After almost two weeks, Broadway’s “The Book of Mormon” is set to resume performances after a theater fire forced the musical to close.
The hit production had been dark since a fire broke out at the theater around 10:30 a.m. on May 4. The three-alarm blaze caused significant damage to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre. Today, producers have confirmed when the Tony-winning musical will officially welcome audiences back for live performances.
‘The Book of Mormon’ Re-Opens May 21
According to a story published by The Hollywood Reporter, “The Book of Mormon” will resume performances beginning May 21. The musical ceased performances on May 4 after a fire caused damage within the Eugene O’Neill Theatre.
After the scary incident, all performances were cancelled through May 20. Ticketholders were given the option to either request a refund or rebook their tickets for a later performance.
The Hollywood Reporter shared a statement from a spokesperson connected to the production about the show’s scheduled reopening. It read, “The work inside the theatre is being completed by an extraordinary team that has made tremendous progress.”
It continued, “On its current timeline, ‘The Book of Mormon’ will resume performances on Thursday, May 21. ATG Entertainment and ‘The Book of Mormon’ will keep audiences updated should anything change in the coming days.”
“ATG Entertainment, who are the owners and operators of the O’Neill, and ‘The Book of Mormon’ are extremely grateful to the FDNY and the Department of Buildings for their help and cooperation throughout the repair efforts.”
The Broadway musical currently stars Kevin Clay as Elder Price, Diego Enrico as Elder Cunningham and Sydney Quildon as Nabulungi, Charlie Franklin as Elder McKinley and Jacques C. Smith as Mafala Hatimbi.
According to PEOPLE Magazine, Assistant Fire Chief David Simms explained that the blaze began in an electrical room. While the initial fire was under control, additional hot spots were found in a “concealed space between the fifth floor and the roof.” That area was reportedly difficult to access due to the upper equipment, including catwalks and lighting.
What is ‘The Book of Mormon” About?
“The Book of Mormon” is a satirical musical that follows two young Mormon missionaries sent from Utah to teach about their religious beliefs to residents in a remote village in Uganda. Although they expect to change lives through faith and optimism, they quickly find themselves confronting far harsher realities than they ever prepared for.
Additionally, the missionaries struggle to connect with the local community. However, the musical’s sharp humor and over-the-top situations explore belief, culture clash, and the gap between idealism and reality.
The musical was written by “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, along with Robert Lopez.
In 2011, “The Book of Mormon” won nine Tony Awards. They were subsequently honored in the categories of Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, Scene, Sound and Lighting Design, and Best Orchestrations.
Actors Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad starred in the original Broadway cast as Elder Price and Elder Cunningham. The musical celebrated its 15th anniversary on the Great White Way in March 2026 and is the 10th-longest-running show on Broadway.
