Five Good Minutes: Janus Cercone

A new Broadway show initially conceived by husband and wife team and longtime Malibu residents Janus Cercone and Michael Manheim has been receiving quite the buzz this week.

"Leap of Faith," the story of a crooked evangelist who leads his victims to the collection plate, opened Thursday, and has already earned three Outer-Circle Critics award nominations and six Drama Desk nominations.

Malibu Patch sat down with writer Janus Cercone for a few minutes to talk about "Leap of Faith" and what she loves about Malibu.

Malibu Patch: How long have you and Michael lived in Malibu and what keeps you here year after year? 

Janus Cercone: We’ve lived in Malibu for 22 years. We love the ocean, the hills, but mostly the people. To me, the Malibu personality is like beach glass, brilliant and shiny, yet softened by nature.

Malibu Patch: I understand that you are opening a new musical on Broadway. How did you get started in theater?

Janus Cercone: In an effort to process losing a parent, I wrote a play, “Dead and in Person,” a comedy about the death of my mother. It received a couple of high-profile readings, including one starring Jennifer Aniston and Robert Downey Jr.

The play was first optioned by Rocco Landesman, who now heads up the National Endowment of the Arts, then by Jim Stern, one of the most successful producers on Broadway.

So when my husband, Michael Manheim, who also produced the movie, went looking for production partners for the musical, Jim got on board first, then Rocco’s organization. Jujamcyn [Theaters] ended up as our landlord at the St. James, so it was a nice full-circle.

Malibu Patch: Tell me about your new musical, "Leap of Faith," and what drew you to the story?

Janus Cercone: “Leap of Faith” began as a movie produced in 1992 starring Steve Martin. It was based on my years traveling with rock bands when I worked at A&M Records, the legendary label founded by Malibu-ites, Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss.

I observed a fascinating dynamic that occurred when a band would arrive in a small town and immediately raise its temperature. It got me thinking, “I understand the impact a troupe of glamorous outsiders has on the town, but what impact does the town have on the people in the band?"

My friendship with magician and deception-expert, Ricky Jay, put me in touch with my “inner con man,” and the character of Jonas Nightingale, a crooked evangelist in rock star guise, was born.

As we were shooting the film, the gospel tent was being erected in a field in Texas as the show’s gospel choir was singing. Michael and I turned to each other and in unison, blurted out “Oh my God, this is a musical!” That was 20 years ago. Now after 12 years in development, the show is finally coming to fruition.

Malibu Patch: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Janus Cercone: "Leap of Faith" is the story of redemption and connection.

We're living in hard times. No matter who you are, you need something to believe in. For some, it's religion. For others, the power of love, connection to community, or just belief in one's self. I feel that message is timeless and universal.

I'm one of those musical-theater geeks who, literally, sees everything. In 30 years of obsessive theater-going, I’ve never seen a performance like the one Raul Esparza gives as Jonas Nightingale. Add to that, a 30-piece gospel choir, and there are moments in our show I want to jump out of your skin with excitement. 

Of course, I'm not exactly objective …

“Leap of Faith” is showing at the St. James Theatre, 44th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, in New York. The musical features work by eight-time Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken, as well as writers Janus Cercone and Warren Leight, and director Christopher Ashley. Learn more at http://leapoffaithbroadway.com/.