Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Andrew Sanford | News | May 28, 2026
The Book of Mormon hit my friends and me so hard and felt like such a momentous occasion that I learned most of the songs (and would listen to them often) despite not being able to attend the show at the time. In fact, I still haven’t seen it (working a Broadway schedule, even as a bartender, can make it hard to see other shows, especially when those tickets are already hard to get). Now, fifteen years later, it may not be the hottest show on Broadway anymore, but it is still wildly successful, and was faced with a tragedy earlier this month.
A devastating fire broke out at the Eugene O’Neill theater, which houses Mormon, on May 4th. While it was made clear that the fire caused damage, the extent of the damage was kept under wraps. At one point, I spotted a picture on Reddit that claimed to be from inside the theater’s spotlight room, where the FDNY says a majority of the fire took place. However, that picture was later pulled, and people in the community have disputed its legitimacy ever since.
It didn’t help that ATG, the company that owns the Eugene O’Neill, seemed to be behaving as if nothing significant was wrong. At first, they only cancelled shows on May 5th and 6th. That left people confused as to the extent of the damage. However, shows did not happen on the 7th, 8th, or 9th either, and would continue to be postponed until more than three weeks later. Thankfully, the cast was able to return to the stage last night, May 27th, to do what they do best.
The cast performs as if they have not missed a beat (professionals, babyyy). Not only that, the crowd seems settled in as if it is just another great night on Broadway, and that’s how it should be. The show must go on, and these folks have been waiting three weeks to do just that. Plus, given that it’s the show’s fifteenth anniversary (which will be celebrated at the Tonys next month), it’s good to know that it is up and running, and spreading the good word.
