Hollywood welcomes ‘Book of Mormon’ to Los Angeles

“The Book of Mormon,” Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s award-winning musical, said a big hello to Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

Broadway transplants and native celebs turned up to Hollywood’s Pantages Theater for the opening, and theater certainly makes strange bedfellows: Everyone from Ke$ha to John C. Reilly had tickets.

“We lived here for 20 years, all of our friends are here,” Parker told the Ministry about opening shop in L.A., and that’s quite a list of friends.

PHOTOS: ‘Book of Mormon’ Los Angeles premiere

Just before sunset the Pantages lobby saw traffic from Simon Pegg, Josh Gad (who appeared on Broadway in the role of Elder Cunningham), Rosanna Arquette, Kellan Lutz, Jane Seymour, Dermot Mulroney, Simon Baker, Jason Alexander, Andrew Rannells, Christina Hendricks and Parker Posey.

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka ducked into their seats as the curtain went up on the nine-time Tony winner, in a house that applauded after every number (rare enthusiasm for a Hollywood crowd).

An after-party followed at nightspot Lure, where bold names got to gush over the cast.

Asked if they would consider a very popular, attractive set of Mormons -- Mitt Romney’s boys -- for the company, Parker and Stone were all for it.

“We need them,” Stone said. “They can try out. Any Romney moves to the front of the queue.”

The production, which runs through November, is sure to attract more star power in the coming weeks. That might be enough time for the aforementioned Ke$ha to get her etiquette down.

At the Pantages, the “Tik Tok” singer smacked gum, leaned against the stage to make a phone call before curtain and cut to the front of the bar line at intermission.

She may be a pop star, but this is Broadway turf.

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