This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Filming starts Wednesday on the movie version of "Saturday's Warrior," the landmark 1974 Mormon-themed musical — and the cast is shaping up.
Taking the lead role of Jimmy Flinders, the charismatic young rock star who must choose between fame and faith, is singer-actor Kenny Holland.
Holland, 20, is one-half of the pop duo The Balcony. The Arizona native is a sensation on social media — with 1.9 million followers on Vine, 1.1 million followers on Instagram, and nearly 500,000 followers on Twitter.
Perhaps the best-known cast member so far is Alex Boyé, who will play the role of Heavenly Guide. The British-born Boyé' is known as a soloist and member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and for his YouTube videos in which he performs African-inflected covers of pop hits. Boyé recently made a sensation on NBC's "America's Got Talent."
Directing the movie is Michael Buster, familiar to Utah audiences for his acting roles in such locally made movies as "God's Army," "Saints and Soldiers" and "17 Miracles."
Bonnie Story, who worked on the "High School Musical" trilogy, has signed on as choreographer.
Here is the rest of the principal cast:
• Pam • Anna Daines
• Julie • Monica Moore Smith
• Tod • Mason Davis
• Adam • Brian Clark
• Terri • Alison Clark
• Elder Kestler • Clinton Pulver
• Elder Greene • Morgan Gunter
• Mack • Carleton Bluford
• Donna • Kassandra Haddock
• Bandmate • Wes
• Shelley • Bailee Johnson
• Alice • Caroline Labrum
• Benjy • Ethan Mouser
• Ernie • Jacob Buster
• Emily • Abigail Baugh
• Peter • James Bounous
Producers have promised some celebrity cameos, but those have not been announced.