“The Book of Mormon” is headed straight for the lion’s den.
The satirical musical sends up all things Church of Latter-day Saints, but that won’t stop it from playing less than a mile from the organizations Salt Lake City headquarters next year. A touring production of the Tony-winning hit from “South Park” creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker will play at the Capitol Theatre from July 28 to Aug. 9, 2015.
Songs such as “I Believe” do a pretty effective job of highlighting the more outlandish aspects of the religion — although it should be noted that other faiths have their own logic-defying elements. A sample lyric from the number reads, “I Believe; that in 1978 God changed his mind about black people!,” a reference to the church’s past history of racial discrimination.
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A spokesman for the theater did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, the church seemed to be taking the incursion in stride.
“The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening, but The Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will change people’s lives forever by bringing them closer to Christ,” a spokeswoman for the church told The Salt Lake Tribune.
This marks the first time the show has played in Utah, where the Associated Press notes, six in 10 residents are Mormon. Tough crowd.