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Shalom!This week, The Broadway Maven looks at The Book of Mormon and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.NOTE: THIS SUNDAY IS THE LAST DAY to pay $49 instead of $69 for the nine-week Introduction to Broadway. Details below.• On Sunday, July 31 at Noon ET and Monday, August 1 at Noon and 7 pm ET there will be a FREE class about the hilarious musical from the creators of South Park. Register here.• On Thursday, August 4 at Noon and 7 pm ET we’ll kick off our Andrew Lloyd Webber series with a class on Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. $5. Register here.• This Weekly Blast includes:A) an essay about the arrival of The Book of Mormon in Utah (included here FREE in this preview edition);B) an article about Joseph’s extended path in becoming a full-length musical;C) a YouTube GEM from co-host Mateo Chavez Lewis about Lea Michele’s performance of a song from Funny Girl;D) a student RAVE about Matilda in advance of Netflix’s upcoming version of that musical; andE) Last Blasts about AIDA and The Music Man.(Last Blasts are a new FREE Weekly Blast feature: quick witty, thought-provoking, or challenging thoughts about Broadway shows.)
In July of 2015, The Book of Mormon had already been touring for three years, but there’s one place it never descended: the Mormon-heavy state of Utah. Lots of people wondered what kind of fireworks might happen. The result was close to “whimper” than “bang,” but the reactions of local Mormons were quite varied. Some Latter Day Saints boycotted it and some ignored it - but some embraced it. The Church itself bought three ads in the Playbill (more than usual) that said, essentially, “You’ve seen the show, now go read the book.” Ticket sales for the two-week run were strong, and in fact the show nearly sold out on the first day. One of the show’s creators, Matt Parker, attributed the show’s success in Utah to the audience’s familiarity with the cultural references: “It’s like playing Fiddler on the Roof to a bunch of Jews,” he told the Associated Press. In the show, “Sal Tlay Ka Siti” is treated as a mysterious, magical place by some of the African characters. In Salt Lake City itself, some patrons had complicated feelings. Timothy Emery told NPR during intermission, “I’m deeply Mormon, was raised in the church, really terribly offended by this play… I might leave, yeah – except that I keep laughing.”
Sunday, July 31 is the last day for the Early Bird rate for The Broadway Maven’s very popular “Introduction to Broadway” course. The fast-paced curriculum looks at more than 70 shows, from Show Boat to Hamilton. By the end of the nine weeks, students will know what shows they want to see next - or see again! Early Bird rate $49 (save $20). FREE for ALL-ACCESS Passholders.
The hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy The Book of Mormon is known for its vivid characters, outlandish situations, and gut-splitting songs. We’ll look at the ways the show parodies other Broadway properties, and how the show’s creators balanced humor with pathos. And we’ll hear from some real Mormon missionaries, whose opinions may surprise you! This FREE class will meet three times (same content each time): • Sunday, July 31 at Noon ET • Monday, August 1 at Noon and 7 pm ET
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was the first musical from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, but it had within it the seeds of their later success. We’ll look at the ways the show pays homage to various musical styles, and we’ll analyze the lyrics and construction of the score. Thursday, August 4 at Noon and 7 pm ET. $5. ALL-ACCESS Passholders FREE.
Here, I make an unusual argument about The Book of Mormon. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer in the comments.  And for your Joseph homework, watch the video below of the best - and worst - lyrics in the show. Which is your favorite? Explain your answer in the comments. 
Last Blast: The best showstopper in Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida is “My Strongest Suit,” in which Princess Amneris exults in her colorful and diverse wardrobe: “I would rather wear a barrel than conservative apparel,” as the lyric goes. The irony? In the 1970s, Sir Elton’s signature style was his outlandish costumes. Last Blast: Harold Hill in The Music Man is established early on as a con man. The term is short for “confidence man” - referring to a fraudster who gains people’s confidence before swindling them. But in this case, Hill brought a different kind of confidence with him to River City along with the power of music. Little Winthrop was able to come out of his shell, the school board was able to forge a bond, and most importantly, Marian the Librarian was able to fall in love.
Note: links to register for ALL classes are ALWAYS available at TheBroadwayMaven.com.• Sunday, July 31 The Book of Mormon (Noon ET, FREE) • Monday, August 1 The Book of Mormon (Noon and 7 pm ET, FREE) • Thursday, August 4 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Noon and 7 pm ET, $5) • Sunday, August 7 Introduction to Broadway part 1 of 9 (1:30 pm ET, $49 Early Bird rate by July 31) • Monday, August 8 City of Angels with lyricist David Zippel (Noon ET ONLY, FREE) • Thursday, August 11 Jesus Christ Superstar (Noon and 7 pm ET, $5) • Sunday, August 14 Introduction to Broadway part 2 of 9 (1:30 pm ET, $49 Early Bird rate by July 31) • Thursday, August 18 CATS (Noon and 7 pm ET, $5) • Sunday, August 21 Evita (Noon ET, FREE) • Sunday, August 21 Introduction to Broadway part 3 of 9 (1:30 pm ET, $49 Early Bird rate by July 31) • Monday, August 22 Evita (Noon and 7 pm ET, FREE) • Thursday, August 25 The Phantom of the Opera (Noon and 7 pm ET, $5) • Sunday, August 28 Introduction to Broadway part 4 of 9 (1:30 pm ET, $49 Early Bird rate by July 31) Reminder: ALL-ACCESS Passholders do not need to sign up or pay for anything. Just show up!The Broadway Maven, David Benkof, helps students further their appreciation of musical theater through his classes, his YouTube Channel, and his Weekly Blast. Contact him at DavidBenkof@gmail.com.
© 2022 David Benkof
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Hello! Broadway's Book of Mormon Comes to Utah
July 28, 2022
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