Kecia Lewis-Evans, Raúl Esparza, Virginia Ann Woodruff, Lynorris Evans
CAST (in order of appearance)
Ida Mae Sturdevant – KECIA LEWIS-EVANS
Isaiah Sturdevant – LESLIE ODOM, JR.
Ornella Sturdevant – KRYSTAL JOY BROWN
Jonas Nightingale – RAÚL ESPARZA
Brother Zak – BRYCE RYNESS
Sam Nightingale – KENDRA KASSEBAUM
Brother Amon – C.E. SMITH
Brother Carl – DENNIS STOWE
Marla McGowan – JESSICA PHILLIPS
Emma Schlarp – ROBERTA WALL
Jake McGowan – TALON ACKERMAN
Susie Raylove – MICHELLE DUFFY
Amanda Wayne – DIERDRE FRIEL
Angels of Mercy & Townspeople:
HETTIE BARNHILL, TA’REA CAMPBELL, MICHELLE
DUFFY, LYNORRIS EVANS, MANOLY FARRELL,
DIERDRE FRIEL, BOB GAYNOR, LUCIA GIANNETTA,
ANGELA GROVEY, LOUIS HOBSON, TIFFANY JANENE
HOWARD, GRASAN KINGSBERRY, MAURICE MURPHY,
IAN PAGET, TERITA REDD, ELISEO ROMÁN, BRYCE
RYNESS, ANN SANDERS, C.E. SMITH, DANNY STILES,
DENNIS STOWE, BETSY STRUXNESS, ROBERTA WALL,
VIRGINIA ANN WOODRUFF
ORCHESTRA TRACK LIST
CONDUCTOR – Brent-Alan Huffman ACT I ACT II
ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR – Jason Michael Webb 1. RISE UP – Ida Mae, Ornella, Jonas, 13. LONG PAST DREAMING
Sam, Angels of Mercy – Marla, Jonas
ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR – Jeff Marder
2. RISE UP (Reprise 1) – Jonas, Sam 14. ARE YOU ON THE BUS?
WOODWINDS – Gregory Thymius, Charles
– Ornella, Sam, Ida Mae, Isaiah, Jonas
Pillow, Dave Noland, Roger Rosenberg 3. FOX IN THE HENHOUSE
TRUMPETS/FLÜGELS – Matt Peterson, Anthony – Marla, Jonas 15. PEOPLE LIKE US – Sam, Marla
Kadleck, Jeremy Miloszewicz 4. FIELDS OF THE LORD 16. LAST CHANCE SALVATION
– Sam, Jonas, Angels of Mercy – Jonas, Angels of Mercy, Townspeople
TROMBONE/BASS TROMBONE – Timothy Sessions
VIOLINS/CONCERT MASTER – Rick Dolan 5. STEP INTO THE LIGHT 17. IF YOUR FAITH IS STRONG
– Ornella, Jonas, Ida Mae, Sam,
VIOLINS – Una Tone, Shinwon Kim, Suzanne ENOUGH – Jonas, Jake, Angels of
Angels of Mercy, Townspeople
Mercy, Townspeople
R. Ornstein, Mineko Yajima, Robert Shaw
6. WALKING LIKE DADDY – Isaiah 18. JONAS’S SOLILOQUY – Jonas
VIOLA – David Craig Blinn, Crystal E. Garner,
David Creswell 7. LOST – Ida Mae, Angels of Mercy
19. RISE UP (Reprise 2)– Sam, Jonas
CELLO – Sarah Hewitt-Roth, Stephanie L. 8. I CAN READ YOU
– Marla, Jonas
20. LEAP OF FAITH – The Company
Cummins, Laura E. Bontrager
9. LIKE MAGIC – Jake, Jonas
ELECTRIC BASS – Lynn Keller
GUITAR – David Spinozza 10. I CAN READ YOU (Reprise)
– Sam, Jonas
DRUMS/PERCUSSION – Perry Cavari
PIANO/SYNTHESIZER – Jason Michael Webb 11. DANCING IN THE DEVIL’S
SHOES – Isaiah, Ornella, Ida Mae,
HAMMOND B3/SYNTHESIZER – Jeff Marder Angels of Mercy
MUSIC COORDINATOR – John Miller
12. KING OF SIN – Jonas, Sam, Marla,
Isaiah, Angels of Mercy, Townspeople
 Leslie Odom, Jr.

LINER NOTES
This original cast album of LEAP OF FAITH represents a moment in time; one illed with all the hopes
and dreams and joys and agonies of a 20 year journey. We convened at Avatar studios on June
13th of 2012, a month after closing at the St. James Theater and a mere 4 days after raising the roof
at the Tony Awards with “Rise Up”. And all of the love and tears and laughter and prayers of this
magniicent cast, led by Raul Esparza, is in these tracks.
It all started with Janus Cercone’s dream, which became a charming and exciting movie starring
Steve Martin, in 1992. When I irst watched that movie and heard the power of this charlatan
evangelist preacher and his Angels of Mercy gospel choir, I immediately thought that this could be
the basis of a wonderful and original stage musical and a few years later, lo and behold, Jannie and
her husband, producer Michael Manheim, approached me about writing the music with her writing
the book of that musical.
My longtime collaborator, Glenn Slater (Home on the Range, Tangled, Sister Act), came aboard to
write the lyrics and over time, through a process that involved countless readings and recordings and
presentations, Jannie, Glenn and I were blessed with invaluable contributions from numerous directors
and actors along the way. Finally, in the spring of 2011, our creative team was completed with the
addition of Warren Leight (Side Man, Law and Order: SVU, In Treatment) as co-book writer and
Christopher Ashley (Memphis, Xanadu, All Shook Up) as director.
LEAP OF FAITH is about a cynic who gets an opportunity to believe in something. It explores faith –
both religious and secular – and invites us to participate in the Revival experience; both as worshipers
and as witnesses to how that faith can be manipulated. And all who contributed creatively to this
musical brought their own balance of belief, questioning and doubt to the table.
This musical went through a trial by ire on Broadway. And in the end, our brave and beautiful actors
and musicians brought their hearts and souls to the stage of the St. James Theater. We were rewarded
with a Tony nomination for Best Musical. And a week later we closed. Some will feel the need to
understand why that happened. But in the end I content myself with knowing that this journey is far from
over. This album is the beginning of a new chapter in the story of LEAP OF FAITH; one in which it will
be given new life out in the world because of the beautiful and heartfelt performances on this album.

