OK — Everclean is a joke and the band's members are actors

"Sons of Provo" is the brainchild of friends Will Swenson and Peter Brown who had taken in a terrible Broadway show one night in New York and were dining on greasy chimichangas when the conversation turned to the interesting quirks and eccentricities of the Mormon culture, which they both shared.

One thing led to another, and on the subway ride home, they began writing songs about the culture that a Mormon boy-band called Everclean might sing.

The real members of the Everclean band are:

WILL SWENSON (who plays Will Jensen) starred in and was associate producer for the Mormon comedies "The Singles Ward" and "The R.M." "Sons of Provo" marks his big-screen directing debut.

Swenson has a degree in theater arts from Brigham Young University and has served as the artistic director of Hale Center Theater Orem. He lives in New York, where he has performed leads in "Miss Saigon," "Jekyll & Hyde" and "Beauty and the Beast," and he has had recurring roles on the daytime programs "All My Children" and "Guiding Light." He was most recently in Las Vegas touring with "We Will Rock You," based on the music of Queen.

"Sons of Provo" has been an exciting project, Swenson said. "It's a little different in structure, and we were a little nervous taking that step. People might expect a more narrative approach, but we think it turned out well and feedback has been positive."

Swenson loved playing Will Jensen. "Sometimes I take heat from my friends for being cocky, so I really overplayed that. Now, I guess I'll take even more heat."

KIRBY HEYBORNE (Kirby Laybourne) has had starring roles in such locally made films as "The R.M.," "Book of Mormon, Vol. 1," "Best Two Years" and "Saints and Soldiers." He currently lives in Los Angeles, where he performs with an improv comedy troupe called Comedy Sportz, and he has several other projects "lined up and ready to go."

This movie was a lot of fun, he said. "I can say such dumb things."

Filming was often a contest to see who could make the other crack up first. "A lot of things happened that weren't planned — like the slap in the face when we were learning choreography."

It's not a movie that is trying to change the world, Heybourne said. "We just hope people will come and enjoy it, look at the struggles of others and forget their own for a while."

DANNY TARASEVICH (Danny Jensen), who is originally from New Jersey, moved to Utah about six years ago. He has performed at such local venues as Roger's Memorial Theatre, Lagoon, Hale Center Theater and others. "Sons of Provo" is his first movie.

It wasn't easy, he said, because "a lot of the script was just improvised. But Will and Kirby are so professional they made it as easy as it could be."