The Book of Mormon is finally coming to the Smith Center and, if you enjoy an old-fashioned musical, this will set you on fire. Brilliant, engaging and innovative, the Book of Mormon is just what you would expect from the Colorado boys who made the words “South Park” a household name. The duo know how to take a story and turn it every which way possible but always end up with something the public loves.

The storyline is great. Two young missionaries, one every Mormon mom would be proud to call their son and the other who prays to go to Orlando for his years on the road, set out from Utah to convert the natives in Uganda. Once they arrive, they understand that this is not going to be easy. The slacker becomes the hero, as in any great story, and uses his overall lack of knowledge about the principles espoused by John Smith to create some wild and wacky alternatives. Needless to say – the Ugandans love it – complete with references to the great Moroni descending from the Starship Enterprise to a myriad of other distortions. It is the age-old story of the teacher being taught by his students. It ends in an uplifting, raucous finale where the Ugandans and the Mormons work in unison to create a paradise on earth.

The musical opened on Broadway in 2011 to rave reviews and critical acclaim. It won 9 Tony awards, one for Best Musical. The music is unique, and the album has won the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. A cast recording was released in 2011 also and leapt to number 3 on the Billboard charts and Book of Mormon has become the most popular Broadway album in over 40 years.

It will be here from June 10 to July 26 and it is a good idea to get tickets ahead of time. Ticket prices start at $39.

The Smith Center
Reynolds Hall
361 Symphony Park Ave.
Las Vegas, NV
702-749-2012

The Book of Mormon