It started with the infamous doorbell ringing, which had the audience in hysterics. And it ended with a story of self-understanding and joyful laughter. In between, we laughed so hard that our stomachs hurt.

Where were we? 

Last night, we saw the Tony Award-winning The Book of Mormon at WMU's Miller Auditorium. I've been to countless concerts and plays at Miller, but this was the first time I'd laughed for hours there.

Have you seen this musical yet?

If not, see where the Broadway Tour is headed, and find your closest theatre. Luckily for us in Kalamazoo, The Book of Mormon is part of this year's Broadway series, and we could catch it.

Here's why you'll love The Book of Mormon the Musical

Written by the creators of South Park, this is one musical that bursts with jokes, hilarity, creative moves, interesting personalities, and non-stop storyline. We meet the two main characters, Price and Arnold Cunningham, in Salt Lake City as they finish their missionary training and get assigned to...Uganda.

During the journey to Uganda, and the personal journeys within, once in Uganda, the two learn much about themselves - and others. The musical is full of important cultural stereotypes, including war, gender, sexuality, religion, color, and AIDS. With humor, these are addressed and, at times, refuted.

The show is VERY clever, and so is the staging - dance moves from Beyonce, familiar cultural memes, hilarious references to Mordor and the Hobbits, and character tropes that have never been made fun of this way, even on SNL or Jimmy Fallon. Whether its Sara from EW!'s step-dad Gary, or the guy who hugged Nicki Minaj, the characters were well-drawn and well-acted. The entire ensemble boasted incredible acting and singing talent. Color us impressed.

Of particular note to watch is actor Cody Jamison Strand, as Arnold. He's extraordinary.

Also, the sets? So very detailed, and convey many different places and scenes beautifully. It was hard to tear myself away from the acting to pay attention to set, but if you can, you'll be rewarded by small, interesting details hidden in plain sight.

THE BOOK OF MORMON is the winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Book (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Direction (Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker), Best Featured Actress (Nikki M. James), Best Scenic Design (Scott Pask), Best Lighting Design (Brian MacDevitt), Best Sound Design (Brian Ronan) and Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman, Stephen Oremus); the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical; five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album; four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Musical, and the Drama League Award for Best Musical.

THE BOOK OF MORMON 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 and Stephen Oremus.  Music direction and vocal arrangements are by Stephen Oremus.  

More ticket options on the Broadway Tour:

THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, is pleased to announce a lottery ticket policy for the National Tour, which begins Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016 at Miller Auditorium on the beautiful campus of Western Michigan University and plays a limited one-week engagement through Sunday, Oct. 23. At Miller Auditorium, the production will conduct a pre-show lottery at the box office, making a limited number of tickets available at $25 apiece for each performance.  

The wildly popular lottery for the Broadway production has attracted as many as 800 entries at some performances.  The producers of THE BOOK OF MORMON are pleased to offer low-priced lottery seats for every city on the National Tour.   

Entries will be accepted at the box office beginning two and a half hours prior to each performance; each person will print their name and the number of tickets, 1 or 2, they wish to purchase on a card that is provided. Two hours before curtain, names will be drawn at random for a limited number of tickets priced at $25 each. Only one entry is allowed per person. Cards are checked for duplication prior to drawing. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets. Limit one entry per person and two tickets per winner. Tickets are subject to availability. 

The New York Times calls it “The best musical of this century!” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: The funniest musical of all time.” Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show says, “It’s genius. It’s brilliant. It’s phenomenal.” It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON, the nine-time Tony Award®-winning Best Musical.

For more information and a complete cast listing, visit bookofmormonthemusical.com.

All photos courtesy and copyright The Book of Mormon the Musical