'Faith' advances to Broadway

Raul Esparza, who starred within the Ahmanson staging of Leap of Belief will return for Broadway.Inside a Broadway shakeup, the tuner adaptation of "Leap of Belief" has jumped right into a vacancy produced by battling revival "On the Obvious Day You Can Observe Forever," now set to shut Jan. 29.Raul Esparza, who toplined the planet preem of "Leap" in L.A. this year, returns to guide the cast from the Gotham version. Creative team includes new additions Warren Leight ("Side Guy"), now co-writing it, in addition to helmer Christopher Ashley and choreographer Sergio Trujillo ("Jersey Boys").The jump for "Leap" rejiggers the Rialto's spring sked, contributing to the roster yet another new tuner -- inside a production which had formerly been striving to land on Broadway within the fall.Gossips concerning the change have been circulating for any couple of days now, because it grew to become apparent that Harry Connick Junior. starrer "On the Obvious Day," which opened up to largely unfavorable reviews, wouldn't last, departing among the Street's prime musical houses, the St. James Theater, open for any reveal that could mobilize rapidly."Leap" had been preparing for any run at Broadway, getting introduced an autumn target date along with a new cadre of collaborators within the wake from the unenthusiastically received Ahmanson Theater run. Ashley changed Take advantage of Ashford ("How to achieve Business Without Really Trying") as helmer, and Leight came aboard to operate on scribe Janus Cercone's original book.Producers of "Leap" pressed for "Obvious Day" to announce its closing at some point to ensure that final funds for "Leap" might be kept in and particulars ironed out prior to performances beginning at the begining of April.Confirmation of "Leap" means the show's composer, Alan Menken ("The Small Mermaid"), is poised to possess three shows running at the same time around the Primary Stem, with "Leap" joining the present "Sister Act" and "Newsies," opening in April. Glenn Slater, who labored with Menken on "Sister Act," creates the lyrics for "Leap."Book author Cercone also composed the 1992 film, toplined by Steve Martin, which the musical relies. Story follows a charlatan reverend (Esparza) and also the female sheriff, to become performed by Jessica Phillips, who vows to seal him lower.Kendra Kassebaum will also come in the Gotham version of "Leap," with further casting still to become introduced.If this wooden shutters Jan. 29, "On the Obvious Day," which opened up 12 ,. 11, may have performed 29 previews and 57 regular perfs. The redux from the 1965 Lerner and Lane musical, created and directed by Michael Mayer ("Spring Awakening"), pulls a gender turn on the show's reincarnation-designed story.Despite the existence of Connick -- whose prior stint around the Rialto, "The Pajama Game," demonstrated popular -- the development did not become popular with auds. A week ago the tuner drawn within $585,000 and performed to under 70% of capacity.Producers of "Obvious Day" include Tom Hulce, Ira Pittelman, Liza Lerner and Broadway Across America, amongst others.Even though previews for "Leap" happen to be set to start April 3, a precise opening date remains to become introduced. Cutoff for Tony qualifications is April 26.Creating team of "Leap" includes Michael Mannheim (additionally a producer around the film), James D. Stern, Douglas L. Meyer, Tom Viertel, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Steven Baruch and Jujamcyn Theaters, amongst others. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com