ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Those looking to make the weekend of Valentine’s Day a getaway will have just that opportunity thanks to Broadway in Wichita.
The Tony Award-winning show “The Book of Mormon” will be making its way to Wichita's Century II. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, with all performances at Century II Concert Hall in Wichita. The show follows two missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as they attempt to preach the faith to the inhabitants of a remote Ugandan village and face multiple challenges along the way.
Cast member Vance Klassen, who is in his third year with the show, said it has been fun being part of the cast.
“I actually grew up in Lehigh, which is just north of Wichita, so it'll be great to be back almost in my hometown and bring this show to the masses,” Klassen said. “I auditioned for the show when I was a sophomore at Oklahoma City University, and didn't make it that round, but I auditioned again after I graduated in 2022, and I got confirmation that August about joining the cast. This is actually my third season with the show and tour, and we've been to close to 150 different cities, with many more still to come.”
However, Klassen said, his interest in the show was piqued before in initial audition.
“I had actually seen the show when the tour came through Kansas City when I was younger, and I think I also had the chance to see it at Century II, so I had actually already seen the show a couple times before I auditioned for it. I had always been drawn to the story and music, and I feel like it's just quintessential musical theatre all throughout,” Klassen said. “To be part of the show, in any role, is a huge win for me. Ever since I was young, music was part of my life, whether we were listening to it while doing chores in the house, or when I would sing to the cattle while being outside – I always joke my first audiences were more farm animals than humans. Music has always been part of my life and something that came naturally to me, and dancing came later. I've also always had people in my corner who encouraged my interests, whether it was my friends and teachers at school or my parents, and I had a lot of support when I decided musical theatre was the path I wanted to pursue. Because of all that encouragement, I've been able to be a working actor basically since I graduated.”
Klassen added he and the rest of the cast are excited to bring the show to Wichita.
“It'll be really special for me because it'll be almost like a homecoming since I'd seen so many shows growing up either through Music Theatre of Wichita and national tour shows and opportunities like that,” Klassen said. “I've also performed multiple times in Century II because of different choirs and other musical groups I was part of while I was in school, and I've also been part of multiple conventions. I also love how my family will be able to come and see me perform in the show, that will be awesome, and I'll also be able to show some of my castmates around as well and share part of Kansas with them. 'Full circle' doesn't really begin to describe how I feel about coming back to Wichita. I've always been drawn to the stage, but to be performing for friends and family and multiple people I actually know, that's just amazing to me. Each time we've gotten the tour schedule, I always scan and see if there's at least one Kansas stop, and this is my first year that's happened. If you're new to musical theatre and haven't really seen a Broadway-esque show, 'The Book of Mormon' is the show for you because it has a little bit of everything. The music is great, the choreography is fantastic throughout, the overall story has a lot of heart, and the cast is excited to perform the show every night, so there's a lot of energy.”
Klassen said being on tour with the show has been an amazing experience, and he hopes that continues for the tour’s remainder.
“One of my favorite parts of being part of this show is getting to take it to basically every corner of the country and share the message of community and heart to places that might not get too much exposure to this caliber of entertainment,” Klassen said. “Being part of that is absolutely amazing, and I'm so fortunate to be able to help entertain so many different people and different audiences throughout the country. One of my favorite things has been witnessing all the different culture throughout the country and the differences in the communities we visit, because we get to see a little bit of everything, and that's what keeps everything so fresh and exciting. I've had multiple people ask me 'How can you do so many performances of the same show?' and I always tell them, no two shows are the same, and no two communities are the same. We all get the same type of excitement we get with every city we visit, it's so great exploring and seeing what they're like. I'm also excited to see what the audiences will be like, I can't wait to feel that energy and see what type of response we get. I'm really excited and thankful to be part of this production, and I hope to see some great audiences while we're in Wichita!”
