'The Book of Mormon' creators Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez introduced the show's original cast as they celebrated with the show's Act One closer, "Man Up"
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NEED TO KNOW
- Andrew Rannells, Josh Gad, Nikki M. James and the original cast of The Book of Mormon performed at the 2026 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 7
- The original cast’s reunion comes as the hit Broadway musical continues celebrating its 15th anniversary year
- Gad, Rannells and James, among other Book of Mormon stars, will also appear in guest spots during the show’s upcoming “Magical Mormon Mystery Week” on Broadway this month
Fifteen years after The Book of Mormon first premiered on Broadway, the musical's original stars reunited at the 2026 Tony Awards for a special performance celebrating the show's enduring legacy.
Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad, who both earned Tony nominations for originating the show's lead roles as Elder Price and Elder Cunningham all the way back in 2011, returned to the stage at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 7, alongside their fellow original company members to sing "Man Up," the hilarious Act One closer.
The performance was introduced by The Book of Mormon creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park) and double EGOT winner Robert Lopez, who cowrote the popular Broadway production together. Original cast members who returned for the anniversary performance included another 2011 Tony nominee in Rory O'Malley (Elder McKinley), as well as Michael Potts (Mafala Hatimbi) and Nikki M. James, who won a Tony in 2011 for portraying the character Nabulungi.
"Many, many years ago the great Christian prophet Joseph Smith discovered the Book of Mormon written on golden plates," Parker, 56, said, as the trio introduced the performance. "He had no idea that he had just discovered a Tony Award-winning musical that has now gone on to endure for over 5,500 performances on Broadway."
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"We've had an incredible 15-year run by taking Joseph's work, adding some songs and making it slightly less racist," Stone, 55, added.
The original cast's special performance at the Tonys comes during a milestone year for The Book of Mormon, which marked its 15th anniversary on Broadway on Feb. 24. The hit musical has celebrated throughout the year with a series of events honoring its original company and lasting impact on Broadway.
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Among those festivities is the upcoming "Magical Mormon Mystery Week," which will feature past stars — including Rannells, Gad, James and O'Malley, as well as Parker, Stone, and Lopez — returning to the musical for "guest appearances." The special week is scheduled to run from June 9 through June 14 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.
Just a few weeks ago, it was unclear whether The Book of Mormon would be able to proceed with its "Magical Mormon Mystery Week." On May 4, a three-alarm electrical fire broke out at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, causing "significant damage" to the building's follow spot booth and temporarily forcing the production to cancel performances.
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The show remained shut down until May 27, when — after substantial repair work — the building was able to be occupied again. Theater owners ATG Entertainment and The Book of Mormon producers thanked the FDNY and the Department of Buildings “for their help and cooperation throughout the repair efforts.”
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The Book of Mormon is currently the 10th longest-running Broadway musical of all time and remains the longest-running show in the 100-year history of the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. Choreographed by Casey Nicholaw and directed by Nicholaw and Parker, it continues to play internationally, with productions in London's West End and on tour across the U.K., Australia and North America.
The original Broadway cast recording will be reissued on June 26 in special 15th anniversary editions, complete with a booklet featuring full lyrics, production photos and new commentary from Parker, Stone and Lopez alongside music supervisor Stephen Oremus in conversation with David Pogue.
Tickets for The Book of Mormon are on sale now. The 2026 Tony Awards are airing from Radio City Music Hall on both coasts on CBS and Paramount+.
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