Rialto Chatter: Steve Martin's 'Leap of Faith' Boadway-Bound by Ashford?

Michael Riedel reveals this morning that a likely Broadway-bound musical adaptation of Leap of Faith (based off of the 1992 film starring Steve Martin) had an industry reading last week 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. 

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.