LEAP OF FAITH to Open at St. James Theater on Broadway in April; Esparza, Phillips & Kassebaum to Star

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).

Tony-nominated director Christopher Ashley will helm the production. Tony Award-winner Warren Leight, who currently serves as the executive producer on NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and won critical acclaim for his celebrated play Side Man in 1998, returns to the theatre joining Janus Cercone to revise the book for Leap of Faith. Sergio Trujillo, with credits such as Jersey Boys and Memphis, will be the choreographer. 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 con man Jonas Nightingale. The cast will also feature Jessica Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as "Marla," and Kendra Kassebaum (Wicked) as "Sam." Additional casting will be announced.

When his traveling ministry breaks down in a small Kansas town, part-time reverend and full-time con artist Jonas Nightingale (Raul Esparza) quickly pitches a tent and invites the locals to a revival. The town sheriff, Marla Humes (Jessica Phillips) is determined to stop him from separating the townspeople from their money.

LEAP OF FAITH will be produced on Broadway by Michael Manheim , James D. Stern, Douglas L. Meyer, Tom Viertel, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Steven Baruch, Jujamcyn Theaters, Annette Niemtzow/S. Silva Daryl Roth/Robert G. Bartner, Debi Coleman, Dancap Productions Inc. and Center Theatre Group in association with Steve Kaplan, Vera Guerin Independent Presenters, Network Relativity Media, LLC Richard J. Stern and Pamela Cooper, Diana Buckhantz.

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets will available through www.Telecharge.com, (212) 239-6200 on January 23. Ticket prices range from $47 - $137.