The Book of Mormon

The key to this religious experience is its Creators: The show was begat by the holy triumvirate of Avenue Q’s Robert Lopez and South Park architects Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The accomplished score both celebrates and upends the American musical-theater tradition, just as the narrative mocks some strictures of organized religion even as it honors the transformative power of faith and religion’s community organizing. What’s maybe most astonishing about the new Chicago production is that its cast improves upon the original Broadway ensemble. Nic Rouleau finds a comic-dramatic grounding in Elder Price’s crisis of faith, but Ben Platt’s sneak-attack ninja take on the jittery Cunningham is the breakout star turn here.