us it is one of the greatest shows they've ever seen," added Gad. "Look, a lot of the language is hard to sit through and some of it is poking fun, but there's this incredible pro-faith message at the end and for all of the complaints that could be out there with a show like this, we've only had 2 or 3 people actually walk out of the show and that is a number that is far smaller than I think anyone would have thought."

On the day of the "Live" taping, seasonal allergies were taking their toll on Gad's singing voice, yet he insisted it would not stop him from appearing in the afternoon's matinee performance. This professional work ethic came as no surprise to O'Malley. "Josh takes his singing very seriously" said O'Malley. "Because he is so hilarious and funny people ask, 'does he really care what his voice sounds like?' and the answer is, 'yes'!" Unable to resist a great opening line, Gad interjected, "Yeah, I'm the fat, male, Jewish Barbra Streisand of my generation!"

Sirius/XM's Live On Broadway with BOOK OF MORMON'S Josh Gad and Rory O'Malley will air exclusively on Sirius 77 and XM 75 on Friday, May 6 at 7 PM ET with encore presentations on Sunday, May 8 at 11 PM ET, Tuesday, May 10 at 7AM and WednesdayMay 11 at 12 noon ET.

SIRIUS XM LIVE ON BROADWAY is hosted by Seth Rudetsky & records live every Wednesday at noon at the Broadway Concierge & Ticket Center, located inside the Times Square Information Center, 1560 Broadway, between 46th & 47th Street, in between the Palace Theatre and McDonalds. It is free to the public.

For tickets and information for BOOK OF MORMON,visit:www.bookofmormonbroadway.com/

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