Interview: Craig Franke on 15 Years of The Book of Mormon in New Orleans

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THE BOOK OF MORMON has been delighting audiences for 15 years with its audacious blend of irreverent comedy and genuine heart. As the show enters its second decade of touring, it's currently running its long-awaited New Orleans engagement at the Saenger Theatre. BroadwayWorld.com spoke with Craig Franke , who has been playing Elder McKinley for nearly two full years, about the privilege of landing Trey Parker , Matt Stone and Robert Lopez 's precise, bold comedy night after night, and how the show's message of community remains timeless.

BroadwayWorld.com: How long have you been with the tour, and what has the experience of inhabiting Elder McKinley been like for you?

Franke: I've been with the tour for almost four years now, which makes me something of an elder statesman in the show, though I never planned it that way. I spent the first two years in the ensemble, covering both Elder McKinley and Elder Price. After two years, when another cast member moved on to Shucked , they offered me Elder McKinley, and I've been living in his head for almost two full years now. He's pretty stressed out, which is actually wonderful for me personally. Playing him forces me to experience and then release that anxiety every night, which reminds me not to carry stress or repression into my daily life. I live it with him on stage, feel his anxiety, and let it go at the end of the night. It's been really nice.

BWW: For someone who's never seen THE BOOK OF MORMON, how do you describe it?

Franke: I'd call it the funniest show of the 21st Century. It follows two Mormon missionaries hoping to be sent to amazing locations for their mission, France, Paris, Orlando, who instead end up in Uganda. Everything they learned in training goes out the window, and hilarity ensues from that point on. The show has been running for 15 years for a reason. If you haven't seen it, get your tickets now.

BWW: "Turn It Off" is one of the most iconic numbers in the show. What's it like to perform that number several times a week? Does it ever surprise you how audiences react to it?

Franke: Honestly, yes. There's a big surprise in the middle of that number that we can't talk about, but it really does feel like it's still taking audiences by surprise after 15 years. I was wondering if everyone would know the joke by now, but it truly feels like a fresh and unique moment every night. It's something I try never to take for granted, whether I'm tired or not feeling my best. It really has been such a privilege to perform that song for the last four years.

BWW: McKinley strikes me as a guy holding a lot down beneath the surface. How do you balance the comedy with that more vulnerable layer so he doesn't become a punchline?

Franke: That's one of the hardest things about the role. The key is to understand McKinley's truest goal, which, as the directors and I have discussed, is to get the mission up and running. Everything else to him is just a minor detail. He wants to succeed as a Mormon in Uganda. When your focus and intention go toward that goal, it's very easy to not make him a punchline or make the comedy sticky or offensive. He's just a man trying to achieve a high-functioning, successful mission in District Nine of Uganda, and that's the most important thing in his life. Everything else about him is just a detail.

BWW: Trey Parker , Matt Stone , and Robert Lopez have a very specific comedic style. What's the trick to landing their humor night after night?

Franke: You have to dive in with 100% commitment and trust the writers. The humor is not scared, it's bold and brash. If the performer is scared, it doesn't work as well. You have to trust that the audience is going to be with you. Some audiences are more with you than others, but for the vast majority, people are excited and ready to laugh. Yes, the show is sometimes crude, but I think there's a really big Broadway heart behind all those jokes. That's the dirty little secret of THE BOOK OF MORMON , at the end of the day, it's just a classic Broadway musical with a beautiful message.

BWW: What still connects with audiences in 2026, in the show's second decade of touring?

Franke: For me, it's the sense of community. No matter what's going on in your life, what you believe in, or what you hold most dear, if you have a community that you can weather the storm with, people who love you and whom you love, that's the most important thing. It's about taking care of your fellow human beings and lifting up the people beside you. I think that message is timeless. Whether it's 2001 or 2055, community and mutual support will always be relevant.

BWW: Is there a moment in the show, not necessarily one of yours, that still gets you every performance?

Franke: Yes. Elder Price has a line right before "Latter Day" where he says, "We can all still work together to make this our paradise planet." That's one of my favorite lines in the entire show. If I had to pick a thesis statement for THE BOOK OF MORMON , I think that's it.

BWW: Your regional credits include Young Frankenstein, Jersey Boys, and The Producers, a great spread of comedic and musical territory. What from those roles do you bring into McKinley?

Franke: It's a general sense of timing. I did Young Frankenstein when I was very young, and I had a great director, Kurt Olds, who was very strict and specific about timing. That taught me a new level of specificity in landing a joke and caring for an audience. I take that with me everywhere, especially in comedy. The more specific and sharp you are with every joke and every line, whether it's a punchline or not, the better. Young Frankenstein definitely taught me a lot about that precision.

BWW: As a graduate of Indiana University, is there a piece of advice from your training that you still use on the road?

Franke: I don't have one specific piece of advice, but I have nothing but love for that program. They taught me how to be a human being, which I think is incredibly important for an actor. You need to go out and experience life, whatever that means to you, because it gives you more knowledge and more tools in your acting toolkit. If you have more experiences, you understand more human experiences, and that directly serves you when you're trying to play people who aren't you. At a school like Indiana, with 40,000 undergrads, there are endless experiences to seek out and learn from. I'd say that's what I take with me: have as many experiences as you possibly can.

BWW: Is there anything you're looking forward to about playing in New Orleans?

Franke: I can't wait. I've never been, so I'm planning to do all the touristy things, Café du Monde, Bourbon Street. But I'd love recommendations for anything specific. It's one of those cities I've always wanted to visit and perform in. We joke that THE BOOK OF MORMON has never played New Orleans or Vegas in four years, so I'm thrilled to finally check one off. I'm really excited.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/new-orleans/article/Interview-Craig-Franke-of-BOOK-OF-MORMON-at-Saenger-Theatre-20260515)._