6 —Alan Menken 7
SYNOPSIS
ACT I
The time: now. The place: this theatre, where the audience has gathered for a revival meeting – the
third (and inal) appearance by Reverend Jonas Nightingale and his Angels of Mercy Choir.  The Angels
take the stage to warm up the crowd, till THE REVEREND JONAS NIGHTINGALE appears, offering his
personal story; his spiritual conversion, from unrepentant con artist to righteous believer (Rise Up).
It’s a tale that begins on a highway outside the drought-stricken town of Sweetwater, Kansas.   (Note:
the show shifts back and forth between the present, testimony-illed revival in our theatre and the troupe’s
dramatization of the events in Sweetwater). Jonas’s tour bus has broken down, and his troupe is breaking
down with it.  Bookkeeper IDA MAE STURDEVANT tells Jonas that the show is broke; her daughter
ORNELLA informs him that the choir is ready to mutiny; and the troupe’s manager, Jonas’s sister, SAM
reminds him that there are warrants out for his arrest in all their usual tour stops.  With nowhere to turn,
Jonas convinces his troupe that the town’s desperate situation is a potential gold mine. Sam tries to talk
sense into him but Jonas asks her to trust him – in all the years they’ve been travelling together, he’s never
failed her yet (Rise Up Reprise).
Jonas’s tent is big news for this small town and Jonas catches the eye of a local beauty, MARLA
McGOWAN. Romancing the locals is business as usual for Jonas (Fox In The Henhouse), but what’s
unusual is this time, the lady in question turns out to be the County Sheriff. Despite her and Jonas’ obvious
connection, Marla is wise to Jonas’s intentions. She prohibits him from preaching and gives him three
days to repair his bus and hit the road.
Jonas is undeterred, and Sam puts the con in motion while showing the audience how it works: use
the Angels to gather gossip from the locals, lure them into the tent by any means necessary, feed the info to
Jonas through hidden earphones so that he can surprise the sinners with his “divinely received” knowledge
of their secrets, and build up trust until the third and inal revival.  That third revival --the blow-off -- is when
they will drain the locals for all they’re worth, and skip town before dawn (Fields of the Lord).  Among this
town’s crop of salvation seekers is JAKE, a young wheelchair-bound boy seeking the Reverend’s healing
touch.  Once the marks are safely in the tent, Jonas puts on a hurricane of a show – preaching homilies,
speaking in tongues, “reading” the sins of the townsfolk, even making a “crippled” woman walk, all while
studiously avoiding contact with the actual handicapped boy in the wheelchair (Step Into The Light).  He
knows his business; after the irst night, he has Sweetwater eating out of the palm of his hand.
Not all is going according to plan, though. Ida Mae’s son ISAIAH, on vacation from bible college, has
decided to pay a visit; a devout man, just like Ida Mae’s late husband, he smells a rat, and isn’t afraid to
say so (Walking Like Daddy).  Even more troubling: the irst show has brought in barely any money at all,
let alone enough to save the troupe.   Sam asks Ida Mae to keep quiet about the low take, but – as Ida Mae
testiies to the theatre audience – the bookkeeper is troubled that her job requires her to lie to her children,
her choir, and most disturbingly, to herself (Lost). She’s not the only casualty in this epidemic of untruth:  both
Jonas and Sam seem to be willfully deluding themselves about the odds of success, and even Sheriff Marla
mouths optimistic falsehoods to raise the spirits of her son… who turns out be wheelchair-bound Jake.
Jonas has been in Sweetwater less than a day and already things are getting complicated: Marla
appears at his hotel room with a citation for ignoring her stipulation that he not preach in Sweetwater.
Moreover, she informs him that the boy in the wheelchair is her son--and Jonas better not exploit his hopes
with false promises. Amused by Marla’s ability to see through his façade, Jonas challenges her to a
competition: for every secret each can intuit, the other must take a drink (I Can Read You).   The winner?
Both. By revealing each other’s deepest emotional truths… and ending up in bed.
It’s now Jake’s turn to testify to the theatre audience. A budding amateur magician, he desperately
wants to believe that the “miracles” Jonas delivers are the real thing (Like Magic). He comes to the
Reverend’s motel room, not realizing that his mother is within, listening in on the conversation.  Jonas sees
something of himself in the boy and gently tries to dissuade him, but only manages to heighten Jake’s
belief in his powers. When the boy leaves, Jonas promises Marla that he won’t use her son as part of
his act – a promise that doesn’t sit well with Sam, who has discovered valuable information: that the boy
lost the use of his legs in a car accident that killed his father, and that Marla has spent the last several
years desperately trying to get her son to walk again to no avail. Sam can’t understand why Jonas won’t
use every means possible to squeeze cash out of the people of Sweetwater, and worries that Jonas is
developing feelings that interfere with their scam (I Can Read You Reprise).
The next day, as Sam prepares the choir for their second revival, she reminds the Angels that this
evening is about setting up the locals for the big “blow off”, the next night.  Isaiah reiterates his disapproval
of the troupe’s methods, prompting an argument with Ornella that begins splintering the choir (Dancing In
The Devil’s Shoes).
The conlict carries into the second revival, especially as Jonas cynically and effortlessly manages to
talk a grieving destitute widow into throwing her wedding ring into the collection basket.  Sam, sensing
the moment is ripe to set up the “blow off”, presses Jonas to bring Jake up on stage – with the idea that
promising to heal the crippled boy tomorrow night will guarantee a packed house for the inal revival.
Jonas is reluctant to do so, but inally caves under Jake’s insistence.  Marla, incensed that Jonas has broken
his promise to her, intervenes and reveals to the townspeople that Jonas is not a preacher but is in fact
a convicted con artist. The crowd turns ugly. But Jonas is fast on his feet: he not only admits that he is
as bad as the sheriff claims, but turns that fact into an argument in his own favor – after all, who better
to testify to the forgiving power of the Lord than a criminal-turned-preacher? (King Of Sin). The crowd is
convinced. Marla, sensing that she is losing control of the situation, arrests Jonas.  As she leads him away,
Jonas delivers what con artists call “the promise”, a come-on so enticing that the marks can’t resist it: if the
townspeople ill his tent the following night he will deliver to them a true miracle.
