American actors Gavin Creel and Jared Gertner will be bringing their LA-wowing performances in hit US musical The Book Of Mormon to the UK.
The stateside performers, currently starring in the show’s Los Angeles production, will lead the cast of the West End premiere when it begins its run at London’s Prince of Wales theatre on 25 February next year.
They are joined in the cast of the Tony Award-winning US hit by London musical regulars Stephen Ashfield (Jersey Boys), Alexia Khadime (Wicked), Chris Jarman (Sister Act) and Giles Terera (Avenue Q).
Creel, who plays Elder Price in the hilarious story of two Mormon boys sent as missionaries to a small Ugandan town more interested in war, famine, poverty and AIDS than religion, has his own West End history, having appeared as Bert in Mary Poppins and as Claude in Hair on the London stage.
Gertner, by contrast, who was also a member of the show’s original Broadway cast, will be making his debut in London’s West End, but boasts US credits including The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Ordinary Days.
Speaking to the Daily Mail’s Baz Bamigboye about the casting process, producer Sonia Friedman explained that while they had originally thought of casting British stars in the leading role it became apparent that they needed more authentic all-American performers for the launch.
Irreverent comedy The Book Of Mormon, a collaboration between South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez, opens at the Prince Of Wales theatre following the current run of Beatles musical extravaganza Let It Be.