Regarded as one of the finest modern musicals on a theatre stage, the Book of Mormon has taken home dozens of awards and has been the darling of both critics and audiences alike.
This November, the touring production is making its way to Calgary for eight performances.
The musical tells the story of a pair of Mormon missionaries attempting to preach to a remote Ugandan village. It was written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone of Southpark fame, along with Robert Lopez who co-created Avenue Q.
New for the touring show is the addition of co-star Diego Enricho. He’s stepped into the character of Elder Cunningham—first played by Tony award-winning actor Josh Gad—as his first big off-Broadway role.
“Finding my own way into this role has been a welcome challenge, as I grew up listening to the original Broadway recording. I really respect Josh Gad’s ability to craft comedic beats and bring levity into his work. I also have a great fondness for the way he brings himself into all the roles he plays,” said Enricho.
“For me, I wanted to honour the spirit of his original portrayal of Cunningham by keeping a sense of play and staying true to my sense of humour and navigation of Cunningham’s character arc. Rather than committing to an imitation, I used his choices and work as inspiration to make Cunningham innately human, navigating his unique challenges through compassion, curiosity, and courage.”
Finding one’s place on stage, and in the world
One of the major themes of The Book of Mormon is missionaries finding a sense of home. It’s something that Enricho has himself had to think about, as a dual native of both Peru and the United States.
“The quality time spent with people I love creates a home that can transcend borders and state lines. That being said, I believe that Cunningham would feel the same way,” Enricho said.
“He adapts to the world around him because at his core, he wants to find community and connect to other people. Like me, his home is made up of the people he wants to spend his time with.””
Enricho said that he finds home wherever his people are.
“It’s interesting, as most people define their home as an extension of a particular location. I find, having grown up in two different countries, that home to me is truly about community. My home is where my people are. Those people can be friends and loved ones from Peru, my family in Texas and Virginia, my college friends in New York City, and even my cast and crew as we find ourselves in a new city weekly.”
Of course, he missed his friends and family while touring North America. Still, The Book of Mormon has been a labour of love, he said.
“Starting off my professional career touring with this show is nothing short of a dream… it has been truly inspiring to be embraced by such a loving cast and crew of people. Touring also lets me explore places I’ve never been before and meet incredible people,” Enricho said.
“I want the audience in Calgary to be reminded that you can find a lot more joy in life if you come from a place of love and try to find the beauty in your immediate surroundings. There is always room for more love and appreciation for the people, places, and things that you interact with every day.”
The Book of Mormon runs from Nov. 26 through Dec. 1 at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Tickets are on sale at calgary.broadway.com/shows/thebookofmormon.