ACT II
Jonas resumes his story… in jail.  Jake has snuck in to tell him that the town now believes him to be so
righteous that he can make it rain and end the drought.  Marla interrupts their conversation. She sends
Jake home and informs Jonas that the town has posted bail; he is free to go. Jonas tries to rekindle the
spark from the day before, but Marla doesn’t want his sympathy (Long Past Dreaming).
As the Angels prepare for the third and inal revival, some admit that Isaiah’s condemnation of Jonas’s
methods is making them… think. Ornella demands that they choose which side they’re on – a demand
reiterated by Sam, who insists that Jonas needs to decide if Marla and Jake are more important than the
troupe, and by Ida Mae, who wants Isaiah to choose between his beliefs and his family’s needs (Are You
On The Bus?).  Jonas has had enough dissention in the ranks and threatens to ire Ida Mae, Ornella and
Isaiah unless Isaiah backs off. Instead, the young preacher responds by turning the troupe’s crooked
accounting ledgers and scouting reports over to Sheriff Marla, in return for her promise that his mother and
the other Angels be spared prosecution.  Marla inds information in their iles that leads her to believe that
Jonas’s relationship with her is part of the scam.  Hurt and embarrassed, she decides to use the cooked
books to put him away for good.
In fact, Jonas’s feelings for Marla and Jake are decidedly not part of the plan. Even he is surprised
by the way she’s gotten to him and for once in his life, he tries to do the right thing by confessing to Jake
that Marla was right: he is a conman, not a preacher and will never be able to make Jake walk. But the
boy’s belief is deep. He insists that God sent Jonas to Sweetwater for a reason--to perform this miracle.  chance and believe in something – perhaps each other, to Jake’s delight (Leap of Faith). The two kiss and
Wanting to protect the boy from disappointment, Jonas forbids him from coming back to the tent.  Things
go from bad to worse for Jonas. Marla confronts him with the stolen iles and threatens to indict him and
Sam if he holds the third revival. Jonas can take threats against himself, but not his sister. He storms off, but
not before establishing a mutual destruction pact: if Marla takes him down, he’ll make sure that her son
will never forgive her.  Sam tries to ease the situation by explaining to Marla why Jonas is the way he is:
their own father, an abusive religious fanatic, died despite their desperate prayers and left them orphaned
when they were just kids; they survived by using any means necessary and sticking together at all costs. 
Marla sees something of her own ierce devotion to her son in Sam’s story, and something of Jake in Jonas;
the two women come away with a new understanding of each other (People Like Us).
Tensions run high as the town and troupe prepare for the inal revival. With Jonas’s attempts at acting
honorably rebuffed, his choir in open mutiny and his future grim, he resolves to go for broke and tears into the
revival ready to wring every penny out of the drought-stricken town of Sweetwater (Last Chance Salvation).  The
locals eat it up—tossing money in Jonas’s collection baskets, convinced their donations will empower Jonas to
make it rain. When Jake wheels himself on stage to be healed, Jonas is ready to use him as part of the act, but
he is brought up short as Marla enters with the damning ledgers in hand.  To his surprise, Marla doesn’t arrest
him; instead, she cynically offers him one inal chance to redeem himself – by healing Jake.  Jonas, knowing
that he can’t actually do this, tries gamely, while attempting to soften the blow of imminent failure for Jake (If Your
Faith Is Strong Enough).  Jake gets up out of his chair – and immediately collapses.  He asks Jonas to sincerely
pray for him. Jonas, perhaps for the irst time in his life, drops to his knees and sincerely prays.  Dread ills the
tent as, once again, Jake drags himself out of the wheel chair. He manages to stand…and take one tentative
step. Then Jake straightens up and walks across the stage, into Marla’s arms.
As the town and choir erupt in celebration, Jonas stands alone.  He tries to process what has just
happened, running through all the possible explanations and inding them lacking. He inally turns
heavenward, to the God he doesn’t believe in, and demands answers: Is God real? And if so, can God
prove it? (Jonas’s Soliloquy).
The next morning, as the troupe – profoundly moved by the experience of the previous night -- packs
up their tent and prepares to move on, Jonas is nowhere to be found. He emerges from the cornields,
where he has apparently spent the night, and tells Sam that he is not getting on the bus – after all the years
of scraping by together, it’s time for him to change his life and for her to strike out on her own, with Isaiah
taking his place in the pulpit and turning the troupe legit (Rise Up Reprise 2).  Jonas accepts Ida Mae’s
encouragement, gives Isaiah his mirrored “coat of lights”, bids farewell to the Angels, and inally turns to
Marla.  Neither of them understands what happened, but both now know that they are ready to take a
a boom of thunder shakes the sky. It begins to rain. Soaked but ecstatic, the townspeople celebrate their
good fortune as Jonas turns back to the theatre audience to say that if a man like he could ind something
to believe in… there’s hope for us all. He hopes the audience has been moved by his story and, if so…
feel free to place your offering in the baskets on your way out -- was it sincere? or part of an elaborate
con? –  on this third and inal night of their revival.
ACT ONE
1. RISE UP
A theatre, the present day. A
gospel choir takes the stage.
ANGELS
HMMM...
IDA MAE/ANGELS
JESUS, IT’S YEARS WE BEEN
CLIMBIN’ YOUR MOUNTAIN,
AN’ IT’S YEARS WE BEEN
WALKIN’ YOUR ROAD.
LORD, IT’S BEEN YEARS—
FAR TOO MANY FOR COUNTIN’,
WITH A LIFETIME OF SIN AS OUR
LOAD.
WHEN WE WILL RISE UP—
AND LAY DOWN OUR BURDEN?
WON’T YOU TELL ME HOW
LONG MUST WE ROAM?
WHEN WILL WE RISE UP
AND LAY DOWN THAT BURDEN—
TELL ME, WHEN WILL YOU
GATHER US HOME.
HMMM...
HMMM...
HMMMMM.
JONAS
Good evening, New York! Thank
you, for joining us on this, our
Revival’s third and final glorious
night! I am the Reverend Jonas
Nightingale, and I know we got a
house full of sinners tonight. You,
sir—you’re a sinner. Ma’am —
you’re sin on a stick. And you!
