Actor Josh Gad said that Jake Gyllenhaal once strongly told him not to join the famous Broadway musical The Book of Mormon. Gad shared the story in his new memoir, “In God We Trust: A Tell-Some,” on January 14.
While the two actors were shooting the 2010 movie Love & Other Drugs, the conversation occurred in a car in Pittsburgh. Gad played some demo tracks from the musical he was working on for Gyllenhaal to get his feedback. The first song, “Hello!”, is a fun and playful beginning that made Gyllenhaal laugh a lot.
“He was laughing his ass off,” Gad writes in the memoir. Gyllenhaal’s mood changed as the songs went on and the content became bolder. He stopped the car and said firmly, “Hey, you can’t do this.” This will be way too controversial.”
When Gyllenhaal asked who was doing the project, Gad said Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the funny TV show South Park makers, were writing it. Gyllenhaal was worried about the musical’s bold content, but Gad decided to take the part anyway.
The choice was very important for Gad’s career. During his 15-month run with the show, his performance as the clumsy but endearing Elder Cunningham won him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor and solidified his place in Broadway history.
The story gives a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of The Book of Mormon, a show that would become a Broadway sensation. It has been praised for its humor and innovation but has also received criticism for its controversial topics. It shows how different artists take artistic risks in their ways. Gyllenhaal had concerns, but Gad welcomed the task, which worked well for him.
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Gad’s memoir talks about an important moment in his career and highlights how taking chances can be powerful, even when the outcome is unclear.
