This is an open book unlike any other. Nashville-born and Georgia-raised Grey Henson stars as Elder McKinley in the national tour for “The Book of Mormon.”
In this tour for Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “The Book of Mormon,” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and songwriter Robert Lopez share the perceptions and misconceptions of the Mormon community.
In 2012, Henson graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting and musical theatre.
When Henson heard about the production of “Mormon,” he knew he wanted to be a part of it because of how unique the show is.
“It seemed something I’d be right for,” said Henson. “I always thought I would do well in comedy, and then it was about these pasty white Mormon boys and I figured I’d be a good fit.”
While attending Carnegie Mellon, one of Henson’s teachers put him in contact with Rory O’Malley, who originated the role of Elder McKinley on Broadway and is a Carnegie Mellon alumnus. O’Malley helped Henson get an audition for the part.
Henson originated the role on the tour, which he has now performed more 500 than times. When the production for the tour started, the cast and crew had a full rehearsal in New York with the entire original creative team.
He said, “We really had some free rein to create our own versions of each character, which was really wonderful because it was like we were putting up a whole new show.”
Opening the tour was special for Henson, as was having the opportunity to see how different cities responded to the production, which he described as “fairly outrageous and blasphemous.”
Henson said the show “sounds really dark — and it is — but it’s all through these lenses of these happy-go-lucky Mormons.”
The cast and crew have been on the road for a year and a half and are selling out almost every show. Henson said the most difficult part about touring is the constant traveling, especially since the “Mormon” tour started a month after he graduated and is his first professional job.
“You don’t have a home. You’re living in hotel rooms, and you’re living out of a suitcase,” he said. “On the same hand, you are a constant tourist and I get to see the entire country in a way that I never would have.”
In addition to playing Elder McKinley, Henson also plays Angel Moroni, a smaller role that the actor playing McKinley always takes on. McKinley is the district leader of a Mormon mission trip to Uganda, and he’s in charge of all the missionaries. McKinley, a closeted gay man, sings “Turn It Off,” a song about suppressing feelings that Mormons aren’t supposed to have, turning them off like turning off a light switch.
Henson said, “What we’re talking about are very difficult issues that should be dealt with, but in the Mormon religion, it’s easier to just ignore them than to actually deal with them.”
In Henson’s future career, he wants to continue to do work that he loves.
He said, “Something they always taught us in school is that you can’t really measure success by what everyone else is doing. You have to create your own work and make sure you’re doing good work that you’re proud of, and that you feel good about.”
“Book of Mormon” will be performed through Dec. 22 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit fortlauderdale.broadway.com/shows/book-mormon-baa.
