Original THE BOOK OF MORMON Cast Reunites For Joyous 15th Anniversary Tony Awards Performance
Broadway received a major blast of theatrical nostalgia at the 2026 Tony Awards as the original cast of THE BOOK OF MORMON reunited for a special 15th anniversary performance at Radio City Music Hall.
Fifteen years after the musical first became one of Broadway’s defining comedy hits, original stars Andrew Rannells, Josh Gad, Nikki M. James and fellow cast members returned to the Tony Awards stage for a celebratory performance of Man Up, the show’s high energy Act One finale.
The reunion was introduced by the musical’s creators Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez, bringing together the creative team and original company behind one of the most successful Broadway musicals of the 21st century.
The performance was one of the major anniversary highlights of the 79th Tony Awards, which took place on Sunday, June 7, at Radio City Music Hall. While the evening celebrated the newest plays, musicals and revivals of the 2025 to 2026 Broadway season, THE BOOK OF MORMON tribute offered a reminder of how powerfully a modern musical can enter the Broadway canon.
Rannells and Gad originated the roles of Elder Price and Elder Cunningham when the production opened on Broadway in 2011. Both performers earned Tony Award nominations for their performances, helping establish the show’s original leading duo as one of the most memorable comic pairings of the modern Broadway era.
Nikki M. James, who won the Tony Award for her performance as Nabulungi, also returned as part of the reunion, alongside other original company members including Rory O’Malley, who received a Tony nomination for originating Elder McKinley.
The choice of Man Up gave the reunion an ideal burst of momentum. As the Act One closer, the number captures the show’s mix of irreverent comedy, full company energy and classic Broadway structure. It also allowed the returning cast to step back into the fast paced world that helped turn THE BOOK OF MORMON into a long running cultural phenomenon.
The performance arrived during a milestone year for the musical. Since opening at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in 2011, THE BOOK OF MORMON has become one of Broadway’s most durable contemporary hits, winning nine Tony Awards including Best Musical and continuing to draw audiences well into its second decade.
The Tony Awards reunion also served as a preview of further anniversary celebrations on Broadway. The production is marking the occasion with Magical Mormon Mystery Week from June 9 to 14, with guest appearances from original stars including Gad, Rannells, James and O’Malley during select performances.
The anniversary week is expected to give fans the rare opportunity to see original cast members return to the show’s Broadway home while the current company continues to carry the production forward. The format reflects the musical’s unusual staying power, bridging its original breakout moment with the generation of audiences and performers who have discovered it since.
For Broadway fans, the Tony Awards performance was more than a reunion. It was a celebration of a show that changed the commercial and comic landscape of modern musical theatre. THE BOOK OF MORMON arrived at a time when Broadway was already embracing pop culture, satire and adult comedy, but its scale of success helped prove that an original musical could be outrageous, risky and commercially unstoppable.
Its return to the Tony Awards stage also highlighted how quickly recent Broadway history becomes legacy. What once felt like a shocking new arrival is now being celebrated as a long running institution, complete with anniversary tributes, returning stars and a place in the wider story of Broadway’s past 15 years.
The appearance of Rannells and Gad was especially meaningful given the careers both performers have built since originating their roles. Their return brought the audience back to the show’s original chemistry, while also underlining how influential the production became as a launching pad for major stage and screen careers.
The reunion also added another layer of excitement to a Tony Awards ceremony already filled with major performances, musical tributes and star appearances. In a season that celebrated both new work and beloved long running titles, THE BOOK OF MORMON tribute struck an especially joyful note.
The number reminded viewers that Broadway success is not only measured by opening night acclaim or awards season momentum. It is measured by longevity, repeat audiences, touring life, cultural recognition and the ability of a show to remain alive in the public imagination.
Fifteen years on, THE BOOK OF MORMON continues to do exactly that.
The 2026 Tony Awards gave the musical its moment to look back, but the energy of the performance suggested something more immediate. The show is not simply being remembered. It is still very much part of Broadway’s present.
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