You’re wonderin’ if you can leave
at intermission and commit even
MORE sin. You’re ALL sinners,
each and every one of you — but
you can be saved!
TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU DO
WHEN THE WORLD’S A MESS
AND YOUR LIFE’S IN FLUX
‘CAUSE THE ECONOMY SUCKS,
AND YOU’RE STUCK
W A Y D O W N
IN THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR?
ANGELS
RISE UP!
JONAS But if you want to believe — and BROTHER AMON LAST RED CENT TO RISE UP!
AND WHAT DO YOU DO I believe you do — then take your Padre?
WHEN YOU’RE FEELIN’ THE STRESS hands off your neighbor’s lap, lift SAM
AND YOU’VE RUN OUT OF HOPE them high, cause we’re gonna JONAS Jonas, it’s a dying town, in the
AND YOU JUST CAN’T COPE make a joyful noise. — where are we now? middle of a drought—
AND YOU’RE PRETTY DAMN SURE
THATCHA AIN’T GOT A PRAYER? SINGIN’ THAT’LL MAKE THE BROTHER AMON JONAS
RAFTERS ROCK! Just outside of Sweetwater. I got this.
ANGELS STORIES THAT’LL MAKE YOUR
RISE UP! SOUL UNLOCK! JONAS LOOK, THESE FOLKS ARE STONE-
EVEN IF YOU THINK IT’S ALL A Then Sweetwater is where we will COLD OUT-OF-LUCK,
JONAS CROCK— pitch our tent. AND YOU KNOW WHAT
SEE, THE WORSE YOUR THEY’RE HOPIN’—
TROUBLES GET JONAS/ANGELS ORNELLA IF THEY MAYBE THROW THE
THE DEEPER YOU FEEL YOU’RE YOU’LL RISE UP! Mama, Sam, talk him down. LORD A BUCK,
SINKIN’ YOU DOUBTING THOMASES! HE’LL COME AND SAVE THEIR
THE MORE YOUR ONE SURE BET SAM SHIRTS.
IS HE WHO REIGNS ON HIGH. JONAS Jonas, look around. These people THEY’LL BE DRIVIN’ IN FROM
‘CAUSE AT YOUR LOWEST LOW, MUSIC THAT’LL WIPE AWAY have nothing. MILES AROUND,
YOU ONLY GOT ONE PLACE YOUR BLUES! WITH HEARTS AND WALLETS
TO GO— PREACHIN’ THAT YOU’LL FIND JONAS OPEN.
YOU CAN’T REFUSE! Exactly. MAKE THOSE SUCKERS RISE UP,
JONAS/ANGELS THOUGH YOU’RE MOSTLY THEY’LL GIVE UNTIL IT HURTS!
RISE UP! ATHEISTS AND JEWS— FELLAS WHO BEEN LAID OFF AT
THE PLANTS, Anyone got a better idea? Good,
JONAS JONAS/ANGELS FARMERS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR then unload the bus, set up the tent!
(coming downstage) YOU’LL RISE UP! FED’RAL GRANTS, And start spreading the word.
I don’t blame you for lacking hope. RISE UP! ALL OF ‘EM ARE DESP’RATE FOR A
CHANCE TO RISE UP! TELL ‘EM I CAN SET THEIR
JONAS CHILDREN STRAIGHT!
AND GIVE UNTO THE LORD! IDA MAE
Rev, we need a big score. ANGELS
Now, you may not know it. But CHILDREN!
there is a reason you came here BROTHER CARL
tonight. You are at a crossroads in There’s nothing here but dust. JONAS
life. I know, because it was only a TELL ‘EM I CAN HELP KEEP OFF
year ago that I myself stood at just JONAS THE WEIGHT!
such a Rubicon. Out of money, out That’s why it’s perfect.
of options, in a broken-down bus, ANGELS
right where the road to perdition MEN WHO GOT NO WAY TO HELP!
hits the highway to nowhere, about PAY THE RENT,
a hundred miles south of Topeka. WIVES WHO WONDER WHERE JONAS/ANGELS
Right outside a little town called... THEIR SAVINGS WENT, TELL ‘EM THAT TONIGHT, RIGHT
Brother Amon? WATCH ‘EM OFFER UP THEIR HERE AT EIGHT—
THEY’LL RISE UP! WAY TO YOU JONAS JONAS COMIN’ OUT OF THE STICKS WE’LL PULL THROUGH
IF THEY’VE GOT COLD CASH TO HIGHER! C’mon people...c’mon... WITH NO FOLK, NO DOUGH, SOMEHOW...
ANGELS PAY TO YOU! A WHOLE WORLD OF “NO”, WE ALWAYS DO.
AND PASS THE PLATE AROUND! SOME ANGELS ANGELS JUST TWO SCARED KIDS, GOTTA TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH.
ANGELS HIGHER! RISE! TRY’N’ TO MAKE ENDS MEET?
JONAS RISE UP!
TELL ‘EM I CAN MAKE THEIR IDA MAE JONAS SAM 3. FOX IN THE
CONSCIENCE CLEAR! IDA MAE LET’S GO UP Show ‘em what your worth... (rolling her eyes)
TELL ‘EM I CAN MAKE THE RAIN BASS! JUST A LITTLE BIT “RISE UP!”
HENHOUSE
APPEAR! WAIT A MINUTE! HIGHER! ANGELS
MARLA
TELL ‘EM ANYTHING THEY NEED IF YOU WANNA RISE UP, RISE! JONAS
OUT HERE IN THE COUNTRY,
TO HEAR— YOU HAVE GOT TO GO SOME ANGELS AND WHAT DID WE DO
JONAS WE’RE SIMPLE-HEARTED HICKS.
HIGHER! HIGHER! IN THE SPRING OF ‘O6,
ALL MOONY-EYED AND
JONAS/ANGELS Take that tent up... WHEN THEY TOSSED ME IN JAIL
INNOCENT
TO RISE UP! SOME ANGELS IDA MAE AND WE COULDN’T MAKE BAIL
ANGELS AS FLUFFY LITTLE CHICKS.
RISE UP! HIGHER! HIGHER! AND YOU LIVED IN THE CAR ‘TIL I
RISE! BUT THOUGH WE AIN’T SO
WAS BACK ON THE STREET?
