Twelve years after first appearing in "The Book of Mormon," Tony Award-winner Nikki M. James has returned to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, joined by original co-star Rory O’Malley. The pair, who last performed in the musical when Barack Obama was beginning his second presidential term, are reprising their roles until January 17.
"It was totally surreal being on that stage again, doing a show that I love so much, hearing an audience loving it too, and having people who clearly were seeing it for the first time,” O’Malley said of his return. James described the experience as akin to returning to one's hometown after decades away, finding that familiar pathways remain.
"The Book of Mormon," which opened on Broadway in 2011, tells the story of two Mormon missionaries sent to Uganda. The musical, created by "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, along with Robert Lopez, has remained a cultural force. James earned a Tony Award for her performance, and O'Malley received a Tony nomination.
Both actors acknowledge a sense of nervousness in returning, despite having performed the show extensively in the past. "We know for a fact that this doesn’t happen again. So we have to treat it like the precious gift that it is," James stated.
Their return aligns with a trend of original actors revisiting hit shows, a phenomenon O'Malley hopes will become more common. "I hope that there are more shows that have the ability to be open long enough so that people can come back and revisit it,” he said.
Minor script adjustments were made by the creators during the pandemic shutdown. One significant change enhances James' character, Nabulungi, by giving her more agency, particularly in the musical's conclusion where she actively deters the warlords. This alteration places her on equal footing with the missionaries and allows her to end the show center stage.
O'Malley, who co-founded the gay rights group Broadway Impact, finds personal resonance in his performance of "Turn It Off," a song addressing the concealment of homosexuality. "I love how far this show has let me explore my own faith journey," he shared.
The cast maintains a close bond, with original members showing support for James and O'Malley's return. "Everyone says that their theater family is like a family, and that is really true here," James commented. The backstage environment still holds remnants of the past, with notes and stickers from 15 years ago, alongside a newer tradition of displaying headshots. O'Malley noted the distinct smell backstage as a powerful sensory reminder of the show's early days.