In New Orleans, ‘South Park’ creators’ Broadway hit

Samantha Marie Ware admits she had trepidations about “The Book of Mormon” when she first read the script.

The brainstorm of Trey Parker and Matt Stone – the minds behind the animated series “South Park” – and Robert Lopez, whose works include a number of Disney songs and the musical “Avenue Q,” the “Book of Mormon” lampoons religion – specifically Mormonism – and traditional musical theater.

A story of two young Mormon missionaries, the show drops the main characters in a remote village in northern Uganda, where a brutal warlord is threatening the locals. Ever naïve and optimistic, Elders Price and Cunningham try to share “The Book of Mormon,” one of their scriptures, which only one of them has read. Villagers, understandably, are more concerned about war, famine, poverty and AIDS than about Mormonism.

What ensues is two hours of unrepentant humor.

“I grew up in Lincoln, Neb., and I come from a religious background,” she said during a phone interview. “My immediate thought was what would my family think.”

Upon learning she had been cast as Nabulungi, the daughter of the village chief, Ware had second thoughts.

“I have brothers, so I knew about ‘South Park’,” Ware recalled. “I don’t think I fully understood the humor, though.”

Her two older brothers, both fans of Parker and Stone’s creation, were over the moon to hear that Ware was playing the female lead. Her younger two brothers, ages 13 and 18, were less fazed.

“I kind of had an exchange with my grandmother about it,” Ware said. “She was the one I was most concerned about not understanding or appreciating the humor.

“She was actually great about it. She understood it’s a show and there’s a script. She knew it was acting and that I wasn’t abandoning my beliefs.”

Ware, 22, answered the call of musical theater early. Her first performance was in a small role in “A Christmas Carol” at age 8.

After a short stint at a private liberal arts college, where she was pursuing a degree in musical education – with a theater bent – and journalism, Ware made her big debut at age 19 as Nala, Simba’s friend and love interest in Disney’s “The Lion King” in Las Vegas. Her other credits include playing Velma in “Chicago,” Mimi in “Rent” and Rusty in “Footloose.”

It was suggested she try out for a role in Broadway’s touring production of “The Book of Mormon.” She did, never once thinking she’d earn the role of Nabulungi.

News that Nikki M. James, the Broadway actress cast in the part, was leaving to film “Lucky Stiff,” Parker, Stone and Lopez summoned Ware for an intensive workshop with the creators. For the next six weeks, she’d learn her part during the day and perform it on a New York stage at night.

“Both were such huge experiences: the workshop and performing on Broadway,” Ware said. “I’d never lived in New York, so I hadn’t lived the authentic Broadway star life.

“It was a bit of a wake-up call, especially experiencing the struggle of the city. In Vegas, I was used to driving everywhere. Navigating New York was a learning experience.”

And learning at the feet of Parker and Stone was priceless.

“It was like taking a peek in the mind of two geniuses. Trey has this thing where he paces back and forth in rehearsal. You can actually see him playing out the parts in his mind,” Ware said. “They taught me a lot.”

In between rehearsals, Parker and Stone would drift away to write “South Park.”

“We could peek in a window to the room and see them at work,” she said. “It was really exciting to know they were working on the show.”

A year later, Ware is still touring as Nabulungi. She’s matured from the naïve teen, and has come to appreciate her character’s combination of idealism and determination.

“I relate to her free spirit and how she wonders about the world and how she fits in,” Ware said. “She’s definitely a ‘glass is half-full’ kind of girl. We’re both very young, too; like her, I’m like the baby of the cast.”

Ware has one piece of advice for those headed to see “The Book of Mormon”: “Come with an open mind and heart.”

“This show has such a beautiful lesson at the end,” she said. “Be prepared to take something special home.”

“Book of Mormon” runs from Oct. 16-27 at Saenger Theatre of New Orleans, 1111 Canal St. Tickets range from $71.85 to $108.95 and can be purchased online through www.neworleans.broadway.com. Warning: The script contains explicit coarse language.

Elder Cunningham attempts to explain The Book of Mormon, which he’s actually never rad, to Ugandan villagers. For more information, visit www.bookofmormonthemusical.com.

COURTESY PHOTO

Samantha Marie Ware hits her stride as Nabulungi, the naive daughter of the village chief, in “The Book of Mormon.”

COURTESY PHOTO