Leap of Faith (musical)
| Leap of Faith | |
|---|---|
| Music | Alan Menken |
| Lyrics | Glenn Slater |
| Book | Janus Cercone, Glenn Slater |
| Basis | 1992 Film Leap of Faith |
| Productions | 2010 Los Angeles |
Leap Of Faith is a musical based on the 1992 American movie of the same name, starring Steve Martin. The music is by Alan Menken, with lyrics by Glenn Slater 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.[1]
Production history
A workshop was held in May 2008, with Taylor Hackford directing. The cast included Raul Esparza as Jonas Nightengale and Elizabeth Stanley as Marva McGowan.[2] 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."[3]
Another workshop was held in New York in early 2010, with Sutton Foster and a new director, Rob Ashford.[4]
Leap of Faith, with Rob Ashford as director and choreographer, made its world premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Previews commenced on September 11, 2010, opening night was on October 3, with the run ending October 24.[5][6][7][8]
There are plans for the show to transfer to Broadway, with a start date of April 3. Official Opening Night to be determined at a later date. Starring will be Raul Esparza, Jessica Phillips and Kendra Kassebaum. [9] .[10]
Synopsis
A con artist, the "Reverend" Jonas Nightengale, travels with his ministry, but his bus breaks down in a small Kansas town. The some-time reverend pitches a tent and invites the townpeople to a revival. The sheriff is determined to stop Jonas from taking the people's money. Jonas is challenged when he meets Marva McGowan, a pretty waitress and her son. Her love forces the cynical Reverend to come to terms with his life.
Cast
- Raúl Esparza as Jonas Nightingale
- Brooke Shields as Marva McGowan
- Nicholas Barasch as Boyd McGowan
- Jarrod Emick as Sheriff Will Braverman
- Kendra Kassebaum as Sam
- Kecia Lewis-Evans as Ida Mae Sturdevant
- Leslie Odom, Jr. 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
The Back Stage 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."[11]
The Los Angeles Times reviewer 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."[12]
References
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Leap of Faith, Menken's Gospel-Filled Musical Comedy, Will Premiere in L.A." Playbill.com, January 28, 2010
- ^ Gans, Andrew and Hernandez, Ernio."Esparza, Kassebaum, White, Mann and More Take a Leap of Faith in Musical Workshop" playbill.com, April 30, 2008
- ^ Riedel, Michael."No 'Faith' in Director"The New York Post, June 20, 2008
- ^ Horn, John.Musical makes one 'Leap of Faith' after anotherLos Angeles Times, September 26, 2010
- ^ Fick, David."TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH: PREVIEWS START TONIGHT" Musical Cyberspace, September 11, 2010
- ^ a b "'Leap of Faith' production listing, Ahmanson Theatre, 2010" centertheatregroup.org, retrieved December 25, 2010
- ^ Hodgind, Paul."'Leap of Faith' review ocregister.com, October 4, 2010
- ^ Jones, Kenneth "Leap of Faith, the Musical, Will Premiere in L.A. in September; Ashford Directs" playbill.com, April 22, 2010
- ^ [1]Leap of Faith's Broadway Launch Will Be April 3; Jessica Phillips, Raul Esparza, Kendra Kassebaum Star playbill.com January 12, 2012
- ^ Cerasaro, Pat."Alan Menken Talks TANGLED, SISTER ACT, LEAP OF FAITH, HUNCHBACK, ALADDIN & More" broadwayworld.com, November 15, 2010
- ^ (no author). "LA Theatre Reviews, 'Leap Of Faith'", backstage.com, October 4, 2010 (retrieved December 26, 2010)
- ^ McNulty, Charles. "THEATER REVIEW;It takes faith", Los Angeles Times, October 5, 2010, P.1, Part D