''Leap of Faith'' is a stage
musical
Musical is the adjective of music.
Musical may also refer to:
* Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance
* Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...
based on the 1992 American
movie of the same name, which starred
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He has won five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2013. Additionally, he was nominated ...
. The music is by
Alan Menken
Alan Irwin Menken (born July 22, 1949) is an American composer, best known for his scores and songs for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores and songs for ''The Little Mermaid'' (1989), ''Beauty and the Beast'' (1991), ''A ...
, with lyrics by
Glenn Slater
Glenn Slater (born January 28, 1968) is an American lyricist for musical theatre. He has collaborated with Alan Menken, Christopher Lennertz, Andrew Lloyd Webber, among other composers. He was nominated for three Tony Awards for Best Original ...
and a book by
Janus Cercone and Slater about a con man posing as a man of faith, who is redeemed by the love of a good woman.
The musical premiered in September 2010 in Los Angeles for a limited run through October, directed and choreographed by
Rob Ashford
Rob Ashford (born November 19, 1959) is an American stage director and choreographer. He is a Tony Award, Olivier Award, Emmy Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award winner.
Early life and education
Born in Orlando, Florida and ...
. The musical opened on
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
in April 2012.
Production history
A workshop was held in May 2008, with
Taylor Hackford
Taylor Edwin Hackford (born December 31, 1944) is an American film director and former president of the Directors Guild of America. He won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for ''Teenage Father'' (1979). Hackford went on to direct ...
directing. The cast included
Raul Esparza
Raul, Raúl and Raül are the Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Galician, Asturian, Basque, Aragonese, and Catalan forms of the Anglo-Germanic given name Ralph or Rudolph. They are cognates of the French Raoul.
Raul, Raúl or Raül may re ...
as Jonas Nightingale and Elizabeth Stanley as Marla McGowan. At the time, producer Tom Viertel said :"As with any productive workshop of a new musical, we learned a lot about 'Leap of Faith' last month, including what works well and what needs work. But we have no plans and have made no decisions to alter the creative team in any way whatsoever."
Another workshop was held in New York in early 2010, with
Sutton Foster
Sutton Lenore Foster (born March 18, 1975) is an American actress, singer and dancer. She is known for her work on the Broadway stage, for which she has won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical twice, in 2002 for her role as Millie Dill ...
and a new director,
Rob Ashford
Rob Ashford (born November 19, 1959) is an American stage director and choreographer. He is a Tony Award, Olivier Award, Emmy Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award winner.
Early life and education
Born in Orlando, Florida and ...
.
''Leap of Faith'', with Rob Ashford as director and choreographer, made its world premiere at the
Ahmanson Theatre
The Ahmanson Theatre is one of the four main venues that compose the Los Angeles Music Center.
History
The theatre was built as a result of a donation from Howard F. Ahmanson Sr, the founder of H.F. Ahmanson & Co., an insurance and savings an ...
in Los Angeles. Previews commenced on September 11, 2010, opening night was on October 3, with the run ending October 24.
The show opened on Broadway at the
St. James Theatre in previews on April 3, 2012, officially on April 26.
Raul Esparza,
Jessica Phillips and
Kendra Kassebaum
Kendra Kassebaum (born May 12, 1973) is an American theatre actress, who has performed in many different musicals (both Broadway and non-Broadway), and is perhaps best remembered for playing the role of Glinda in the first national tour, Broadway, ...
played the lead roles, with direction by
Christopher Ashley
Christopher Ashley (born July 6, 1964) is an American stage director. Since 2007, he has been the artistic director of the La Jolla Playhouse.
Career
Ashley graduated from Yale University in 1986, with a Bachelor of Art in Theatre. and choreography by
Sergio Trujillo
Sergio Trujillo is a theater director and choreographer. Born in Colombia and raised in Toronto, Canada, he is now an American citizen and resides in New York City. Trujillo was the recipient of the 2019 Tony Award for Best Choreography for ''Ai ...
