The Book of Mormon will open in Chicago in December 2012

The producers of The Book of Mormon, the massive hit Broadway musical from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Avenue Q cocreator Robert Lopez, announced late tonight that the show will launch a new company at Chicago's Bank of America Theatre in December 2012.

It was announced earlier today that the first national tour, previously set to start in Denver in December 2012, will now open several months earlier in that city, on August 14, 2012. The newly announced Chicago engagement has committed to a 12-week run, with the exact start date remaining unspecified, but the language in the announcement of the Bank of America production seems to suggest that producers may be floating a sit-down run, similar to the recent Chicago productions of Wicked and Jersey Boys.

Since beginning previews in February, opening in March to rave reviews and then winning nine Tony Awards in June, The Book of Mormon has become one of Broadway's most desirable tickets; aside from the daily lotteries, tickets are reportedly sold out nine months in advance, with brokers and scalpers demanding as much as $500 a seat.