It's been a Broadway smash for years, and now it's back in San Antonio. One of the production's stars is, no surprise, really impressed with the production. He's Billy Tighe, and he thinks The Book of Mormon's magic all started with those who wrote it, because they saw something in a highly unlikely subject.
"The creators of South Park and Bobby Lopez were endlessly fascinated by it and knew there was a well of comedy in there," says Tighe.
Tighe agreed with reporter Jack Morgan that it probably wouldn't work if it were just making fun of Mormons. There seems to be some heart in there, too. "Absolutely," says Tighe. "I don't think the show--its intent is certainly not malicious. It's really not necessarily about Mormonism. It's more about these boys and their coming-of-age tale. No one wants to just sit and watch a roast for two hours about a religion."
His character sings a big song onstage, alone, but that's not actually his favorite moment.
"For me the most fun is working with A.J., who's the Elder Cunningham," says Tighe. "That's really the most fun and when it feels the most electric," he says. "It's fun to sing in front of an audience yourself; that's great. But there's nothing like teamwork. That's really where the fun comes in."
Tighe says that in addition to it being fun, there's something else the production gives. Conversation.
"It allows us in this day and age of being absorbed in social media and our cell phones, to have something to talk about afterwards at dinner," says Tighe. "You suddenly have ideas and passions about these thoughts about these things that happened in the show, and want to talk about them with friends, and I think that's the coolest thing about it."
The Book of Mormon is at the Majestic Theatre through December, 20.
