There are two main characters in “Hand to God,” the irreverent Tony Award-nominated comedy by Robert Askins. One is a shy and slightly repressed teenager named Jason. The other is Jason’s sock puppet, Tyrone, an “Elmo-y” figure (as described in the script) who may be possessed by the Devil. He spouts profanities, terrorizes Jason’s churchgoing friends and mother and grows more demonic as the play goes on.

Steven Boyer, who was nominated for a 2015 Tony for portraying Jason/Tyrone on Broadway, said the role was “like getting shot out of a cannon.”

That’s because “Hand to God” requires its lead actor to talk to his hand, have a fight scene with his hand and engage in one of the longest puppet sex scenes to ever grace a stage. Mr. Boyer reportedly sustained numerous bruises during his time with the show, which started off off Broadway and has gone on to be the most produced new play at nonprofit theaters around the country this season.

“I don’t know how Steven Boyer did that for three years,” said a marveling Karl Gregory, who recently played the role at Kitchen Theater Company in Ithaca, N.Y. “I had to see a physical therapist.”