Kassebaum, Barasch, Emick and More Complete Leap of Faith Cast

Complete casting has been announced for the Los Angeles debut of Broadway-bound musical, Leap of Faith. Kendra Kassebaum (Wicked), Nicholas Barasch (West Side Story), Tony winner Jarrod Emick (The Boy From Oz), Kecia Lewis-Evans (The Drowsy Chaperone) and Leslie Odom Jr. (TV's Big Day) will join previously announced stars Raul Esparza and Brooke Shields when the show begins performances on September 11 at the Ahmanson Theatre.

The Leap of Faith ensemble will feature Brad Anderson, Bradley Benjamin, Tom Berklund, Christopher Bones, Krystal Joy Brown, Ta'Rea Campbell, Eric L. Christian, Michelle Duffy, Harvey Evans, Ashley Blair Fitzgerald, Jennie Ford, Bob Gaynor, Angela Grovey, Shannon Lewis, Michael X. Martin, Maurice Murphy, Anise E. Ritchie, Darcie Roberts, Bryce Ryness, Ariel Shelpley, C.E. Smith, Alex Michael Stoll, Dennis Stowe, Katherine Tokarz, Brandon Wardell, Karl Warden, Natalie Willes and Charlie Williams.

Based on the film of the same name, Leap of Faith features a score by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by screenwriter Janus Cercone with Slater. Rob Ashford will direct and choreograph.

The musical centers on Jonas Nightengale (Esparza), a part-time reverend and full-time con artist who pitches a tent in small-town Kansas when his ministry breaks down 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 named Marva (Shields) and her son, whose love forces an ultimate cynic to take a real leap of faith.