South Park creators take Book of Mormon to Broadway

[pam]

For some reason I don't think this will put us in the best of light.

`South Park' creators plan B'way musical for 2011

[NeuroTypical]

It's good for us.

Every time you kick "Mormonism" you kick it upstairs; you never kick it downstairs. The Lord Almighty so orders it.

...

Every time they persecute and try to overcome this people, they elevate us, weaken their own hands, and strengthen the hands and arms of this people. And every time they undertake to lessen our number, they increase it. And when they try to destroy the faith and virtue of this people, the Lord strengthens the feeble knees, and confirms the wavering in faith and power in God, in light, and intelligence. Righteousness and power with God increase in this people in proportion as the Devil struggles to destroy it.

...

Let us alone, and we will send Elders to the uttermost parts of the Earth, and gather out Israel, wherever they are; and if you persecute us, we will do it the quicker, because we are naturally dull when let alone, and are disposed to take a little sleep, a little slumber, and a little rest. If you let us alone, we will do it a little more leisurely; but if you persecute us, we will sit up nights to preach the Gospel.

- Discourses of Brigham Young, 351

[Honor]

From BBC News - South Park duo write Broadway musical about Mormons

It will tell the story of two young Mormon missionaries sent to Uganda to spread the church's gospel.

Parker and Stone said in a joint statement the project was "a dream come true".

"Growing up in Colorado, a lot of our friends were Mormons and we always thought their book would make a great musical," they added.

Co-writer Lopez said the musical would be, "in many senses a big traditional musical comedy with, as you might expect, untraditional subject matter".

Hahaha guess we'll see!

[annamaureen]

You know if someone tried to make a comedic musical of another religion - Judaism, Islam, whatever - there would be outrage over how "intolerant" and "insensitive" it is.

But my general reaction is "eh." It's always frustrating to see these things, but the work will go forth.

[Matthew0059]

Disgusting and outrageous. While Mormonism may only be kicked upstairs, as LM wisely quoted, those doing the kicking are still committing vile acts.

It hurts to see the truth being mocked.

[rameumptom]

The SP creators are always disruptive for the individuals or groups they had in South Park. However, while they've poked fun at Mormons, they've always had us as the good guys. In the movie, when all the religious people are burning in hell and asking why they are there, Satan tells them they were wrong, and that the correct answer is the Mormons.

[beefche]

Oh come on, people! How can you not see the musical qualities of "Pick up your head, Shiz, and fight!"??

[WindRiver]

It never ceases to surprise me how many LDS people really enjoy watching that program.

[Moksha]

Wonder if the music will match their classic, "Blame it on Canada"?

:)

[talisyn]

Mormons are old news, we haven't really done anything 'big' in a world-wise way since prop. 8. I don't see it as being very popular.

I agree, Pam. Somehow I don't see it as being an LDS-friendly show

[dazed-and-confused]

Wonder if the music will match their classic, "Blame it on Canada"?

:)

lol...i LOVE that one. but then, i have to admit that i am an avid (NOT rabid) fan of south park.

but it seems to me that i saw something on the internet that gave me the impression that it was already on broadway and that it wasn't very good, according to critics...who probably don't know the show either.....but i may have misread it.

[pam]

It doesn't hit Broadway till 2011

[Canuck Mormon]

Wonder if the music will match their classic, "Blame it on Canada"?

:)

Sure, blame everything on Canada.

The episode where they talked about the Mormons was pretty funny, but the kid at the end made it better. He said something to the effect of 'If I'm a dork for wanting to help people in need and spend time with my family then I guess I'm a dork.' Then he says something that will get me banned, so I won't quote it.

[Carl62]

The SP creators are always disruptive for the individuals or groups they had in South Park. However, while they've poked fun at Mormons, they've always had us as the good guys. In the movie, when all the religious people are burning in hell and asking why they are there, Satan tells them they were wrong, and that the correct answer is the Mormons.

You then obviously haven't heard of the movie "Orgazmo" which was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park creators). It's about two Mormon missionaries who make money for their missions by doing porn. Hardly in a good light there. Or the South Park episode that tells the story about the Mormon church where the backing musical track has the words "dumb, dumb, dumb,..." all the way through it. Not in a good light either.

[Guest Godless]

You know if someone tried to make a comedic musical of another religion - Judaism, Islam, whatever - there would be outrage over how "intolerant" and "insensitive" it is.

