Ashford Directed LEAP OF FAITH Premieres At LA's Ahmanson Theatre 9/5-10/17

Leap of Faith, the new musical based off of the 1992 Steve Martin Film, will have its world premiere September 5th through October 17. The production will officially open September 26, and will play Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre.

Tony Award winner Rob Ashford (currently represented on Broadway with Promises, Promises), who helmed the industry reading earlier this year, will direct the new musical comedy.

Center Theatre Group describes the show: "When part-time reverend and full-time con artist, the Reverend Jonas Nightengale, stops in a small Kansas town with his traveling ministry, he quickly pitches a tent and invites the locals to a revival. The sheriff is determined to stop Jonas from separating the townspeople from their money, but Jonas' real challenge arises when he meets a pretty waitress and her son, whose love for him forces this ultimate cynic to take a real leap of faith."

BroadwayWorld reported in January that, according to a recent equity casting notice, the show would be making its premiere this summer. 

Leap of Faith had an industry reading earlier in January starring Raul Esparza as the preacher, Sutton Foster, and Kendra Kassebaum.  The musical workshop, featuring a score by Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid composer Alan Menken and lryics by Glenn Slater, had Promises, Promises director/choreographer Rob Ashford at the helm. Janus Cercone, who authored the original screenplay also penned the musical book along with Slater.

Ashford will stay on as the show's director and choreographer.

The casting notice states that the first rehearsal will begin on or around July 19, 2010. Music supervisor is Michael Kosarin, with musical direction by Brent-Alan Huffman. The show is being produced by Michael Ritchie in association with Neel Keller.

Leap of Faith, a dramedy film directed by Richard Pearce, starred Steve Martin, Liam Neeson and Debra Winger. The film is about Jonas Nightengale, a fraudulent Christian faith healer who uses his revival meetings, in Rustwater, Kansas, to milk believers out of their money

The musical has reportedly been in the works for several years, however, as delayed due to a directorial change.  Initially, the project was headed by Oscar-winning director Taylor Hackford (An Officer and a Gentleman, Ray, Against All Odds), however, after a 2008 workshop of the piece the producer's elected to move forward in a different direction.

Despite a length of 2 hours and 45 minutes (which Ashford assures will be cut down significantly), the musical is said to be promising.  The music is a blend of country, blues, gospel and pop, while Riedel alleges of the book: "the basic story is solid, if a bit sentimental and predictable."  

It seems the next step for the production is an out of town try-out.  The Ahmanson Theatre representatives from Los Angeles who attended the reading are reportedly especially interested in the piece.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.