Trey Parker and Matt Stone are veritable kings of satire, unleashing South Park in 1997. With tongue in cheek humor, Kenny, Cartman, Stan and Kyle entertain, surprise and definitely make us laugh. But did you know that Parker and Stone have both worked on projects outside of the hit television series? Read on below for a look at some of the most interesting projects they have been involved in.
The Book of Mormon
“The Book of Mormon,” has become a sensation on Broadway. Yes, you read that correctly. Trey Parker and Matt Stone brought “The Book of Mormon” to Broadway in 2011 and it’s still going strong. Winning nine Tony Awards, the show is hailed by critics and television personalities alike. According to Telecharge, sources as varied as The Washington Post and Jon Stewart hail the show a success in the musical theater world. The musical follows two young Mormon missionaries seeking to spread the good word in war-torn, famine-ravished Uganda. The tale unfolds simultaneously with that of Joseph Smith, founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and includes classical Broadway numbers that are sure to get your feet tapping. At first glance, you may not connect Stone and Parker to this project, but upon closer inspection, you will see how all roads have led to Broadway.
Early Theater Projects
Not so surprisingly, Stone and Parker began their careers with a musical, “Cannibal! The Musical,” a movie that gives us an early taste of what the unbeatable duo can do in a span of just 120 minutes. This early production already reeks of the mash up of high and low brow humor that we have come to expect from the pair. Crude and gory antics, intellectual commentary and a campy plot that leaves road trip buddies dead and partially eaten, “Cannibal!” has experienced a long life off of the silver screen. Parker also starred in this film as the main character, Alfred Packer, the sole survivor of a westward expedition.
Team America: World Police
In 2004, perhaps telling of other musical endeavors to come, Parker directed the interestingly weird “Team America: World Police.” This movie comes complete with a crass, obscenity-packed theme song, a plot revolving around Kim Jong Il and heavily armed marionettes. This movie focuses on Gary Johnston, a Broadway actor, who must help fight terrorism alongside the elite Team America. The movie pairs the absurd with real, culturally significant events that make us uncomfortable, yet keep us entertained. Parker and Stone have a habit of pushing things to just beyond the edge. No topic is off limits, including race, sexual orientation and even AIDS, which can be seen in one of the first songs, “Everyone has AIDS!”
BASEketball
Finally, Stone and Parker also collaborated on a comedy sports film, “BASEketball.” The film is an exploration of the rules of the made up sport and follows the wacky adventures of its creators, Coop and Remer. Interestingly enough, neither Stone nor Parker actually wrote this 1998 film, but rather costarred as the leads, showing us their acting capabilities. They undoubtedly gained knowledge for their future business during this process.
Ultimately, Stone and Parker are multifaceted and prolific creators of all things comedy, from television all the way to Broadway.