JONAS WORLDLY—
IDA MAE SOME ANGELS
JONAS HELL, MOST ARE DUMB AS ROCKS—
AND THEN WE’LL BLEED ‘EM DRY! HIGHER! HIGHER! SAM
C’mon...yeah! WE KNOW THAT WHERE
Good times.
THERE’S CHICKENS,
The choir start to raise the tent. SOME ANGELS IDA MAE
ANGELS JONAS THERE’S BOUND TO BE A FOX.
HIGHER! HIGHER!
IDA MAE/ANGELS/JONAS RISE UP! IF THERE’S ONE DAMN THING I
JONAS
JESUS, IT’S YEARS WE BEEN IDA MAE SOME ANGELS KNOW FOR SURE,
CLIMBIN’ YOUR MOUNTAIN, ANGELS JONAS You got me wrong, sister.
HIGHER! HIGHER! WE’VE GOTTA KEEP ON MOVING.
AN’ IT’S YEARS WE BEEN RISE UP! RISE UP! THIS TOWN, IT’S A
WALKIN’ YOUR ROAD. SOME ANGELS JONAS/IDA MAE RISE UP! CONVENIENCE STORE—
RISE UP! RISE UP! HIGHER! WE DON’T NEED NO MUSIC! RISE UP! BREEZE IN, STOCK UP, AND GO.
LORD, IT’S BEEN YEARS, FAR TOO RISE UP! ALL WE NEED IS JUST ONE
MANY FOR COUNTIN’ JONAS ALL ANGELS MAJOR SCORE
WITH A LIFETIME OF SIN AS OUR I CAN’T HEAR YA, OH, RISE UP! JONAS AND THINGS’LL START IMPROVING.
LOAD. WHY DON’T YA TAKE IT UP AND DEDICATE OUR EV’RY Now let’s get out there and save TRUST ME, SAM, WE’LL RISE UP...
BUT WE WILL RISE UP! HIGHER? PRAYER TO YOU! some goddamn souls!
AND OPEN UP OUR HEARTS AND RISE UP! SAM
PRAY TO YOU! SOME ANGELS AND OFFER ALL THAT WE CAN ANGELS And if we don’t?
RISE UP! HIGHER! BEAR TO YOU! RISE UP!
AND SAY THE WORDS WE LONG RISE UP! JONAS
TO SAY TO YOU! JONAS AND GIVE WHATEVER WE CAN SURE, IT’S LOOKING BAD --
RISE UP! HIGHER! SPARE TO YOU! 2. RISE UP WHAT ELSE IS NEW?
AND SING OUT EACH AND LIFT OUR VOICES TO THE SKIES,
EVERY DAY TO YOU! SOME ANGELS ‘TIL THAT HAPPY DAY WE
(REPRISE 1) SAM
HIGHER! RISE! WHAT’S THE PLAN?
JONAS
JONAS
TELL ME, WHAT DID WE DO,
HELP THE SINFUL FIND THEIR JONAS
NOT A CLUE. Jessica Phillips, Raúl Esparza
MARLA MARLA MARLA AND SEE. ANGELS SAM
Do I? AND FOXES, THEY TALK SWEET— YOU’RE THINKIN’ A FOX LIKE YOU DON’T FOOL A LET’S GO TO WORK! TIME FOR ROLLIN’ UP YOUR
‘BOUT SINKIN’ YOUR TEETH CHICK LIKE ME. SLEEVES NOW!
NOW ME, I’M JUST A FARM GIRL, JONAS RIGHT IN— SAM HARVEST TIME IS HERE, NO
I’VE BARELY LEFT THE NEST. Mmm-hmm. All right, eyes and ears open, LAYIN’ ABOUT!
CITY LIGHTS, THE GREAT WIDE JONAS 4. FIELDS OF people! Hit the barber shop, and GO AND GATHER UP THE
WORLD— BUT FOXES, THEY GET HUNGRY. AND THE JUICES RUNNIN’ ALL Circle K— SHEAVES NOW,
AIN’T SEEN ‘EM, I’LL ATTEST. DOWN MY CHIN—
THE LORD SAM/ANGELS
BUT I’VE SEEN LOTS OF FOXES, MARLA ANGELS WORKIN’ IN THE FIELDS OF THE
SAM
ENOUGH TO WRITE A BOOK. I bet. MARLA LET’S GO TO WORK! LORD!
So here’s how it works. When you
AND MISTER, I’M QUITE CERTAIN BUT I BETCHA DIDN’T THINK
hit a new town — it doesn’t matter
THAT I RECOGNIZE YOUR LOOK— JONAS YOU WERE TALKIN’ TO THE The Angels scout out the passing SAM
if it’s Sweetwater, or Topeka or,
AND CHICKEN’S WHAT THEY EAT. COUNTY SHERIFF. townspeople, taking notes on their FAITH IS RISIN’ TALL AS WHEAT
hell, even New York — you have
YOU’RE A FOX IN THE conversations. THERE,
three days ‘til the “blow off”, the
HENHOUSE, MARLA JONAS ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS
closing night, when you take the
AS CLEAR AS CLEAR CAN BE! That right? County Sheriff? You? LEON WINNOW IT OUT!
town for all it’s worth, and leave
THE TWINKLIN’ EYES, Straw hat, alcoholic. EV’RY GRAIN YOU GET IS SWEET
before they even know what’s hit
THE DEVILISH GRIN, WELL, I MAY LOOK LIKE DINNER- MARLA THERE,
‘em. Of course, you gotta do your
THE FLASH AND FILIGREE. Mmm-hmm. CARL
due diligence. Facebook is fine, but
BUT THOUGH YOU’RE QUICK JONAS Orange cap, gambling schneid. SAM/ANGELS
there’s still no substitute for good ol’
AND CUNNING, Mmmmmm. THIS FLOCK OF MINE, THEY’RE WORKIN’ IN THE FIELDS OF THE
shoe leather.
MISTER, SUFFERIN’. SAM LORD!
I CAN GUARANTEE MARLA THEY’RE REELIN’ FROM THE Copy that.
A FOX LIKE YOU DON’T FOOL A BUT ME, I’M NO ONE’S DUPE, DROUGHT. ANGELS
CHICK LIKE ME. AND I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THEY WANT SOMEONE TO SAVE ANGELS LET’S GO TO WORK.
