Now do you just ding-dong and then hello?

And then that's the password?

Or how does it work here at "Book of Mormon?"

Ding dong.

Hello.

Oh, we should wait till it opens.

Click, click.

Hello!

See, it worked.

[ Laughs ] It worked.

Great.

Let's go.

♪♪ Scribner: The lives of Broadway performers are busy.

They only have a few short hours between their matinee and evening performances, and they're giving us the inside look, from grabbing a bite to unwinding, plus a backstage tour.

Have you ever wanted to see what we do in the time sandwiched between performances?

Follow along and find out.

This is "Broadway Sandwich."

♪♪ [ Doorbell rings ] Hello.

You know, tomorrow might be a latter day, but today, we're at what I believe is one of the funniest and most outrageous shows ever to hit Broadway.

In fact, it might just change your life.

It's "The Book of Mormon."

♪ Two by two, we're marching door to door ♪ ♪ Because God loves Mormons and he wants some more ♪ The show tells the story of two young missionaries sent to Uganda to try to convert people there to the Mormon religion.

The show pokes fun at everything from race to religion to sexuality.

The book, music, and lyrics were all written by "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, along with "Avenue Q's" Robert Lopez.

So right away, you know this isn't your typical Broadway show, but that doesn't mean you don't get those big song and dance numbers, great characters, and all the heart you hope for in a classic Broadway musical.

"The Book of Mormon" opened in 2011 and was a huge success, winning nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

They even won a Grammy.

Today, we're hanging out with John Eric Parker, who's been with the show since it opened 11 years and more than 4,000 performances ago.

John Eric.

Hey, friend.

Great to see you!

How are you?

It's great to see you.

You, too.

I'm so excited to spend time together today, in the time sandwiched between your matinee and evening shows.

What's the plan for today?

Well, first, let's get something to eat because I'm hungry, right?

Let's do it.

And then I want to take you to a little mini rehearsal of the Broadway Inspirational Voices.

Oh, and I can stand next to you and watch.

And sing.

[ Buzzes lips ] [ Laughs ] I got to get warm.

Okay.

Okay, I'm excited.

Listen, you'll be fine.

I'm the director of membership.

I'm on the board of directors.

It's all good.

You'll take care of me.

Yes.

I got you.

Perfect.

And then if there's some time left, we'll go backstage and I'll show you my dressing room.

How about that?

Love it.

Let's go.

Great.

Let's do it.

Okay, perfect.

Alright.

♪♪ Tell me a little bit about, like, your start and your navigating the industry so far.

Sure.

Well, I was born and raised here in New York.

I feel like I'm one of six people... Yeah, really.

...who are actually from New York, right?

What neighborhood?

In Brooklyn.

Okay.

And I was definitely that kid who sang in the mirror with a spoon and danced around the house.

And my parents put me in children's theater.

Mm-hmm.

And then from children's theater, I went to the High School of Performing Arts here in New York.

The fame school.

The fame school.

What was that like, going to that school?

It was amazing.

♪♪ And your first show was...?

A tour of "Pippin" as a leading player.

Hmm.

Wow.

What a role.

Yeah.

Oh, so much fun.

Yeah.

So much fun to do that and to just be excited about, like, doing one-nighters and being on the bus and all that stuff that doesn't necessarily feel good now.

♪♪ There was a national tour of "The Wiz."

I auditioned.

I got a call from George Faison himself to come to his house to do the callback.

And there was me and three other guys, and then I was on tour, like, the next day.

Whoa.

Yeah.

Understudying Mr. André De Shields... [ Gasps ] ...as the Wiz.

A true angel.

My goodness.

Unbelievable talent.

Yeah.

Do you keep any of those, like, early lessons from André on stage with you today as you perform?

Oh, yeah.

Leave your ego and your courage at the door and do the work, hit the stage, every night.

You have so many sayings I'm going to put on T-shirts and mugs.

[ Laughs ] And then auditioned for the national tour of "Rent" and booked it.