You haven't seen much of their work, have you?

[pam]

You then obviously haven't heard of the movie "Orgazmo" which was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park creators). It's about two Mormon missionaries who make money for their missions by doing porn. Hardly in a good light there. Or the South Park episode that tells the story about the Mormon church where the backing musical track has the words "dumb, dumb, dumb,..." all the way through it. Not in a good light either.

Thank you Carl..I was trying to remember the name of that.

[Dravin]

You haven't seen much of their work, have you?

Indeed. Both because they make fun of other groups and because there is also some outrage. Though it tends to be minor (to my recollection, but then I don't track them), the people that are generally offended by such humor don't partake. And as demonstrated by their work they aren't inclined to go, "Oh, I am so sorry I offended you, I will never make fun of that subject ever again and will now go do penance."

Well... at least not with a straight face.

[rameumptom]

No, I don't track their work. I'm not a big one for their outrageous and vulgar stuff. That said, I usually don't take offense at the things people say or do concerning the Church. Why? Because I have better things to do with my life than be offended.

[Blackmarch]

For some reason I don't think this will put us in the best of light.

`South Park' creators plan B'way musical for 2011

well better them than ed decker....

can't say i'm leaping for joy... but it did make me chuckle.

Quite frankly i'll bet I'll find it less offensive than the play that was performed that portrayed Christ and the apostles as gays.

[Carl62]

well better them than ed decker....

Honestly, I'd MUCH rather have it be Ed Decker than Parker and Stone. The only people who really pay any remote attention to Decker are religious-oriented people who are vented against the church anyway. Parker and Stone seem to be capable of getting to a lot bigger outlet of mainstream people than Decker can, and in a lot shorter period of time also.

[Blackmarch]

Honestly, I'd MUCH rather have it be Ed Decker than Parker and Stone. The only people who really pay any remote attention to Decker are religious-oriented people who are vented against the church anyway. Parker and Stone seem to be capable of getting to a lot bigger outlet of mainstream people than Decker can, and in a lot shorter period of time also.

true.. altho stuff like the god makers seems to make more rounds than the clips or excerpts from southpark that involves mormons...

while they tend to go from stuff that's more well known pretty true to some out there things, that end up portraying mormons as weird (mainly due to faulty info and their plays on stereotypes)... they haven't been malicious. At least in all the mormon southpark clips i've seen, and most of them i thought were pretty funny.

[Carl62]

true.. altho stuff like the god makers seems to make more rounds than the clips or excerpts from southpark that involves mormons...

while they tend to go from stuff that's more well known pretty true to some out there things, that end up portraying mormons as weird (mainly due to faulty info and their plays on stereotypes)... they haven't been malicious. At least in all the mormon southpark clips i've seen, and most of them i thought were pretty funny.

It would just seem that South Park could do more damage with showing their one half hour episode on the Mormons with 1-3 million people watching at any given time than Decker could do with the Godmakers in five to ten years worth of church viewers.

[Blackmarch]

It would just seem that South Park could do more damage with showing their one half hour episode on the Mormons with 1-3 million people watching at any given time than Decker could do with the Godmakers in five to ten years worth of church viewers.

In the forums i've been at it seems that Godmakers generates far more questions, comments, criticisms, contentions than any southpark episodes or excerpts so far...

so my bet would be unless they really go off too far from how they usualy treat just about everything, it won't make that big of an impact.

There's already many that watch southpark rather earnestly... i don't think that when one of it's productions that goes to the theatres will change the numbers viewing it already significantly, or how they view things.

[Dravin]

It would just seem that South Park could do more damage with showing their one half hour episode on the Mormons with 1-3 million people watching at any given time than Decker could do with the Godmakers in five to ten years worth of church viewers.

Keep in mind that South Park is labeled as comedy and the Godmakers is (self)labeled as a documentary. People may walk away from South Park shaking their heads at them weird Mormons but that's a whole different level of damage than something like the Godmakers shown to a congregation by a pastor is capable of.

[ADoyle90815]

It would just seem that South Park could do more damage with showing their one half hour episode on the Mormons with 1-3 million people watching at any given time than Decker could do with the Godmakers in five to ten years worth of church viewers.

South Park is just a comedy, so most people don't take it seriously, regardless of which group they're making fun of in an episode. Godmakers is labeled by the filmmakers as a "documentary" but it's really a propaganda film made by those who hate the LDS church.