DOIN’ THEM. LET’S GO TO WORK!
JONAS CREEPIN’ ROUND THIS CHICKEN THAT’S WHY I WANT YOU OUT. SAM
You got all that on your first read? COOP— THREE DAYS — FINE, THAT I’LL WORRIED MOTHER OK, Zak — grab that old lady.
GIVE YOU. (to daughter)
MARL JONAS THEN GO. Honey, the doctor said to take ZAK
Just by looking at the cover. Mmmm-hmmm! GO SOMEWHERE FAR. your meds. (to old lady)
‘CAUSE ME I AIN’T NO CHICKEN, Evenin’, Ma’am. You from
JONAS MARLA BUT I KNOW DAMN WELL WHAT FARMER Sweetwater?
But you still want to thumb the NOW A FOX LIKE YOU, YOU ARE: (to wife)
pages, don’t you? YOU’RE THINKIN’ THAT CHASIN’ It’s not the pump, it’s the well. EMMA SCHLARP
THIS CHICKEN YOU’RE A FOX IN THE We’ve run dry. No, I drove thirty miles.
MARLA MIGHT BE FUN. HENHOUSE,
NOW FOXES, THEY LOOK A CROOKED S.O.B. ANGELS ZAK
DASHING— JONAS A TRAVELLIN’ CON LET’S GO TO WORK! Perfect. How would you like to sit
YEAH, A FOX LIKE ME, WHO’D BETTER MOVE ON up front?
JONAS I’M THINKIN’ ‘BOUT PLUCKIN’ AND LEAVE MY PEOPLE BE. RAY
Oh yeah. THOSE FEATHERS, YOU MESS WITH THIS HERE (talking on cel phone) EMMA SCHLARP
ONE BY ONE. HENHOUSE, ...I know, I been tossin’ and turnin’ Oh, I don’t need a wheelchair—
YOU’LL REGRET IT — WATCH all night. I think my wife’s onto us.
Kendra Kassebaum
Zak pushes her into the waiting JONAS JONAS and a one two three four... ZAK JONAS
wheelchair. Did you? God bless you. Let’s make it rain! Ladies and gentlemen— GOT SOMETHIN’ TO SHOW YA!
Suddenly, the scene shifts: The
EMMA SCHLARP (CONT’D) JAKE ANGELS choir is onstage in the revival tent. ANGELS ANGELS
—why, thank you! Can I come to your revival? GATHER UP THE LAST STRAY GONNA SHOW YOU THE LIGHT! GONNA SHOW YOU THE LIGHT!
SHEEP THERE, AMON
SAM JONAS ONCE YOU BRING ‘EM IN, GET SET TO AWAKEN— ZAK JONAS
SOULS ARE GROWIN’ ON THE Of course you can. Bring your COLLECT YOUR REWARD! Prepare to bear witness— A LIFELINE TO THROW YA!
VINE THERE, folks. FOR AS YOU HAVE SOWN, ANGELS
READY TO BE PLUCKED AND YOU’LL REAP THERE, GONNA SHOW YOU THE LIGHT! ANGELS ANGELS
HARVESTED UP. ANGELS WORKIN’ IN THE FIELDS OF THE GONNA SHOW YOU THE LIGHT! GONNA SHOW YOU THE LIGHT!
AIN’T THEY LOOKIN’ FAT AND LET’S GO TO WORK. LORD! CARL
FINE THERE? DAWN’S ‘BOUT TO BE BREAKIN’— ZAK JONAS
JAKE SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH) To that sanctified seeker of SO, PEOPLE, YOU KNOW YA
SAM/ANGELS (as he exits) Who’s got somethin’ on the ANGELS righteousness— BETTER HOLD ON REAL TIGHT!
WORKIN’ IN THE FIELDS OF THE It’s just my mom...and she’s a wheelchair boy— GONNA SHOW YOU THE LIGHT! LET IT FLOW!
LORD! Godless heathen. ANGELS HERE WE GO!
ANGELS ORNELLA OH! I’M GONNA SHOW YOU THE
SAM ANGELS WORKIN’ IN THE FIELDS OF THE I KNOW YOU BEEN ACHIN’ JOIN THE FOLD AND BEHOLD! LIGHT!
WHEN THEY’RE RIPE ENOUGH LET’S GO TO WORK. LORD! FOR THE END OF THE NIGHT— (to audience)
TO DROP THERE, ZAK Good evening Believers! Are you
SHAKE ‘EM DOWN AND FILL SAM SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH) ANGELS THE REVEREND JONAS ready for a miracle?
THAT HEAVENLY CUP! Did you read the research reports? — anybody? Anything? C’mon LIFT YOUR EYES NIGHTINGALE!
SOON YOU’LL HAVE A BUMPER people... TO THE SKIES! ANGELS
CROP THERE— JONAS GONNA SHOW YOU THE LIGHT! Jonas makes an eye-popping entrance GONNA SHOW YOU THE LIGHT...
Eh, hit me on the fly. Is the ANGELS
SAM/ANGELS bluetooth on? Workin’ in the fields of the lord!
WORKIN’ IN THE FIELDS OF THE
LORD! SAM SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH)
(thru headset) Y’know, I’d fire you all, but it’s
ANGELS Line One. For your ears only. show-time.
LET’S GO TO WORK.
JONAS ANGELS
JAKE, a young boy in a Copy. What do you have on that Workin’ in the fields,
wheelchair, approaches Jonas. boy in the wheelchair? workin’ in the fields,
workin’ in the fields of the lord!
JAKE SAM
Hey Mister! I’ll google him now.
5. STEP INTO
JONAS JONAS
Call me Jonas, son. Ok. Sis?
THE LIGHT
SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH)
JAKE SAM
All right, here we go! One, two,
I had a dream you were coming. Hmm?
Krystal Joy Brown
JONAS SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH) ANGELS Something amazing is happening.
Are you ready for wonders? —uh, can’t afford a revival? All YA GOTTA DO! Right now!

