As the national tour of the Broadway juggernaut The Book of Mormon makes its way to Olympia, rave reviews lead the charge:
“The funniest musical of all time!” (Entertainment Weekly); “The best musical of this century” (The New York Times); “The kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals!” (The Washington Post).
Local audiences are embracing this musical phenomenon in its first appearance in Olympia — the play’s two performances at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, on August 4-5, are sold out. But those interested in getting on the waitlist can call the Washington Center at 360-753-8586, or email the center at boxoffice@washingtoncenter.org
Also, producers of the show are offering a lottery for a limited number of $25 tickets (considerably lower than regular ticket prices), according to Washington Center Marketing and Sales Director Tineke Raak.
“We will be posting information about the lottery a couple weeks before the show in our social media,” Raak said recently. “Anyone who wants to can enter the lottery, and we will do a random drawing to see who will get the chance to purchase $25 tickets.”
Those who want to enter the lottery should call the box office at 360-753-8586 to put their name on the waiting list, according to a box office representative. They will be contacted in late July regarding how to enter the lottery. Names will be drawn on July 31. There’s a limit of one entry and two tickets per winner, subject to availability.
The Book of Mormon swept the awards during its inaugural 2011 season on Broadway, winning nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical; four Drama Desk awards, including Outstanding Musical and the NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. Financially, the show is one of the most successful of all time, grossing more than $800 million; more than 20 million people worldwide have seen it.
With book, lyrics and music by Matt Stone, Robert Lopez and Trey Parker, The Book of Mormon tells the story of two earnest young Mormon missionaries who try to find converts in a remote village in Uganda. The men are challenged by the villagers’ disinterest in their faith, due to more pressing concerns: HIV/AIDs, famine, maggots and the terrorizing demands of a local warlord.
In his New York Times review, critic Ben Brantley compared the show favorably to The King and I ” and The Sound of Music, adding “… “but rather than confronting tyrannical charismatic men with way too many children, our heroes must confront a one-eyed genocidal warlord… and a defeated, defensive group of villagers, riddled with AIDS, who have a few choice words for the God who let them end up this way… In setting these dark themes to sunny melodies, The Book of Mormon achieves something like a miracle.”
Photos by Julieta Cervantes.
WHAT:
The Book of Mormon national touring company
WHEN:
Monday and Tuesday, August 4 & 5, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE:
The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington Street SE, Olympia
COST:
Regular tickets (priced $97.90 to $185.90) are sold out; a lottery with a limited number of $25 tickets will take place the end of July. To register for the lottery, contact the box office at 360-753-8586.
MORE INFORMATION:
https://www.washingtoncenter.org/event/the-book-of-mormon