And so there I was on tour for two years.

So you're part of the original cast of "Book of Mormon," which was, like, a sensation.

Reporter: One of the hottest shows on Broadway, "Book of Mormon."

Reporter #2: Runaway hit.

Reporter #3: The creators of "South Park."

Reporter #4: You would be well advised to book your reservations now.

It was unlike anything I've ever done before.

But I will say, my experience with "Rent" kind of prepared me for this.

Oh, yeah.

Lines down the block.

People are going crazy, trying to get tickets.

It's -- It's such a gift.

So Trey Parker and Matt Stone, with "South Park," anyway, they are kind of out there.

The thing that's so brilliant about Matt and Trey to me is, like, it's always -- you know, once you get past what I call the fart jokes... Uh-huh.

[ Laughs ] ...there's some heart and some poignancy underneath it.

Yeah.

It's the, "Oh, my God, that's so shocking and funny.

Wait a minute.

Why am I laughing?

They have a point there."

Mm-hmm.

Or why am I uncomfortable and what does that say about me and the kind of assumptions I'm making about others?

Correct.

Right.

Yeah.

♪♪ In addition to being one of the best performers I know in the business, you are also a stylist and a designer.

How did that come about?

There was always a sewing machine in the house because my mom and my sister, sewed.

I, you know, often found that, like, when coats were supposed to be really long, mine was not so long.

I'm sure.

Right.

You know what I mean?

Like, stuff like that.

So I would make things for myself.

So fast forward, we're going to Mallorca for vacation, right?

I made, like, some caftans, I made some pants, I made some things, and I posted pictures on social media, and people started going nuts about it.

Like, "Do you have this in my size?

Can I get a caftan?"

Exactly.

Yeah.

And I was like, "Eh...

I don't know yet."

Fast forward to our next vacation.

I'm in L.A., and I ask a friend to take me to a fabric store to pick up some stuff that I knew I couldn't get here.

And before we knew it, we had hatched a plan, and we have a collaboration, and we're doing a collaboration between our clothing lines.

We have to get to Broadway.

Inspirational Voices rehearsal.

Yes.

Yes.

Alright.

Shall we roll?

Yes.

Let's do it.

Okay.

♪♪ [ Squeaks ] [ Choir singing indistinctly ] Choir: ♪ Your amazing ♪ ♪ Grace ♪ ♪ It is your praise that gives me life ♪ ♪ And it sets me free ♪ ♪ Your amazing ♪ ♪ Grace ♪ Man: Yeah.

Great.

Alright, BIV.

Amazing.

Wow Whoo!

Sing out, family.

Sounds beautiful.

[ Laughter ] What you do is just so powerful, and the service that you bring to those who need it is really important.

♪♪ [Voice breaking] When I hear your voices, it just...gets me.

So, thank you.

I didn't expect that.

[ Laughter ] Um, and thanks for letting us visit.

And tell us about BIV and what you do and what you're up to today.

So Broadway Inspirational Voices is a diverse professional choir united to change lives through the power of music and service.

We're in year 20... 28.

28.

28 years of service.

28 years of service.

And this is our current artistic director, Allen René Louis And I know that Broadway Inspirational Voices does a lot of great work with the community.

So how's that going these days?

We happen to have our associate arts and education director here, Tasha Michelle.

Hey, Tasha!

[ Cheers and applause ] So, Tasha, how's it going?

It's going great.

We've had the opportunity to work with Ronald McDonald House and Covenant Houses, so it's going great, and it's booming.

So, John Eric, you have been with BIV for 23 years.

Parker: Mm-hmm.

What has kept you here?

So much of what we do as artists can feel self-serving, and here, it doesn't feel that way.

Right.

It feels self-serving and self-healing, and that's why I love BIV.

Okay, so I know John Eric has to actually rehearse.

Can I join in?

Will that be okay?

Let's do it.

Yeah.

Why not?

Why not, right?

Let's try.

