Review: Witness THE BOOK OF MORMON at The Overture Center

Hello; my name is Elder Rawson and I would like to talk to you about a most amazing musical. From the first doorbell you hear, through all the trials that Elders Cunningham (Conner Pierson) and Elder Price (Kevin Clay) encounter, until the final "Hello", the audience was roaring with laughter.

Written by Matt Stone and Trey Parker of South Park fame; The Book of Mormon follows two Mormon missionaries as they attempt to spread the word of God in a Ugandan village. The young men are challenged by the locals, who are preoccupied with more pressing troubles such as AIDS, famine, female genital mutilation, and general oppression from the local warlord.

The Book of Mormon is funny and critically acclaimed; mostly it sheds a humorous light on some very real world issues and speaks to the naivety of some of our first world problems. It is also the tale of one man's quest to solidify his relationship with his faith and rectify the glaring inconsistencies within his religious upbringing. As Elder Price travels to the last place on earth that he wants to be, with the last person on earth he wants to be with, he encounters a real crisis of faith. He begins to question all he was brought up to believe, as he spirals downward until he realizes that he must believe it all! He then can confront the oppressive warlord (Oge Agulue) and maybe save the village! (Spoiler...he can't...and really comes back to his faith after having the book he so loves removed from a body cavity)

Meanwhile, Elder Cunningham is baptizing the entire village on lies and false pretense (giving this writer the idea that this is where Matt and Trey are really poking fun at the Mormons) until finally the Mormon council visits and the entire things blows up in His face.

This show is not to be missed. If you don't have your tickets there is still hope as The Book of Mormon company is holding a daily lottery of 20 excellent $25 tickets! See below for details. Visit www.overture.org for more details.

"THE BEST MUSICAL OF THIS CENTURY.

Heaven on Broadway! A celebration of the privilege

of living inside that improbable paradise called a musical comedy."

Ben Brantley, THE NEW YORK TIMES

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

ANNOUNCES LOTTERY TICKET POLICY

PERFORMANCES BEGIN MAY 9

AT OVERTURE CENTER

Madison, Wis. - Back by popular demand, THE BOOK OF MORMON, which played a record breaking 1-week run in 2015, is pleased to announce a lottery ticket policy for the National Tour, which begins Tuesday, May 9, 2017, at Overture Center in Madison, Wis., and plays a limited one-week engagement through Sunday, May 14. In Madison, the production will conduct a pre-show lottery at the box office, making 20 tickets available at $25 apiece.

The wildly popular lottery for the Broadway production has attracted as many as 800 entries at some performances. The producers of THE BOOK OF MORMON are pleased to offer low-priced lottery seats for every city on the National Tour.

Entries will be accepted at the box office beginning two and a half hours prior to each performance; each person will print their name and the number of tickets (1 or 2) they wish to purchase on a card that is provided. Two hours before curtain, names will be drawn at random for a limited number of tickets priced at $25 each. Only one entry is allowed per person. Cards are checked for duplication prior to drawing. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets. Limit one entry per person and two tickets per winner. Tickets are subject to availability.

THE BOOK OF MORMON features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Parker and Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of the landmark animated series, "South Park." Tony Award-winner Lopez is co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy, Avenue Q. The musical is choreographed by Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw (Monty Python's Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone) and is directed by Nicholaw and Parker.

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, the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album; four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Musical, and the Drama League Award for Best Musical.

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.

BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA is part of The John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, under the supervision of 9 time Tony-winning producer John Gore (Owner & CEO). Current and past productions include Beautiful, Cats, Dear Evan Hansen, Fiddler on the Roof, Finding Neverland, Hairspray, Million Dollar Quartet, On Your Feet!, School of Rock and The Producers. BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com; Broadway.com

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