In Partnership with Destination New South Wales
Broadway smash hit “The Book of Mormon” made its triumphant return to Sydney this past July, and it has been a season to remember.
Australia’s own Sean Johnston has starred in the lead role of Elder Price, alongside Boston-raised (and soon-to-be dual Australian citizen) Nick Cox as the clumsy but lovable Elder Cunningham at the Capitol Theatre.
Other cast members include Paris Leveque making her professional debut as Nabulungi, Tom Struik as the fan-favourite Elder McKinley and Zimbabwe-born, Melbourne-based Simbarashe Matshe as Mafala Hatimbi.
Before the show wraps up in Sydney in January 2026 and heads to Melbourne in February 2026, we sat down with Johnston and Cox to talk about the incredible run.
Variety AU/NZ: How has the season been so far?
Johnston: It’s been amazing. It was lots of hard work at the start of the process to get the show under my belt, but the journey has been amazing, and the company has been fantastic. The audiences have also been so much fun!
Cox: From the top down, everyone who has been part of this production – creatives, producers, cast, crew, etc – has been so invested and so kind. The show itself is an absolute dream show and one I never thought I would EVER get to participate in. I really am so grateful for this opportunity.
Love Film & TV?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in music, film and TV in Australia and abroad.
You’re both performing in “The Book of Mormon” for the very first time. Were you previously fans of the show? Had you auditioned for it previously elsewhere?
Johnston: I was definitely a fan of the show after watching it in Brisbane on its last tour of Australia. Before seeing it I didn’t actually know anything about it, so watching it, I got the full shock value of the show. I was very excited to audition when it came back around. It’s been awesome learning throughout the process about the history of the show, and its impact around the world.
Cox: I was a huge fan of the album! Growing up my family and I were big “South Park” fans. So naturally when we realised Matt Stone and Trey Parker wrote this musical, we had very big expectations and OMG did they deliver! We played it all the time. So many memories of my mom cracking up at the soundtrack on long car rides.
I had auditioned for it once or twice when I was living in New York. Open dance calls… they did not go my way. But everything happens for a reason! Never did I expect I would get the chance to audition in Australia for Arnold Cunningham – but life is full of surprises.
Do you remember what happened when you got the call that you landed the part?
Johnston: I was actually out on a golf course with one of my best mates. My agent called in the middle of our round, which was perfect because my performance on the course was terrible, so the call cheered me right up! I was super excited and so happy, I told my family and partner later that day, as well as spent the day hanging with my mates. Definitely a very memorable day!
Cox: I will never forget it. It was about four days into one of our dogs being so unwell with gastro. He was getting up every 45 minutes through the night and my wife and I were absolutely wrecked. I was taking a little nap with him during the day because that was probably the only time I would get some sleep. I woke up to three or four missed calls from my agent. I called back in an absolute panic as we were expecting some sort of phone call at any moment with the results of the audition. I remember thinking, “Maybe it’s good I’m exhausted. Maybe the news won’t hurt quite as badly if it’s a no”. Much to my surprise it was a “yes” and I believe the next few words out my mouth cannot be repeated in this forum, but I was over the moon!
“Book of Mormon” is arguably the crudest, yet funniest, musical today. Would you agree?
Johnston: Totally agree! It couldn’t not be funny or crude when it was written by the guys who write “South Park”! It’s such a clever show to be able to navigate the subject matter the way it does, as well as have audiences leaving with a face sore from laughing. It’s also a Grammy and Tony award winning show, and the music whilst being hilarious is also so catchy!
Cox: 100 percent! In a very “South Park” like nature, Matt and Trey wrote one of the most brilliant satires and incredible scores of musical theatre I have ever heard. It makes even more sense when you realise that they partnered up with Robert Lopez who wrote “Avenue Q”. If you aren’t familiar with that musical, it is also hilariously crude and crass. With their powers combined, there was simply no stopping them!
Nick, you’re from the US — what’s been your favourite thing about performing in Sydney?
Cox: For starters, just getting the chance to live and perform in Sydney is something I never in my life thought I would get to do. Most people in Boston — more specifically, the Bridgewater area — couldn’t even imagine visiting here, let alone working and living in Sydney.
I love the Capitol Theatre, and the audiences have been so welcoming and along for the ride! I’m excited to say I am now an Australian citizen. It’s been amazing getting to explore more of Australia’s most beautiful spots, especially Sydney.
