‘Book of Mormon’ starts next chapter of national tour in Des Moines

One of Broadway’s most popular touring shows is returning to the Des Moines Civic Center today for an eight-show engagement.

“The Book of Mormon,” which holds the record for the largest weekly gross in the Civic Center’s history, is the story of two distinctly different Mormon missionaries who travel to Uganda to spread the good word. While in Uganda the missionaries — Elder Price (Ryan Bondy) and Elder Cunningham (Cody Jamison Strand) encounter challenges not only with the villagers they are trying to reach, but also with trying to understand and accept their own identities.

Candace Quarrels who plays Nabulungi, a Ugandan villager, said the show is for all adults, even those who do not think they like theater.

“I think it is so funny and brilliantly written musical that people who don’t like musicals will like this one,” she said. “The show is appealing to all audiences, except for children of course.”

The show created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone the brains behind “South Park” offers a night of music, laughs and entertainment. Quarrels said the fact that the men behind the hit TV show are behind the hit Broadway musical offers a lot of laughs and addresses a number of political and social issues.

“Anything Trey and Matt do is special, a little offensive and a little crude,” Quarrels said. “But the show also makes you think and laugh about things that people don’t usually. It is such a political show. It is funny but still hits on topics such as war, famine, religion and the AIDS epidemic in Uganda.”

The West Memphis, Ark., native said she was thrilled to learn she was being cast in the nine-time Tony-Award winning production and looks forward to each performance especially the number “Baptize Me” with her co-star Jamison.

“It is a song and scene where we can cut loose and have fun as actors on stage. I think the audience can feel how much fun we are having on stage,” she said.  “It’s a scene that I would love even if I wasn’t in it. It is truly a privilege to be a part of this show.”

Quarrels and her fellow cast members will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets to the latest installment of the Willis Broadway Series are available starting at $35 at DesMoinesPerformingArt.org, the Civic Center ticket office or by calling 800-745-3000.

“Wives should tell their husbands who hate musical theater ‘Hey, it is written by the South Park guys and come and enjoy the show,” she said.