SYNDICATE INTERVIEW - THE BOOK OF MORMON: AN INTERVIEW WITH MATT STONE & TREY PARKER

Ever since it premiered on Broadway in 2011, The Book of Mormon has been an astonishing hit. With over seventeen million people having seen the show worldwide, it has defied expectations—not only due to its popularity but also because of its subject matter. The musical follows a pair of mismatched teen Mormon missionaries as they attempt to spread the word in Africa, mirroring the real-life missions of Mormon believers. Who would have thought that could make for a great night out?

It’s a funny world where The Book of Mormon can refer to two things: the founding text of one of America’s most entrenched religions or a big-hearted, irreverent musical that pokes fun at faith and its absurdities. Since its premiere at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York, the show has been a critical and commercial success, captivating audiences in the U.S., Canada, Australia, London’s West End, and beyond. Now, the production is gearing up to take on new cities across the UK and continental Europe.

Surpassing Expectations

“We really wanted to just open up a Broadway show and have it be successful—we thought we could do that,” says Trey Parker. “But we didn’t think it would be this.” He and his longtime creative partner, Matt Stone, are sitting in their West Los Angeles studio, where they also produce South Park.

Their studio remains the nerve centre of their six-day cycle to create each episode of South Park, a process that hasn’t changed much since 1997. Neither has their signature satire, which has taken aim at figures from Osama bin Laden to Oprah Winfrey. “This one this week that we’re trying to do?” Stone chuckles, exasperated. “Every week, it’s the same feeling—until it’s not.” While Parker paces the room, Stone, the slightly calmer presence, yawns. “We’ll figure it out. We find the funny in everything.”

From Satire to Musical Theatre

In many ways, The Book of Mormon shares South Park's DNA. Few musicals make eye-popping jokes about cannibalism, AIDS, and the medicinal virtues of having sex with frogs. Yet beneath the shock factor, the show is a heartfelt coming-of-age story—one that pays tribute to classic musicals. Parker, a lifelong musical theatre fan, eventually converted Stone, and together they teamed up with Robert Lopez, co-creator of Avenue Q.

For musical aficionados, The Book of Mormon includes clear nods to The Music Man, The Sound of Music, The King and I, and The Lion King. However, this is no Disney-fied Africa—the world that Price and Cunningham, two perky 19-year-olds from Salt Lake City, arrive in is a sun-drenched Armageddon. Their struggle to adapt—to their environment, their faith, and each other—forms the heart of the show.

“It’s really two kids coming out of high school, thinking they’ve got it all figured out, and getting their asses handed to them,” Parker explains. “I think anyone around the world can relate to that a little bit.”

A Bromance Behind the Scenes

In 2003, Parker and Stone went to see Avenue Q, a hit musical that blended Sesame Street-style puppets with adult humour. They were surprised to find a thank-you note in the program from Robert Lopez, a man they had never met. Lopez credited them as a major inspiration, citing their Oscar-nominated South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999).

When the three finally met, Lopez shared an unexpected dream project: “I’d love to do something on Joseph Smith and Mormons.”

Parker and Stone were stunned. Mormonism and its founder, Joseph Smith, had long fascinated them. Parker, who grew up in Colorado, had Mormon friends and even dated a Mormon. “For us, it was next door,” Stone laughs. “But Bobby grew up in New York City.”

Their shared curiosity led to years of casual brainstorming. “We dabbled with it for a long time,” says Parker. Whenever their schedules allowed, they met up to write songs—just for fun. “We almost did it like a band,” Parker adds. “I really just wanted to sit down with my dad and press play.”

Their research even included attending the Hill Cumorah Pageant in New York State, where Mormons tell their history in a massive outdoor musical. “It was an 800-person musical!” Stone recalls.

Yet the strangest experience came from outside protests. “I remember a little kid saying to me, ‘You’re gonna burn in hell’ because he assumed I was a Mormon,” Parker laughs. “And I was like, You have no idea, kid. I’m going to SUPER burn in hell.”

A Surprise Success

The first six or seven songs came quickly, showcasing the wicked humour and catchy melodies that would define the show. The next challenge was figuring out the story’s format. Given their background, Parker and Stone initially envisioned The Book of Mormon as a film. However, when they began workshopping songs with actors, it became clear that this was destined for the stage—not as an off-Broadway oddity, but as a full-blown mainstream production.

When the musical finally premiered on Broadway, it became an instant sensation. But one thing surprised the public: the lack of backlash. Unlike South Park, which has sparked countless controversies, The Book of Mormon faced no protests, no performance cancellations, and no major outrage.

“Everyone kept asking, ‘Are you worried?’” Parker recalls. “And we were like, no. Because we know Mormons. Mormons are nice people and they’re smart people.”

Instead of protesting, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took a different approach. They took out ads in the show’s playbill, directing theatregoers to read the actual Book of Mormon. “They trumped us, really,” Parker admits. “It was brilliant.”

More Than Just a Satire

For all its irreverence, The Book of Mormon is ultimately more than just a satire of faith. Beneath the profanity and absurdity, it explores the power of belief itself—how stories, no matter how outlandish, can bring comfort and change lives.

Without giving too much away, the two young missionaries eventually take their teachings to unexpected places. Along the way, the audience is reminded that faith, even when ridiculous, can be a force for good.

And that, perhaps, is the real reason The Book of Mormon has resonated with millions: it doesn’t just make fun of belief—it understands why people need it.