The Book of Mormon Rewards Faithful Fans With a Special Show

By Thea Piltzecker, Broadway.tv

When the Mormon Church tells its followers that faith has its rewards, they're probably not picturing Broadway matinee tickets. Yet for devout fans of the hit show The Book of Mormon, those tickets are the prize for their perserverance.

Winner of 9 Tony Awards including Best Musical, The Book of Mormon has become an audience sensation on Broadway, and is sold out until September. But a 20–ticket lottery gives a few lucky fans the chance to see the show that everyone is talking about. With 400 to 600 people lining up for those lottery tickets every day, however, the chances of musical salvation sometimes seem slim.

On July 1, a special matinee was held for the 1,100 faithful fans who had't yet won the general lottery. As a "fan appreciation" performance, the tickets were free, in contrast to the $32 lottery or up to $477 premium ticket price. The performance generated an palpable amount of excitement, and a crowd gathered far before the show began.

"I've been here since midnight," asserted one woman in line. "6:45 this morning," chimed in another. Their faces shone with anticipation, seemingly erasing any fatigue.

An audience of their most devoted fans would no doubt have an electrifying effect on the performers. "This performance in particular is going to be amazing, because everyone here has been trying to see the show for a long time," said Chris Catalano, an O'Neill Theater employee.

Fans proudly displayed their wristbands, proof of their winning ticket numbers, as they lined up outside the theater. "I told my friends I got this ticket through the law of attraction, because I had thought about it so much," said Gary Waynefarris, a ticket lottery winner.

The show has certainly generated a great deal of thought. The Book of Mormon is a comedic take on the adventures of two mismatched Mormons on a mission in Uganda. Writers Trey Parker and Matt Stone have a devoted following from their TV show South Park, and together with writer Robert Lopez, their musical has attracted huge crowds to the Eugene O'Neill Theater.

"I think [the writers] are just comic geniuses, and that sparkles in the show," explained Alexandra Nader, a ticket winner who waited outside the theater with a guitar in hand.

Some critics claim that the show disparages the Mormon Church, but fans are quick to disagree.

"The Mormon Church could not have bought better publicity," joked fan Taylor Kurpiel. "It's kind of awesome for them, so I don't think it's doing them any harm at all." Her friend Robert Robinson added, "I think if you're offended by the show, then the joke's kind of on you."

Though the musical focuses on Mormon characters, fans claim the message is broader and more positive. There's "no controversy," according to ticket winner Rodney Ladino. "You need to be able to laugh at yourself–that's what I enjoy about [the writers'] philosophy."

"If there's any controversy, it's from people who haven't seen the show yet, and don't know what it's really about," Catalano explained. "It's not about the language, it's about the message, and the message is beautiful."