.
[ The book was revised by ]Warren Leight
Warren Donald Leight (; born January 17, 1957) is an American playwright, screenwriter, film director and television producer. He is best known for his work on ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' and '' Lights Out'' and as the showrunner for ''In ...
.[ Menken discussed the style of the songs: "Menken told Playbill.com that his score is flavored with the sounds of gospel, country and American roots music."][
The production closed on May 13, 2012, after 24 previews and 20 performances. It was reported (by ''The New York Times'') that the entire $14 million investment was lost.
]
Synopsis
''Note: Based on the Broadway production''
A con artist, the "Reverend" Jonas Nightingale, travels with his ministry, but his bus breaks down in a small Kansas town. The some-time reverend pitches a tent and invites the townspeople to a revival. However, the sheriff, a woman named Marla McGowan, is determined to stop Jonas from taking the people's money. Jonas is challenged when he becomes romantically involved with the sheriff. Her love forces the cynical Reverend to come to terms with his life.
Musical numbers
; Act I
* "Rise Up" — Ida Mae, Ornella, Isaiah, Jonas, Sam & Angels of Mercy
* "Fox in the Henhouse" — Marla & Jonas
* "Fields of the Lord" — Sam, Jonas & Angels of Mercy
* "Step Into the Light" — Ornella, Jonas, Ida Mae, Angels of Mercy & Townspeople
* "Walking Like Daddy" — Isaiah
* "Lost" — Ida Mae & Angels of Mercy
* "I Can Read You" — Marla & Jonas
* "Like Magic" — Jake & Jonas
* "I Can Read You" (Reprise) — Sam & Jonas
* "Dancin' in the Devil's Shoes" — Isaiah, Ornella, Ida Mae & Angels of Mercy
* "King of Sin" — Jonas
* "Dancin' in the Devil's Shoes" (Reprise) — Isaiah, Ornella, Ida Mae, Angels of Mercy & Townspeople
; Act II
* "Rise Up" (Reprise) — Angels of Mercy & Townspeople
* "Long Past Dreamin'" — Marla & Jonas
* "Are You on the Bus?" — Ornella, Sam, Ida Mae, Isaiah & Jonas
* "Like Magic" (Reprise) — Jake & Jonas
* "People Like Us" — Sam & Marla
* "Last Chance Salvation" — Jonas, Angels of Mercy & Townspeople
* "If Your Faith Is Strong Enough" — Jonas, Angels of Mercy & Townspeople
* "Jonas's Soliloquy" — Jonas
* "Leap of Faith" — Company
Cast and characters
Broadway
Reference: ''Playbill''[
* ]Raúl Esparza
Raúl Eduardo Esparza (born October 24, 1970) is an American stage, screen, and voice actor. Considered one of Broadway's leading men since the 2000s, he is best known for his Tony Award-nominated performance as Bobby in the 2006 Broadway reviva ...
as Jonas Nightingale
* Jessica Phillips as Marla McGowan, the sheriff
* Kendra Kassebaum
Kendra Kassebaum (born May 12, 1973) is an American theatre actress, who has performed in many different musicals (both Broadway and non-Broadway), and is perhaps best remembered for playing the role of Glinda in the first national tour, Broadway, ...
as Sam Nightingale
* Kecia Lewis-Evans as Ida Mae Sturdevant
* Leslie Odom, Jr.
