The original Broadway cast of the Tony-winning musical The Book of Mormon reunited on June 9, 2026, to launch a special anniversary performance week celebrating the production's 15th year at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.
Original stars Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells, Nikki M.
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James, and Rory O'Malley returned to perform select scenes and songs alongside the current cast for the "Magical Mormon Mystery Week," which runs through June 14, 2026.
The milestone celebration follows a special reunion performance by the original company at the 79th Annual Tony Awards on June 7, 2026, at Radio City Music Hall, where they performed the musical number "Man Up" under the introduction of co-creators Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Robert Lopez.
The satirical production originally opened on Broadway on March 24, 2011, and went on to win nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Score, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.
Written by Parker, Stone, and Lopez, the story follows two mismatched Mormon missionaries sent to a Ugandan village grappling with war, famine, and the AIDS epidemic.
As part of the anniversary milestones, Ghostlight Records will reissue the original cast recording on June 26, 2026, in multiple vinyl formats and CD featuring commentary by the creators.
The Book of Mormon remains the longest-running show in the century-long history of the Eugene O'Neill Theatre and ranks as the 10th longest-running production in Broadway history.
Cast Reflections on Returning
Actor Josh Gad, who originated the role of Elder Cunningham, recalled his initial reaction to the show's musical numbers during early rehearsals.
"I don't think I can do this show," recalled Gad, explaining his initial anxiety to his agent regarding the controversial song "Hasa Diga Eebowai."
The agent questioned his reasoning during the phone call.
"Because I don't want to get killed," said Gad, according to an interview reported by NPR.
Despite the provocative humor, Gad noted that the overarching themes of the musical carry a deeper, more positive message for the audience.
"Very pro-faith show," said Gad.
The actor elaborated on how the narrative arc ultimately resolves for the theater audience.
"If you stick with the craziness and chaos ... the end is very uplifting," said Gad.
He noted that the conclusion provides a powerful emotional shift from the dark themes presented earlier in the story.
"It's actually quite emotional and soaring.
And so you get this sense that there is something positive to come out of this hellscape that the show depicts," said Gad.
Reflecting on the musical demands, Gad admitted to struggling with the vocal range before returning to the stage.
"Oh my god I can't! How am I gonna hit these?"
said Gad.
The production team declined his request to alter the arrangements for the anniversary performances.
"You sound so much better than you did back when you first did it," said Gad.
Co-star Andrew Rannells, who played Elder Price, expressed immediate comfort with the satirical script when he first reviewed the production materials.
"I heard the humor in it and I felt very confident that people were going to think it was funny," said Rannells.
Rannells confessed that he did not foresee the immense longevity or the widespread touring success that the production would eventually achieve.
"I certainly didn't think it would be still running on Broadway after 15 years and would have toured to Salt Lake City.
I didn't think that they would have done that, but it did," said Rannells.
During the workshop phase, Rannells sought out actual Mormon missionaries near Lincoln Center to research his role, which led to an unexpected home visit.
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"Can we come to your home?" said Rannells.
The missionaries subsequently discovered Rannells' personal life and his involvement in the theatrical production during their visit.
"No one will speak to us. People are very mean to us," said Rannells.
Rannells advised the young missionaries to avoid working in high-stress tourist areas.
"Well, where are you hanging out?" said Rannells.
The missionaries explained their assigned location in New York City.
"They send us to Times Square," said Rannells.
Rannells immediately urged them to find a safer environment for their missionary work.
"You've got to get out of Times Square. You cannot be hanging out in Times Square, boys.
You should go someplace else. Don't try to talk to people there.
It's not safe for you," said Rannells.
Addressing the vocal changes that come with age, Rannells reassured Gad about his performance quality during rehearsals.
"No you sounded great. … I think you sound the same.
I mean, look, our voices are different. Fifteen years, there's a lot of wear and tear.
But some of it is muscle memory, I would say, some of it comes back. I got to perform this number, 'I Believe,' on Stephen Colbert's show.
That was the number that I sang on the Tony Awards… It was still somewhere like lodged in my voice," said Rannells.
Rannells noted that the physical demands of the choreography present a greater challenge than the vocal arrangements after 15 years.
"Now the physical side of it, Terry, is a little different. Physically doing some of these numbers, that's where the aging process really catches up to you.
… I can't dance as much as I used to. The singing part is a little easier to control.
The physical, the knees, the getting up and down off the ground, that's all a little bit different," said Rannells.
The actor also described the challenges of managing vocal strain during long Broadway theatrical runs.
"That happened many times..
… Over the course of my career, that's something that happens, not just in The Book of Mormon, but in other shows.
You learn to sing through sickness.
I think there are nights where there are certain notes missing in your voice all of a sudden, and you don't find out until you're on stage in front of 1,200 people, and you're like, 'Oh boy.'
And you just have to figure out a way to sing around it. After previews, after opening, after," said Rannells.
The current regular Broadway cast of The Book of Mormon features Kevin Clay as Elder Price, Diego Enrico as Elder Cunningham, Sydney Quildon as Nabulungi, Charlie Franklin as Elder McKinley, and Jacques C.
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Smith as Mafala Hatimbi.
