Broadway musical ‘Leap of Faith’ to close on Sunday

“Leap of Faith,” the Broadway musical that had its world premiere in 2010 in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre, will close its doors earlier than expected. Organizers announced Tuesday that the musical starring Raul Esparza will officially end its run at New York’s St. James Theatre on Sunday.

The musical will have run for less than a month by the time it closes. The show received mixed reviews on Broadway, including a vicious pan from the New York Times. The show has seen its box-office grosses drop steadily in the weeks since it officially opened in New York.

Based on the 1992 movie of the same name, “Leap of Faith” tells the story of a fraudulent faith healer who undergoes a spiritual crisis while visiting a small town. Esparza plays the role of the preacher, having originated the part at the Ahmanson.

“Leap of Faith” received a Tony Award nomination last week for best new musical, but was snubbed in the rest of the categories. The musical features a score by multiple Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken. The lyrics were written by Glenn Slater.

The musical had a bumpy start at the Ahmanson. Times theater critic Charles McNulty described it as “erratic and somewhat overeager” in his 2010 review. The L.A. production starred Brooke Shields as Esparza’s love interest, but the actress departed the production before it reached New York.

Rob Ashford directed the musical’s premiere at the Ahmanson, but he left and was replaced by Christopher Ashley, the artistic director of the La Jolla Playhouse and the director of the 2010 Tony winning musical, “Memphis.”

The musical was substantially revised between L.A. and Broadway.

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