John Eric Parker has done something practically unheard of in the world of Broadway musicals , he’s been performing in the same show for 15 years straight. Since “The Book of Mormon” opened on Broadway in 2011, Parker has watched countless cast members come and go, but he’s remained at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, making him the sole surviving original cast member from opening night.

For context, most Broadway performers move on to their next project within a year or two. The fact that Parker is still there, still happy, and still delivering stellar performances is genuinely remarkable. “I’m still here. I feel still very much viable. I still feel like I’m having a good time and I’m doing good work”, Parker explains. “The first indication for me to go is to not have any joy. And this still brings me huge amounts of joy”.

Parker’s journey to “The Book of Mormon” is wild in its own right. Just as personal tragedy struck , his sister passed away and his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s , he found himself juggling two major opportunities. In 2009, he was part of the cast of “Memphis”, which won the Tony Award for best new musical. Then, months later, “The Book of Mormon” premiered, and Parker joined that ensemble too, helping the show snag the same Tony in 2011. “It was like lightning striking twice in a row”, he recalls.

The musical, created by “South Park” masterminds Trey Parker and Matt Stone alongside Robert Lopez, became a cultural phenomenon almost immediately. The show’s irreverent humor about two Mormon missionaries in Uganda resonated with audiences and attracted A-list celebrities night after night , from Steve Martin to Tom Hanks, from Whoopi Goldberg to the entire cast of “Modern Family”.

Over the years, Parker has taken breaks when needed , to mourn his mother’s passing, to honeymoon after getting married, and to pursue other projects like “Tales of the City”. But he always came back. Being anchored to one show has actually freed him up to give back to the community. He serves on the boards of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Broadway Inspirational Voices.

What’s fascinating is how Parker sees the show itself as constantly evolving. It started as a musical about faith, transformed into a celebration of the joy of theater itself after the pandemic, and continues to shift as the world changes around it. Lines that once landed differently hit new notes as social movements like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter have shaped how audiences understand the material.

Producer Anne Garefino describes Parker as “a rock, but without being pushy about it”. He mentors newer cast members when they seek his guidance, but never forces his wisdom on anyone. He believes the show is strong enough to carry performers where they need to go if they just commit to the ride.

Parker has finally embraced being the “last man standing” of the original cast. As he likes to say now, if a 78-year-old can strut out of a BMW convertible acting like Superman, then he can definitely own that title.