Leslie Lloyd Odom Jr. (; born August 6, 1981) is an American actor and singer. He made his acting debut on Broadway in 1998 and first gained recognition for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in the musical ''Hamilton'', which earned him a Tony Award f ...
as Isaiah Sturdevant
* Krystal Joy Brown as Ornella Sturdevant
* Talon Ackerman as Jake McGowan
* Michelle Duffy as Susie Raylove
* Dierdre Friel as Amanda Wayne
* Fletcher McTaggart as Fletch the Camera Guy
* Bryce Ryness as Zak
* C.E. Smith as Brother Amon
* Dennis Stowe as Brother Carl
* Roberta Wall as Emma Schlarp
Los Angeles
[
* ]Raúl Esparza
Raúl Eduardo Esparza (born October 24, 1970) is an American stage, screen, and voice actor. Considered one of Broadway's leading men since the 2000s, he is best known for his Tony Award-nominated performance as Bobby in the 2006 Broadway reviva ...
as Jonas Nightingale
* Brooke Shields
Brooke Christa Shields (born May 31, 1965) is an American actress and model. She was initially a child model and gained critical acclaim at age 12 for her leading role in Louis Malle's film ''Pretty Baby'' (1978). She continued to model into ...
as Marla McGowan
* Nicholas Barasch as Boyd McGowan
* Jarrod Emick
Jarrod Emick (born July 2, 1969) is an American actor who primarily acts in musicals. He received a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, and a Theatre World Award for his performance in the 1994 revival of ''Damn Yankees''.
Biography
Emick grew up i ...
as Sheriff Will Braverman
* Kendra Kassebaum
Kendra Kassebaum (born May 12, 1973) is an American theatre actress, who has performed in many different musicals (both Broadway and non-Broadway), and is perhaps best remembered for playing the role of Glinda in the first national tour, Broadway, ...
as Sam
* Kecia Lewis-Evans as Ida Mae Sturdevant
* Leslie Odom, Jr.
Leslie Lloyd Odom Jr. (; born August 6, 1981) is an American actor and singer. He made his acting debut on Broadway in 1998 and first gained recognition for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in the musical ''Hamilton'', which earned him a Tony Award f ...
as Ricky Sturdevant
* Krystal Joy Brown as Ornella
* C.E. Smith as Titus
* Dennis Stowe as Cesar
* Bryce Ryness as Dude
* Brandon Wardell as Amos
Critical response
Los Angeles
The ''Backstage
Backstage most commonly refers to backstage (theatre), also in motion picture and television production.
Backstage may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''Back Stage'' (1969 film), a silent film starring Oliver Hardy
* ''Back Stage'' (1942 fil ...
'' reviewer wrote: "Though the overlong show improves marginally during the home stretch, its story and themes never fully cohere, and the derivative, gospel-driven Alan Menken-Glenn Slater score is disappointing. By inserting superfluous Agnes de Mille-style ballet segments, as if this were a modern-day Rodgers-and-Hammerstein opus, and pumping up the volume and the histrionics, it's clear Menken, director-choreographer Rob Ashford, and co-librettists Slater and Janus Cercone envisioned this adaptation as more of an artsy prestige musical than a sentimental bromide for ''The Sound of Music'' crowd ... Esparza has a dynamic singing voice and is a formidable presence, but his Mephistophelean con man seems a shade too smarmy for us to buy into his eventual redemption. The performer also sometimes indulges in a mush-mouthed Brando broodiness that seems inappropriate here. Shields sings sweetly if not spectacularly and provides a welcome note of calmness amid the boisterous goings-on."
Charles McNulty
Charles McNulty (born 1966) is the chief theatre critic for the ''Los Angeles Times'' newspaper and a recipient of Cornell University's prestigious Nathan Award for dramatic criticism, who, himself, served as chairman of the Pulitzer Prize dr ...
, in his review for the ''Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
'', wrote: "much of the score is derivative, the dancing often seems like ballet school parody, Shields' singing defensively retreats to the safest possible key and the closing moments are pure sentimental hokum. But there's a fascinating character in the middle of it all, and a performance by Esparza that digs deep into questions of faith, love and mystery. The show needs another overhaul, but it's easy to see why the creators have persisted for so long with this project: There's something uniquely compelling in the source material. I hope the collaborators press on (Broadway is apparently in their sights). They can begin with some radical pruning."