I’ll never forget my first time wandering around Darling Harbour and taking in those iconic views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge — it genuinely took my breath away. Since then I’ve become a bit of an explorer: ferry rides to Manly, checking out markets in The Rocks, and even hopping down to the South Coast for a weekend to see those crazy-beautiful beaches. NSW just keeps surprising me.
What have been your favourite things to do in Sydney in your downtime?
Johnson: I’ve been pretty close to the city, so it’s been super easy to catch up with cast mates outside of work and try different activities around town. We’ve done everything from soaking up the views on the Bondi to Bronte walk to exploring Newtown’s food scene — there’s always some new café or bar to check out.
Surprisingly, I haven’t actually made it out to many beaches yet — which feels almost impossible in Sydney — so that’s definitely on my must-do list before we leave. I’m manifesting a proper beach day at Coogee, a ferry trip to Watsons Bay, and maybe even a little getaway up to the Blue Mountains if we can squeeze it in.
Cox: Life is pretty regimented at the moment. I’m always making sure to stay on top of my vocal and physical health so I can keep giving my all to this show. But I’ve very recently discovered the Royal Botanic Garden, and it has quickly become one of my favourite places in Sydney. It’s absolutely gorgeous, and I love being out in the fresh air and slowing down.
Combine that with a nice coffee!? Heaven! I’ve also been sneaking in morning walks along the harbour, grabbing lunch in Surry Hills, and whenever I get a free day, doing little mini-trips around NSW — like visiting Palm Beach or heading to the Hunter Valley for a completely different pace.
What will you miss most about performing in Sydney when the season wraps?
Johnston: There’ll be plenty I’ll miss, but one thing that really stands out is the theatre. It’s such a beautiful place to work, and being part of that energy in Sydney every night has been pretty special — it’ll definitely be sad to say goodbye.And honestly? I’ll miss the whole rhythm of being here. That feeling of walking through the city before a show, sneaking in a quick dinner in Chinatown, or rounding out a week with a coastal walk or a visit to one of the incredible galleries or museums. Sydney — and NSW generally — just has this way of making everyday life feel like a little adventure.
What part of the show – whether a character, a theme, a song – resonates with you the most?
Johnston: There’s so many moments throughout the show that I love for different reasons, and when we’re lucky enough to do it for a long time, those moments change. At the moment, I’m really loving the finale of the show. I have so many little moments with my cast mates, and it’s just a fun celebration of everyone at the end of the show!
Cox: A part of the show that has consistently given me chills is the “Something Incredible Reprise”. It’s a moment where Elder Price is singing to himself and Elder Cunningham. There is something about the lyrics when he pieces everything together that is both hilarious and beautiful. To me, it’s speaking about how success can look a certain way in your head and turn out differently in real life. But that doesn’t make it any less of a success. Sometimes things work out differently than you anticipated, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t still succeed. It’s also a completely different place where Elder Price and Cunningham end up than where they started at the top of the show.
Josh Gad, who starred in the original production as Elder Cunnigham, also recently visited the company. What was that experience like? Did he give you any advice you’ve taken on board since?
Johnston: This was an awesome surprise! He mentioned he was here shooting a film and didn’t even know “The Book of Mormon” was in Australia until he walked past the theatre. He dropped in to say a quick hello and shared how much the show meant to him, and that he would hopefully be able to come back and see it!
Cox: This was wild! They called the entire cast and crew back to the stage at the half-hour call (that means 30 minutes before the show). Now this is a no-go. Never happens because everyone is doing last-minute preparations for the show; vocal/physical warm ups, makeup etc. My dressing room is just around the corner from the stage and as I walk to the backstage area I saw a gentleman (who was Josh’s dad), two younger girls, and, after a triple take, Josh Gad.
I shook his hand. He was so incredibly kind whilst also having a cheeky smile on his face. I said something about having two Arnolds present, and he said “Oh, you’re playing Cunningham?! Yes, dude!” We ended up chatting about how I ended up in Australia, how long the show has been open and what the touring schedule looked like. He even joked about making a surprise entrance. I offered him a chance to do “Man Up” and he laughed, saying: “That is actually a nightmare of mine”. It was such a positive experience, and it was so kind of him to drive by and just decide to pop in randomly!
View this post on Instagram