The award-winning musical comedy The Book of Mormon written by Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of South Park, takes to the stage this weekend in North Charleston.
The musical chronicles the misadventures of an awkwardly paired team of missionaries caught up in the business of taking the easily misconstrued message of Joseph Smith and Bringham Young to the inhabitants of a remote Ugandan village.
Actor Sean Casey Flannigan, who plays Elder McKinley, told the Charleston City Paper that while participating as a touring cast member of a highly in-demand show can be exhausting, he couldn’t imagine doing anything else with his life.
“So far, with The Book of Mormon, we’ve been lucky enough to not have too many one-nighters … but going to places I would have never known to go to before has been incredible.”
Flannigan said this particular opportunity was extremely serendipitous.
“When the auditions came out, I was in the process of coming off the road from another gig, but I didn’t hesitate to submit myself for consideration because this is a dream come true. McKinley is definitely a sleeper role but is absolutely one of my favorites. I’ve been in love with The Book of Mormon as well as the soundtrack ever since I first became aware of it on Broadway.”
As much as he still loves the original Broadway version of The Book of Mormon, Flannigan said what he most appreciates about this touring experience is the opportunity to keep things fresh while out on the road.
“This show has been making the rounds for years, but our specific cast and crew is new to it as of last year. So, it’s the same script and same songs, but we’ve all been throwing a bit of ourselves into it and making it our own. What I am trying to say is that, even if you’ve seen The Book of Mormon before, this experience will be something different.”
The actress known simply as Berlande will be front and center this weekend alongside Flannigan, playing the coveted role of Nabulungi (the daughter of Mafala, and the love interest of Arnold Cunningham in the musical).
A seasoned professional, Berlande said she is excited both about taking on the character Nabulungi and having a little fun with religion, as she said she did while previously performing in the cast of a staged production of Sister Act.
“There’s always going to be someone who is offended,” Berlande told the City Paper. “But I have no doubt that any folks who walk in to see The Book of Mormon knowing this is a satire can keep an open heart and an open mind throughout and will walk out having enjoyed themselves.”
In the end, for Berlande at least, it is a more worthwhile endeavor knowing that her current company is taking a shot in the dark by presenting performances of The Book of Mormon all over the country, rather than staging it within the already bright-enough lights of New York City’s theater district.
“I am genuinely thrilled to have a hand in bringing this production out to audiences that might not otherwise have an opportunity to take it in,” she said.
See The Book of Mormon at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center May 5 -7.
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