Leap of Faith - Articles Page 2

LEAP OF FAITH, the new musical based on the motion picture "Leap of Faith," produced by Paramount Pictures Corporation and written by Janus Cercone, begins previews today at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street).

It is a rare enough occurrence for a genuine born and bred Broadway star to emerge post-millennium, but one as astonishingly versatile as Raul Esparza, having scored accolades since his blazing debut in a string of hit plays and musicals, ranging from Mamet and Sondheim and Pinter to CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and his aforementioned Broadway bow in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, is a downright cause for celebration. Esparza makes his grand return to the Broadway stage in a musical with his upcoming starring role in Alan Menken & Glenn Slater's adaptation of the Steve Martin film LEAP OF FAITH, featuring a country and gospel influenced score and a spirited, energetic production by Christopher Ashley (who, incidentally, helmed Esparza's first Broadway show, ROCKY HORROR). While Esparza has been seen in many - most, if not quite all - Broadway seasons in the decade since 2001, he has also scored in leading roles in regional productions such as 2002's spectacular SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG revivals, part of the unprecedented Sondheim Celebration, as well as the Cincinnati Playhouse COMPANY, directed by John Doyle, which transferred to Broadway and was subsequently preserved on DVD and Blu-ray, in addition to being presented on PBS as part of Great Performances. Besides Esparza's many notable musical revival performances (lest we forget his essaying of the Emcee in CABARET), he also created the Broadway iterations of his roles in the controversial and brilliantly scored TABOO, produced by Rosie O'Donnell and composed by Boy George, as well as the stage adaptation of the hit family classic CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, as well as originating the lead role in TICK, TICK...BOOM! Having played three of Sondheim's most memorable male roles was not enough, though, apparently, for Esparza recently took on the part of the hapless Hapgood in Sondheim's ANYONE CAN WHISTLE when it was revived at City Center's Encores! - with Tony-winners Donna Murphy and Sutton Foster his co-stars, no less - with much success. Yet, in one of a myriad of examples of the broad spectrum of Esparza's abilities, it is instructive to remember he first made a name for himself with the role of Che in an Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice show, directed by no less than the ultimate man of the theatre himself, Harold Prince - EVITA, which, of course, is being revived this season with Ricky Martin in the role of Che. Besides Esparza's many musical roles throughout the past decade and prior, he has also carved out a seriously impressive straight drama resume, having appeared in plays by the great playwrights of our age, such as Pinter (THE HOMECOMING), Mamet (SPEED-THE-PLOW), Stoppard (ARCADIA) and, the greatest of all, Shakespeare (AS YOU LIKE IT, part of Shakespeare In The Park). ROCKY HORROR to ARCADIA to, now, with LEAP OF FAITH, Esparza constantly and consistently surprises fans and audiences alike with his audacious choice in roles and electrifying performances that are indelibly enjoyable in their uniqueness, variety and sheer breadth of emotion - time and time again. Yes, indeed, Raul Esparza is the best of the best Broadway has to offer, so let us hope LEAP OF FAITH is the ideal star vehicle for one of the most charismatic and multi-talented leading men of the 21st century and that it brings him his well-deserved Best Actor Tony at last.

The Broadway production of LEAP OF FAITH begins previews on Tuesday, April 3 and will open on April 26 at the St. James Theatre. Yesterday, March 8, the company met the press and BroadwayWorld takes you inside the big media day right here. Click below to hear from stars Raul Esparza, Jessica Phillips, creative team members Christopher Ashley, Alan Menken and more!

The Broadway production of LEAP OF FAITH begins previews on Tuesday, April 3 and will open on April 26 at the St. James Theatre. Yesterday, March 8, the company met the press and below, we take you inside the rehearsal room!

The Broadway production of LEAP OF FAITH begins previews on Tuesday, April 3 and will open on April 26 at the St. James Theatre. Today, the company treated the press to a performance preview and below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the highlights!

Broadway's LEAP OF FAITH stars four-time Tony nominee Raul Esparza as Jonas Nightingale, Jessica Phillips as Marla Humes, Kendra Kassebaum as Sam Nightingale, Kecia Lewis-Evans as Ida Mae Robinson, Leslie Odom, Jr. as Isaiah Robinson, Krystal Joy Brown as Ornella and Talon Ackerman as Jake Humes. Previews begin Tuesday, April 3 and the production will open on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street). The company just met the press, and BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities. Check out a photo preview below and check back later for full coverage!

