Book Of Mormon Musical Original Cast

Okay, let’s talk about the single most deliciously offensive musical in Broadway history. You know the one: that show about a couple of mismatched, door-knocking elders in Uganda. I’m talking, of course, about The Book of Mormon and its legendary Original Broadway Cast. Buckle up, because this group of humans was a lightning strike in a bottle, and they made theater history by being gloriously, unforgettably weird.

The show opened in 2011, and honestly, the universe shifted a little bit. Here were these guys from South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, teaming up with Robert Lopez (of Avenue Q fame) to write a musical that made fun of... faith? And it worked? And it didn't get smited by an actual angel? It happened, and it was glorious.

The Dynamic Duo (That Made You Laugh Until You Peed)

At the heart of it all were two stars: Andrew Rannells as Elder Price and Josh Gad as Elder Cunningham. These two were the perfect yin and yang. Rannells was the golden, all-American, “I’ve Got Magic” guy with perfect hair and a voice that could melt glaciers.

And then there was Josh Gad. Good lord, Josh Gad. Before he was Olaf the snowman or LeFou in Beauty and the Beast, he was this. He played Elder Cunningham as a sweaty, socially awkward, sci-fi-obsessed nerd who made up Mormon doctrine on the fly. The look on his face when he just invents a scripture about "The Magic Fox" is worth the price of admission alone. Their chemistry? Chef’s kiss. They made you root for two people who were basically a Ken doll and a dumpster fire.

The Ladies Who Slayed (And Proved Everyone Wrong)

But let’s not sleep on the women. Nikki M. James played Nabulungi, and honey, she was the heart of the show. Here are these two white dudes from Utah waltzing into her Ugandan village, and she has to play it totally straight. She somehow makes lines like “I have maggots” sound like a heartfelt plea. Her song, Sal Tlay Ka Siti, is a hilarious and surprisingly beautiful wish for a paradise that sounds very much like a Latter-day Saints catalog.

Then there was the absolute force of nature that was Rory O’Malley. He played Elder McKinley, the district leader who is so deeply closeted he’s practically in Narnia. His performance of “Turn It Off,” where the entire cast joyfully sings about repressing your feelings, is a masterclass in dark comedy. It’s a tap-dancing number about emotional suicide, and it makes you clap and cringe at the same time. Genius.

The Songs You Still Sing in the Shower (Don’t Lie)

The original cast album is a religious experience, I swear. You’ve got Hello!, which is just a ten-minute sequence of Mormons screaming “Hello!” at increasingly flustered Ugandans. It’s chaos, it’s catchy, and it’s brilliant. Then there’s I Believe, where Elder Price sells you on his faith with the energy of a televangelist on Red Bull. “I believe that the Lord God created the universe! I believe that in 1978, God changed his mind about black people!” You can’t help but sing along, even as your brain screams wait, what?

And of course, Hasa Diga Eebowai. Look, if you know, you know. It’s a song about how life in Uganda is really, really terrible, and the chorus translates to a phrase that is not “no worries.” It’s so wrong, so offensive, and so ridiculously fun that you feel like a bad person for laughing. The original cast performed this song at the Tony Awards, and it was the most audacious, unapologetic three minutes of live television ever. Iconic.

The Supporting Cast of Unforgettable Goofballs

Don’t forget the ensemble! These were the guys in the creepy Spooky Mormon Hell Dream number, dressed as demons, Starbucks baristas, and Genghis Khan. They were the chorus of villagers and the fellow missionaries who were all varying degrees of insane. Every single face in that sea of name tags was doing something hilarious. It’s the kind of show where you need to see it twice—once to follow the plot, and once to watch the guy in the back who’s sweating through his white shirt.

One of the most amazing things? This cast didn’t just survive the material; they elevated it. They took jokes about frog baptisms and baby rape (yes, that’s in there) and delivered them with such commitment that they somehow became art. It’s the power of a great performer: they make the absurd feel sacred.

Why This Cast Still Matters

Look, the show is still running on Broadway with new casts. But the original crew is special. They were the brave souls who launched this grenade into the Great White Way. They faced down protests, raised a ton of eyebrows, and walked away with statues. They proved that you can be respectful and disrespectful at the same time, as long as you’re funny.

That cast taught us a weird, wonderful lesson: kindness works. Even if it's wrapped in a sweaty, blasphemous joke. Elder Cunningham made stuff up to help people, and by the end, the show argues that even a fake religion can do real good. It’s the most hopeful message you’ll ever hear delivered to the tune of a F-bomb-laden parody of a Disney song.

So next time you hear the opening chords of “Hello!” on your Spotify, take a moment to bow your head to the original cast. They brought joy, cringe, and a weird amount of heart to a story about two dorks in bad short-sleeved shirts. And if you ever have a day that feels like Hasa Diga Eebowai, just remember: you can always turn it off. Or, you can just laugh. The Book of Mormon cast proved that laughing is way more fun. Hasa diga, my friends. Hasa diga.