Matt Stone and Trey Parker, aka the creators of South Park, are writing a musical…for Broadway! The plot does not revolve around Kyle, Stan, Cartman, and Kenny. Stone and Parker are finalizing a story “about a pair of mismatched Mormon boys sent on a mission to a place that’s about as far from Salt Lake City as you can get.” This is an elaborate musical they’ve been working on for the last five years. And if you’re a fan of the brilliantly raunchy duo you should know that they hold a special place in their hearts for musicals. Their very first feature film was Cannibal! The Musical (1993), and this was followed by Orgasmo (1997) which they say “should have been a musical”–they wrote it that way. And although South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut (1999) and Team America (2004) were not billed as musicals, Stone and Parker admit that they not-so-subtlety injected tunes into them because they just couldn’t help it. If you’re an avid South Park fan I’m sure by now you’ve picked up on the creators’ passion for musicals. With all that said, it shouldn’t come to a surprise that these guys are living their dream by actually making a live musical for Broadway.
Josh Gad (The Daily Show With Jon Stewart) and Andrew Rannells (Jersey Boys) are set to play the two male leads. Other cast members include Nikki M. James, Rory O’Malley, and Michael Potts. The Book of Mormon‘s music and lyrics are by Stone, Parker and Robert Lopez, the showrunner for Broadway’s long-running puppet show Avenue Q. Stone and choreographer Casey Nicholaw will direct. Preview performances begin February 24, 2011 in New York at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre and opening night is expected to roll around in late March. Get your tickets now before they go on sale to the public at large! Look after the break to hear Stone and Parker talk about the show. You know it’s gonna be pure adulterated gutbusting insanity.
[Via SouthParkStudios]