So, sopranos, you are... [vocalizes] Alright?

♪ The joy down in my heart ♪ ♪ I got joy down -- ♪ ♪ I got joy down in... ♪ ♪ Down, down, down ♪ All: ♪ Down, I got joy down in my heart ♪ Okay, from the beginning.

[ Woman vocalizes ] One, two, three, I.

♪ I've got joy down in my heart ♪ Yeah.

♪ I got joy down in my heart ♪ Yeah.

♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down ♪ I got joy.

♪ Down, down, down ♪ ♪ I got joy down in my heart ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -That was pretty good.

-Yeah.

[ Snapping ] One, two, three, and... ♪ I got joy down in my heart ♪ ♪ I got joy down in my heart ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ I.

♪ I got joy down in my heart ♪ Soul, and... ♪ I got joy down in my soul ♪ ♪ I got joy down in my soul ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ [Softer] ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ [Very softly] ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ Get low, get low, get low.

♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ One more time.

♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ Down.

[Louder] ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ ♪ Down, down, down, down, down, down ♪ I got.

♪ I got joy down in my soul ♪ [ Laughter ] [ Laughter and applause ] Okay, John Eric Parker, this is our 60 Seconds Sandwich.

Okay.

I'm going to put 60 seconds on the clock.

Answer as many questions as you can in the time given.

Okay.

Ready?

Yes.

Okay.

Starting now.

Okay.

@HannahE06 wants to know what's your favorite song to perform in "The Book of Mormon?"

"I Believe."

I believe that's right.

How do you get to the theater, subway or car?

Both.

Alright.

On a scale of one to Dad, how's my outfit?

[ Laughs ] Four.

[ Laughs ] Alright, I'll take it.

Kate Penner wants to know, fondest audition memory.

Walking into a room and seeing André De Shields behind the table and hearing him say my name.

What a moment!

Go-to karaoke song.

Uh, "Here and Now."

From?

Luther Vandross.

Oh, Luther, I love it.

Ever forgotten a line onstage?

Yes.

Most memorable stage door moment?

A woman came to the show who was a queen in Uganda.

Long story short, she was actually my fourth grade music teacher.

Unbelievable.

This is Kim Cole wants to know, what position is God's favorite?

Take that as you will?

I am so not answering that question.

I would guess, because it's "Book of Mormon," missionary?

[ Laughs ] And that's time.

Wow.

Thanks, Kim Cole.

We got to get you to theater for your second show.

Yes, yes.

Let's do it.

Shall we?

Yes.

Walk this way.

I'm still feeling the joy down in my soul and in my heart.

There you go.

And this is -- this is it, right?

Yeah.

I think we got a little bit of time.

Do you want to go back?

Yes.

Yes!

Come on.

So this has been your home away from home for 11 years now.

Mm-hmm.

That's quite a mission.

Yeah.

[ Laughs ] Thank you.

Thank you.

So, like, what is that like for you?

You know, it's been life-changing.

I was able to get married.

I was able to take care of my mom who had Alzheimer's.

I can take care of her and be there for my family.

It's allowed me to be more creative in the ways that we've talked about -- to be of service in other ways that I've showed you about.

Like, I want to show you something real quick.

Yes, please.

Like, here is something that I made... [ Gasps ] This is one of the pieces.

...for a client.

This is one of the pieces, and you are the person's size.

Really?

Yeah.

This is ama-- I want to wear this in Mallorca.

You do?

Yeah.

Take it for a spin.

Well, guess what?

Happy graduation.

[ Gasps ] John Eric!

[ Laughs ] What?!

Seriously?!

I made this for you, my love.

♪♪ This was so much fun today.

Yeah.

And I wish I could stay for your show, but I have a feeling that may be against the rules.

Mm-mm.

You got to go.

I got to get ready.

Okay.

I adore you.

Take care.

I adore you back.

Have a good second show.

Thank you.

Alright.

Take care.

Okay.

Bye.

Bye!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