Has a Broadway show with the word "leap" in the title ever opened during a Leap Year? Never. To celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime event, the producers of Broadway's LEAP OF FAITH will make $29 orchestra and mezzanine tickets available on February 29 for the first week of previews (April 3-7 inclusive). The offer will be available for 24 hours through www.telecharge.com / 212 239 6200 and at the St. James Theatre box office (246 West 44th Street) from 10 AM- 8 PM on February 29 and is subject to availability.

Has a Broadway show with the word "leap" in the title ever opened during a Leap Year? Never. To celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime event, the producers of Broadway's LEAP OF FAITH will make $29 orchestra and mezzanine tickets available on February 29 for the first week of previews (April 3-7 inclusive). The offer will be available for 24 hours through www.telecharge.com / 212 239 6200 and at the St. James Theatre box office (246 West 44th Street) from 10 AM- 8 PM on February 29 and is subject to availability.

Broadway's LEAP OF FAITH stars four-time Tony nominee Raul Esparza as Jonas Nightingale, Jessica Phillips as Marla Humes, Kendra Kassebaum as Sam Nightingale, Kecia Lewis-Evans as Ida Mae Robinson, Leslie Odom, Jr. as Isaiah Robinson, Krystal Joy Brown as Ornella and Talon Ackerman as Jake Humes. Previews begin Tuesday, April 3 and the production will open on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street). Meet the stars of the show, Raul Esparza and Jessica Phillips, in the photos below!

The new musical based on the motion picture "Leap of Faith," produced by Paramount Pictures Corporation and written by Janus Cercone, will begin previews on Tuesday, April 3 and will open in late April (date to be announced) at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street).

Rehearsals begin today, February 14, for Broadway's LEAP OF FAITH, beginning previews on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street). LEAP OF FAITH stars four-time Tony nominee Raul Esparza as Jonas Nightingale, Jessica Phillips as Marla Humes, Kendra Kassebaum as Sam Nightingale, Kecia Lewis-Evans as Ida Mae Robinson, Leslie Odom, Jr. as Isaiah Robinson, Krystal Joy Brown as Ornella and Talon Ackerman as Jake Humes. The production will open on April 26 at 6pm.

Broadway's LEAP OF FAITH is new musical based on the motion picture 'Leap of Faith,' produced by Paramount Pictures Corporation and written by Janus Cercone. The musical will begin previews on Tuesday, April 3 and will open in late April at the St. James Theatre. In the video below, be bring you an exclusive first look behind-the-scenes at the official photo shoot with stars Jessica Phillips and Raul Esparza!

The producers of Broadway's LEAP OF FAITH announced today that Kecia Lewis-Evans (The Drowsy Chaperone), Leslie Odom, Jr. ("Smash") and Krystal Joy Brown (Hair) will join previously announced Broadway cast members Raul Esparza, Jessica Phillips and Kendra Kassebaum. The full ensemble cast will be announced at a later date. The Broadway production will begin previews on Tuesday, April 3 and will open in late April (date to be announced) at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street).

Broadway's LEAP OF FAITH is new musical based on the motion picture 'Leap of Faith,' produced by Paramount Pictures Corporation and written by Janus Cercone. The musical will begin previews on Tuesday, April 3 and will open in late April (date to be announced) at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street). In the video below, go behind the scenes of the recent photo shoot with the cast, as featured on the show's Twitter page!

Tickets for Broadway's LEAP OF FAITH go on sale this Monday January 23 at www.telecharge.com, or (212) 239-6200.

The producers of LEAP OF FAITH, the new musical based on the motion picture "Leap of Faith," produced by Paramount Pictures Corporation and written by Janus Cercone, are pleased to announce that the Broadway production will begin previews on Tuesday, April 3 and will open in late April (date to be announced) at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street).

On January 6, Michael Riedel reported in the New York Post that LEAP OF FAITH, which had been planning for a Fall 2012 debut on Broadway was hoping to move to the Spring of 2012 instead. Today, Patrick Healy of The New York Times has confirmed that hope, via a newsletter from producer Daryl Roth, in which she notes that there should be news 'shortly' and that 'hopefully' the show will open in the Spring.

The producers of LEAP OF FAITH, the new musical based on the Paramount Pictures film, have just announced new members of the creative team for the production that will have its Broadway debut in the fall of 2012 at a theatre to be announced. With music by Academy and Grammy Award-winner Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater, LEAP OF FAITH will star 4-time Tony Award nominee Raúl Esparza as conman Jonas Nightingale.

Now, the New York Times reports that according to producer Thomas Viertel, the show is indeed now headed to Broadway in the Fall of 2012. No official announcement has yet been made, but Viertel told the paper that 'closed-door developmental readings drew strong feedback' and that 'our creative team has done great work in clarifying the story.'