ANGELS JONAS JONAS ANGELS

GONNA SHOW YOU THE —deserves a revival, it’s the good IS STAND! SALVATION IS STARTIN’—
LIGHT... people of Sweetwater. And I AND TURN! GONNA SHOW YOU THE LIGHT!
promise you, we will be here for AND LIFT YOUR FACE, AND
JONAS the next three nights, to walk with STEP— JONAS
Then you my friends...! you, to help you move toward the Praise Him, the Lord’s holy juices
light. The light of joy. ANGELS are just a-pumpin’, a-pumpin’,
ANGELS STEP! a-pumpin’ in my veins!
SWEET SHINING LIGHT! ANGELS
JOY! JONAS ANGELS
JONAS —INTO THE LIGHT! STORM CLOUDS’LL BE PARTIN’—
Have come— JONAS LEAVE THE GLOOM AND GONNA SHOW YOU THE LIGHT!
The light of truth! DARKNESS BEHIND YOU,
ANGELS AND WITH EV’RY STRIDE, JONAS
JONAS Some of the folks in my own choir
CLEAR SHINING LIGHT! ANGELS CAST ASIDE But before I can do the Lord’s work,
That’s right, people! warned me that this town, sufferin’
TRUTH! YOUR FEARS AND DOUBTS AND He needs a sign of your faith.
from the drought,
JONAS DISMAY.
ANGELS is beyond hope, beyond salvation.
—to the right place tonight! JONAS SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH)
STEP INTO THE LIGHT! Some of them said we should just
The light of love! ANGELS Angels, start passing the baskets.
drive on by. Drive on by to the big
ANGELS YOU GOTTA, GOTTA, GOTTA
JONAS city of Topeka. Topeka, Topeka,
OH! ANGELS STEP INTO THE LIGHT! ANGELS
Now, I know times are tough all Topeka! With those fancy people
LOVE! JUST PUT YOUR WHOLE HEART IN,
over— and their fancy cars—
JONAS IDA MAE AND YOUR SOUL WILL IGNITE!
‘Cause tonight we leave this world JONAS OUT WHERE HEAVEN’S
SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH) SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH)
of sorrow and sin, and turn— So if you want us to take you— BLESSINGS CAN FIND YOU! JONAS
—Sweetwater, town’s name is And their fancy arrest warrants.
Angels, take it down. The Lord
Sweetwater.
ANGELS SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH) JONAS needs a token that shows the love
JONAS
TURN! —to take you for all you’re worth! Sing it, Ida Mae! in your heart.
JONAS That’s right! But I said, hold on!
But don’t it seem like they’re
JONAS JONAS IDA MAE ANGELS
tougher still here, in Sweetwater? ANGELS
And stand— -to take you to Heaven’s Gate! LET A RAY OF GRACE THEN YOU’LL SEE,
Hold on!
WARM YOUR FACE, AND— GUARANTEE!
Crowd murmurs amen to that.
ANGELS All YA GOTTA DO... GONNA SHOW YOU THE LIGHT!
JONAS
STAND! ANGELS
JONAS (CONT’D) Uh-uh!
ANGELS AND GREET THE SHINING NEW JONAS
Now, I won’t lie to you—
JONAS ALL YA GOTTA DO! DAY! Jesus!
ANGELS
And shun the darkness and—
SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH) Uh-uh!
JONAS JONAS SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH)
Of course you won’t—
ANGELS ALL YA GOTTA DO... THE SHINING NEW DAY! OK. Row B, seat 3. Daughter off
JONAS
STEP INTO THE LIGHT! her meds.
JONAS If anyone needs a revival—
Oh, folks! Hallelujah, hallelujah!
JONAS Be cured of your gambling! JONAS YOUR FAITH WILL SET YOU FREE! (Simultaneously with below) JONAS
(to Worried Mother) (cuts her off) JONAS (Cont’d) C’mon, step on into the light!
You’re worried your sweet girl has SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH) Too long to remember, huh? JONAS Thank you, Jesus! Thank you,
fallen off her path, and is slipping D-6, cheating insomniac. It’s a miracle! Thaaaaaankya thank you, thank you people! ANGELS
back into darkness. ANGELS Jeeeesus! Amen! Oh yeah! Thank you all STEP ON INTO...
JONAS STEP INTO THE LIGHT! for coming! Thank you so THE LIGHT!
WORRIED MOTHER Stop sleeping around and you will The crowd ad-libs shouts of praise. much for being so generous!
Yes, I am! sleep at night! JONAS God bless you, Sweetwater!
(to various audience members) Well, Emma, God’s gonna make ANGELS Thank you all for coming! 6. WALKING
JONAS You want a job? A wife? A break? you a miracle tonight! Lord, send STEP INTO THE LIGHT! We’ll see you all tomorrow
Trust in the Lord, show her A life? Then give to the Lord, and your light through my hands and PAST THE HURT AND night, yes!
LIKE DADDY
love, and He will light her way, you shall receive! slay the shadows that imprison HEARTACHES THAT HOUND
ISAIAH
hallulujah! Who is next? Emma’s body. YOU! ANGELS
DADDY WAS STRONG, AND
SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH) (gazing skyward, all piety) AND WITH HEAD HELD HIGH, GIVE ALL THAT YOU CAN
PURE, AND PROUD,
SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH) All right, hit the old lady, 10 Emma, let his radiance lift you up MOVE ON BY, AND KEEP THE AND STEP ON INTO THE LIGHT!
AND HE WALKED NEXT TO GOD
Susie Raylove, G-6. No water for o’clock. She’s in our chair. and...stand! Yeah! DARKNESS AT BAY! BE PART OF GOD’S PLAN,
UNAFRAID.
her farm. AND AS THAT LIGHT AND STEP ON INTO THE LIGHT!
DADDY WENT FORTH WITH
JONAS ANGELS SHIMMERS AND SHINES, EACH WOMAN AND MAN,
JONAS HEAD UNBOWED,
Can I have some quiet for our IF YOUR FAITH IS STRONG HEAVEN’S DESIGNS COME PLEDGE YOUR SOUL HERE
Sister! Your crops are dying. Your NEVER STUMBLED, OR STOPPED,
sister here? ENOUGH— SHALL ALL BE REVEALED! TONIGHT!
well has run dry. OR STRAYED.
GAVE BEFORE?
THOUGH HE NO LONGER
ANGELS JONAS Jonas leaves the stage and GIVE SOME MORE!
SUSIE RAYLOVE reappears in a sparkling mirrored WALKS BESIDE US,
STEP INTO THE LIGHT! Step! Oh yeah!
