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“The Book of Mormon” will return to Washington’s National Theatre from April 28 through May 3, bringing its boundary-pushing humor, energetic performances and unexpected emotional warmth back to the stage.
The Tony Award-winning musical follows two young missionaries whose assignment in Uganda confronts them with circumstances far removed from anything they anticipated. Created by the team behind “South Park,” the show has retained its provocative edge more than 15 years after its Broadway debut.
Craig Franke plays Elder McKinley, the mission leader who introduces the new arrivals to the group’s unconventional ways of coping with life in a different country. Franke said the role fulfills an ambition that began when he first saw the musical as a high school student.
“I thought it was so funny, and I was like, ‘I have to audition for this,’” he said.
Franke secured the part through a competitive audition process as the touring production restarted after the pandemic. The opportunity was especially meaningful because the musical had helped shape his appreciation for theater.
His interest in performing began with a childhood appearance in “Oliver Twist.” He later earned a BFA in musical theater from Indiana University and moved to New York to pursue acting professionally.
His credits include the Off-Broadway production “The Imbible” and regional stagings of “Young Frankenstein,” “La Cage Aux Folles,” “Jersey Boys” and “The Producers.” Those comedy-heavy productions helped prepare him for the pace and demands of “The Book of Mormon.”
Although the musical is best known for its irreverence, Franke said its sincerity can be overlooked amid the jokes.
“With the humor, a lot of people can miss the heart that lies underneath it,” he said. “At the end, it really is a Broadway musical with a lot of heart.”
The touring cast also features Sam McLellan as Elder Price and Diego Enrico as Elder Cunningham. Dewight Braxton Jr., Trevor Dorner, Kemari Bryant, Devon Buchanan, Andrew Burke, Matthew Dant, Lars Kristian Hafell, Alesha Jeter, Vance Klassen, Evan Lennon and Jarret Martin also appear in the production.
Returning audiences can expect a version that remains largely faithful to the original Broadway staging. Franke said the show has received only minor adjustments over the years, preserving its familiar combination of outrageous comedy, memorable songs and an ultimately earnest message.
He believes that formula offers audiences a welcome escape.
“Everybody could use a laugh right now,” Franke said. “There’s no better thing you can do than come to the theater and turn your mind off for a couple hours.”
During the Washington stop, Franke also plans to spend time walking through the city and visiting its monuments and museums. Exploring on foot, he said, is how he typically becomes acquainted with each destination on the tour.
For Franke, the musical’s staying power comes from its ability to deliver relentless laughs without abandoning its human core.
“It tells this hilarious story, but it’s also moving,” he said. “I think everyone will enjoy this.”