Listen to this articleSouth Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are joining with Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez to create a Broadway musical all about the Mormons. Announced Wednesday, the trip are targeting a March 2011 release date. Continuing the “South Park” tradition of satirizing every organized religion from Roman Catholicism to Scientology, the musical, called “The Book of Mormon,” will juxtapose a tale of two young Mormon missionaries with the story of Joseph Smith, who founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 19th century (a topic that “South Park” has covered).
Stone and Parker wrote the book, music and lyrics with Tony Award winner Lopez. Parker will direct with Jason Moore (“Avenue Q,” “Shrek the Musical”). Scott Rudin and Anne Garefino will produce “The Book of Mormon”; no cast or theater has been announced. In January Off Broadway’s New York Theater Workshop announced plans to produce the musical this August and September. A workshop spokesman noted that “Rent” and two Claudia Shear comedies began there, adding, “I am sorry this show isn’t following the same route.” A spokesman for the Broadway production said: “The workshop did help with a previous reading, but then a decision was made to go directly to Broadway.”