Broadway
The show received mixed-to-negative reviews on Broadway, with critics writing generally of the show's unsurprising and predictable plot, Esparza's hardworking performance (whether for good or ill), and a bland and confused tone.
Ben Brantley of ''The New York Times'' called the show "this season's black hole of musical comedy, sucking the energy out of anyone who gets near it." He criticized Esparza for " eemingto keep a chilly distance from his character", and the show in general for working in "bad faith" and "ecycling
Computer recycling, electronic recycling or e-waste recycling is the disassembly and separation of components and raw materials of waste electronics. Although the procedures of re-use, donation and repair are not strictly recycling, these are oth ...
its clichés without a shred of true conviction." Erik Haagensen of ''Backstage'' called the "ersatz musical" "a compendium of formulaic characters and clichéd situations all too obviously cribbed from better and more original works"; and Joe Dziemianowicz of the ''New York Daily News'' wrote that "nothing happens in this frustrating and manipulative new Broadway musical ... you don't see coming a mile away."
Dziemianowicz also called Esparza's performance "big, bold and a little buggy, but ... never boring", while Elisabeth Vincentelli
Elisabeth Vincentelli is a French-born, New York-based arts and culture journalist. She is a regular contributor to ''The New York Times’ Arts section''. She served as the chief drama critic for the ''New York Post'' from 2009 until 2016, havin ...
of the ''New York Post'' (in a highly positive review) called his performance somewhat "sinister", but also alluring (" u can also see why the good people of Sweetwater would so eagerly swallow Jonas's hooks: He's got some bright, snazzy lures.") Scott Brown of ''New York Magazine'', however, called Esparza "transparently shifty" and " eemingto be winking at his marks at every turn", and wrote that "there's not an ounce of adequately feigned sincerity in him."
Brown also described the show as "persistently confused ... in tone, content, and mood", and that "''Leap'' feels like the not-awful, not-wonderful product of a long series of compromises"; Elysa Gardner of ''USA Today'' (in a 2 1/2-star out of 4 review) called it "an odd, uneasy mix of souped-up razzle-dazzle and earnest romantic drama"; and David Cote of ''Time Out New York'' (in a 2 out of 5-star review) called the show "bland and confused", "never indingthe right proportion of comic cynicism to wide-eyed spiritual wonder".
Terry Teachout
Terrance Alan Teachout (February 6, 1956 – January 13, 2022) was an American author, critic, biographer, playwright, stage director, and librettist.
He was the drama critic of ''The Wall Street Journal'', the critic-at-large of ''Commentary'' ...
of the ''Wall Street Journal'' called the show "as slick as ice on Teflon", lacking in "sweat and heart" - but that "if you're looking for pure Broadway razzmatazz, ''Leap of Faith'' delivers the goods".
Some critics, however, were more positive. Vincentelli wrote that while "you can see everything coming a mile away" in the show, " e only surprise is ... how ridiculously fun it is" – and that " there's a lesson in ''Leap of Faith'', it's that high-energy entertainment is the perfect sweetener". Chris Jones of the ''Chicago Tribune'' wrote that the show was "actually an interesting new American musical that, in its best moments, takes a look at a side of America that musicals usually fly right over", while praising the "admirably complex" Esparza as "the guy you want in your show when your leading character is having a crisis of faith", and that the show "delivers, with considerable flourish, the always-useful message that the more you think you know about life, the less the truth reveals itself." David Finkle of ''TheaterMania'' described Esparza's performance as "his finest ... to date", and praised the show for having three of that Broadway seasons' best musical numbers (in "I Can Read You", "Dancin' in the Devil's Shoes" and "Are You On the Bus?").
Awards and nominations
Original Broadway production
References
External links
Official website for Leap of Faith on Broadway
Internet Broadway Database
''Leap of Faith''
at the Music Theatre International website
{{Alan Menken
2010 musicals
Musicals based on films
Plays set in Kansas
Musicals by Alan Menken
Musicals by Glenn Slater