Leap of Faith

[DealingwithDivas]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 10:25pm

I heard there was a table read last week. Any leaks out on the cast yet?

[broadwaybabytn]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 10:28pm

If Raul wasn't in the reading, I'll eat my hat.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 10:45pm

Because it was a table read with little to no rehearsal in advance, I imagine as many people as possible who were familiar with the material from having done the L.A. production were involved.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 11:15pm

At least we all know its enormously unlikely that Brooke Shields was involved or will be with anything related to LEAP OF FAITH.

[DealingwithDivas]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 11:20pm

Love Brooke but she's made it very clear she won't be returning.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 9/13/11 at 11:46pm

How funny...I just had a dream about this last night. I really enjoyed the production in LA, and with a few changes, it could be very very good (fewer book scenes, no Brooke, lose the opening choreography).

Raul's performance still stands out as one of the most electric I have ever seen.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 12:11am

Love Brooke but she's made it very clear she won't be returning.

Glad to hear, but do you have a source?

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 12:17am

I saw this too when Alan Menken posted this on Twitter.

"AIMenken Alan Menken
LEAP OF FAITH table reading last Friday. Next is a 29 hour reading before New York production. It's SUCH a changed show!"

I hope they stage a new and improved production soon!

[socarrat]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 12:18am

According to the article, Menken said it was a "such a changed show", so I wouldn't be surprised if they went with a whole new cast for the reading and the production.

ETA: Yero, I didn't realize that the show was written for Raul. Interesting. I just thought since they're changing it, it would mean a new cast. I think that's more exciting, but I do like Raul. I guess we'll have to wait and see. I'd love to know who took part in the reading.
Updated On: 9/14/11 at 12:18 AM

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 12:30am

According to the article, Menken said it was a "such a changed show", so I wouldn't be surprised if they went with a whole new cast for the reading and the production.

For at least the past few years, the musical has been written for Raul. Unless schedule makes it impossible, he will continue with the project, I'm sure.

Love Brooke but she's made it very clear she won't be returning.

Glad to hear, but do you have a source?

I don't have the link handy, but there was the interview she did recently where she basically said that LEAP OF FAITH was a huge mistake and she's better off replacing in musicals until she finds the perfect role to originate, and this wasn't it.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 12:56am

Raul should move on. they have jerked him around enough with this show.

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 11:05am

I know I'm probably being awfully dense, but what, in this context, does "29 hour reading" mean??

And here is a link to the Playbill interview where Brooke essentially said she's out of Leap for good.
Brooke Shields interview

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 11:22am

It's a contract issue. Here's the Equity definition:

Rehearsal hours are limited to a maximum of 15 hours (20 hours for musicals) for rehearsals and actual Reading(s), such times to be at the Actor’s convenience. If the total hours for the rehearsal(s) and Reading(s) extend beyond the specified number of hours previously listed, but no more than 29 hours, then each Equity Actor is to receive a stipend of $100.00 in addition to basic transportation reimbursement. Should the combined rehearsal/Reading hours for the Reading extend beyond 29 then the production must be placed on a Staged Reading Contract.

Staged Reading Contract equals more money.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 5:30pm

According to her Broadway.com question and answer video, Brooke Shields was part of the most recent reading of the show this past summer. Unless she's just mixing dates?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7koze1KzByo

She talks about it starting at 3:21.

Updated On: 9/14/11 at 05:30 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 5:40pm

Her phrasing is somewhat odd. When she said "this summer," I wondered if she really meant last summer, when LEAP OF FAITH started in LA (previews began this time last year). But if anyone can confirm if she participated or not, that would be great. Like you said, SomethingWicked, it could just be that she happens to be in NY right now and they needed someone who knows the role.

[Blactor]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 6:22pm

Hmmm...I disagree that Esparza should "quit" the show. Rather than jerking him along it seems as though they're being pretty loyal to him; they've been working on the show for around a decade, and it seems to be built around their star. From what I've read it's the role of a lifetime for him.

Barring other commitments, why would Raul leave these people in the dust?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 6:36pm

Raúl is really committed to the show and to the part -- and it's a great part for him -- but I can see both sides of the coin: if it gets to a point where he's turning down other projects to wait for something that may or may not happen, how long do you do that for?

Updated On: 9/14/11 at 06:36 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 8:44pm

Up to now, whoever is in charge has not been able to get a creative team together that has a clue how to handle this show.
Casting Brooke (whom I respect) in LA, I saw as a slap to Raul, they didn't trust him or the material to carry the show and they hired Brooke, because of her name, and had to try to fit her in (and they failed). I'm not Raul, so I don't know what he's thinking but he is very talented (not one of my favs) and finds good parts consistently. By the time (and if) this should make BWay, it could be old news.
But CATCH ME... took a long time and won Norbs a TONY, and closed.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 8:55pm

I apologize for the stupid question, but LEAP OF FAITH is based on the Steve Martin movie, no?

For those who have seen readings of the musical, have they figured out how to make the basic plot something other than THE MUSIC MAN with a little Jesus thrown in?

That was my problem with the film. That and the problem that the Steve Martin character is a fraud and knows it. What makes Harold Hill interesting (and redeemable) is found in one line to Winthrop, "I always think there's a band, kid."

(And, yes, I know THE MUSIC MAN is basically a musical version of THE RAINMAKER, but with a very different attitude toward its principals.)

[socarrat]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 9:41pm

Leaving the show "in the dust" implies that it would be hopeless to replace Raul, and that's not true. There are a number of very talented actors who would make a fine Jonas Nightengale, and there may be plenty of time to snatch him.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 9:44pm

Yes, it is based on the Steve Martin film. I've read a lot about the comparisons to The Music Man, and I can't say the similarities aren't there, but it was also not my immediate thought in watching it that it was too similar, or really just a take-off of The Music Man with a little religion tossed in. I don't really care for the film, honestly, but I think the adaptation suits the piece really well, and that it works much better as a stage musical than it does as a film, and the script, for all the shortcomings it still has, clears up a lot of the plot problems I had with the film. (I saw one of the pre-LA readings, in early 2010.)

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 9:46pm

Thanks, luv. I hope I was clear that I was only talking about the film feeling like a less rich retread of TMM. I haven't encountered the show in any form.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 10:09pm

You were!

[DealingwithDivas]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 10:11pm

I agree! No offense to Raul groupies, but I think he was the problem in LA (along with the script of course!).

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 11:12pm

Many of the reviews in LA pointed out the similarities with THE MUSIC MAN and RAINMAKER/110.