Christopher John O’Neill joins The Book of Mormon

Christopher John O'Neill will join Broadway's The Book of Mormon in the role of Elder Cunningham from 6 January 2015, the same date Gavin Creel joins the show as Elder Price.

The pair can currently be seen in the US national tour of the hit musical, and will transfer to Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre to replace Ben Platt and Nic Rouleau, who will both play their final performances on 4 January 2015.

Christopher John O'Neill announced the news on his personal Twitter page, saying he was "beyond excited" to take on the role on Broadway. The actor made his professional theatrical debut in The Book of Mormon in December 2012. His previous tour credits include 'The Chris and Paul Show'. This will mark his Broadway debut.

The principal cast for The Book of Mormon currently stars Nikki Renee Daniels (Nabulungi), Grey Henson (Elder McKinley), and Daniel Breaker (Mafala).

The Book of Mormon opened on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on 24 March 2011, following previews from 24 February, and is currently booking through to 2 August 2015.

The show opened to excellent reviews: Bowls you over (newyorktheatreguide); Pleasure-giving musical (NY Times); Blissfully original, irreverent, outspoken and hilarious (NY Daily News); A hit (NY Post); Hysterically funny and tunefully irresistible (NY1).

The Book of Mormon features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Parker and Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of Comedy Central's landmark animated series, 'South Park.' Tony Award-winner Lopez is composer and co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy, 'Avenue Q.'

The musical won nine 2011 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has been a box office hit with a regular house attendence of 103%.

The show is choreographed by Casey Nicholaw and directed by Nicholaw and Trey Parker - joint winners of the 2011 Tony Award for best direction of a musical.

The Book of Mormon's creative team features set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt and sound design by Brian Ronan. Orchestrations are by Larry Hochman. Music supervision is by Stephen Oremus.

- by Dom O'Hanlon