STILL HIS FOOTPRINTS ARE HERE
That’s right. jacket. ANGELS
TO GUIDE US.
JONAS ANGELS AND STEP ON INTO—
JONAS JONAS DADDY WAS WHAT I HOPE TO BE,
Welcome, Ma’am. What’s your IF YOU KEEP BELIEVING LONG
Droughts do not last forever, but name? ENOUGH— You see? God’s light is shinin’ on
salvation does! Hallelujah! each and every one of you!
EMMA SCHLARP JONAS
SUSIE RAYLOVE Emma Schlarp. Yes! What is happening?! ANGELS
Thank you, Jesus! BEHOLD GOD’S MIGHT,
SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH) ANGELS SEEK OUT HIS SIGNS,
SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH) That’s unfortunate. IF YOU SING GOD’S SONG AND YOU’LL BE HEALED!
K-6, alcoholic. ENOUGH—
JONAS JONAS
JONAS God bless you, Emma. How long JONAS I am a disco ball for Jesus!
(goes to Woman In Straw Hat) has it been since you’ve walked? Keep walking! Keep walking!
Step away from the bottle! ANGELS
SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH) ANGELS AND YOU’LL BE HEALED! AHHH!
SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH) About twenty minutes? YOUR FAITH WILL SET YOU FREE!
A-10, online poker. JONAS
EMMA SCHLARP JONAS So open your hearts! Be generous
JONAS What do you mean “walk”? I— Yeah! Oh Emma, give it to me, of your spirit! Anything is possible!
(to gambler) give it to me! Do it, Emma! Yeah!
Leslie Odom, Jr., Kecia Lewis-Evans
 AND HIS PATH WILL BE MY PATH YOU KNOW WHERE YOU’VE
TOO. BEEN.
EVERY STEP, YOU KNOW WHERE YOU’RE AT.
EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW HOW TO GET
EVERY INCH OF THE WAY, WHERE YOU’RE GOIN’ TO.
I’LL BE WALKIN’ LIKE DADDY, YOU STEP ON THE GAS.
TALKIN’ LIKE DADDY, YOU OPEN THE CLUTCH.
DOIN’ WHAT DADDY WOULD DO. NO TIME FOR ANYTHING THAT’S
SLOWIN’ YOU.
7. LOST YOU CUT A CORNER HERE,
YOU BREAK A RULE THERE,
IDA MAE YOU RUN AGROUND
Lie to my children? There’s things THEN LOOK AROUND
they don’t need to know. Lie to my AND SUDDENLY,
Angels? That’s just part of keepin’ YOU FIND YOURSELF—
everyone’s spirits up. And Sam?
We’re both lyin’ to each other and IDA MAE/ANGELS
ourselves, so that’s basically a LOST!
wash. You think you went through HONEY, YOU’RE LOST!
your whole day today without tellin’ SUGAR, YOU’VE SAID TOO
a lie? You’re lying. MUCH,
YOU’VE GONE TOO FAR,
Kecia Lewis-Evans, Ta’Rea Campbell, Terita Redd, Angela Grovey
THE LINE’S BEEN CROSSED- GUESS WHERE YOU ARE? JONAS
NOW LOOK AT YOU: LOST. I thought we both felt a spark...and
LOST. I’m never wrong.
IDA MAE/ANGELS
IDA MAE YOU DRIVE IN THE DARK, MARLA
YOU TRY SHIFTING GEARS, TURN CIRCLES AROUND, Never? You want to bet?
TRY DOUBLING BACK. AND WONDER EXACTLY HOW
YOU DON’T KNOW HOW YOU LANDED HERE. JONAS
YOU GOT YOURSELF ALL SPUN BUT THERE’S NO TURNING BACK, You want to drink? Tell you what:
AROUND. NO OFF-RAMP AHEAD, I’m right, you drink.
CAN’T HIT THE BRAKES, OR
ANGELS MAYBE YOU’LL BE STRANDED MARLA
SPUN AROUND! HERE. Hit me.
YOU BARREL THROUGH THE NIGHT,
IDA MAE CUT CORNERS LEFT AND RIGHT, JONAS
BUT ONWARD YOU GO, YOU’RE GOING WRONG, I BETCHA THINK YOU’RE PRETTY
DOWN STREETS YOU DON’T BUT KEEP ALONG. TOUGH,
KNOW, WHAT CAN YOU DO? AND, SURE, YOU ARE — BUT
‘TIL ONCE AGAIN, YOU GIVE YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ENOUGH.
YOURSELF THE RUNAROUND. LOST! STILL, YOU’RE THE TYPE OF GIRL
YOU JUMP A CURB HERE— TOTALLY LOST! WHO LIKES TO FLIRT WITH
AND NOW YOU MADE YOUR DANGER. Raúl Esparza, Jessica Phillips
ANGELS CHOICE,
JUMP A CURB! YOU PAID THE TOLL, MARLA
LOOK WHAT IT COST— That’s it? RECKON.
IDA MAE AND LOOK AT YOU— SO IT’S CLEAN, AND DONE
YOU RUN A LIGHT THERE— JONAS BEFORE ANYONE HAS TO
LOST! YOU HAVEN’T HAD A DATE IN KNOW—
ANGELS FACE IT, WE’RE LOST! YEARS.
RUN A LIGHT! SOMEHOW THE LINE GETS THE LOCALS LEAVE YOU BORED Marla drinks again.
CROSSED! TO TEARS.
IDA MAE THE MAP GETS TOSSED! JONAS (CONT’D)
IGNORE THE SIGNS, BUT THERE’S A COST— Marla takes a drink. I TOLDJA SO!
THE PAINTED LINES, AND HONEY... SEE, I CAN READ YOU,
AND TELL YOURSELF YOU’RE LOST. BUT YOU’D BE TEMPTED BY LIKE AN OPEN BOOK—
YOU’RE ANYTHING BUT— LOST! A CHARMING, HANDSOME AND HONEY, CHAPTER ONE
STRANGER. LOOKS DYNAMITE.
IDA MAE/ANGELS YES, I CAN READ YOU,
LOST! 8. I CAN READ MARLA WITH A SINGLE LOOK—
TOTALLY LOST! Oh, please. AND FORGIVE ME IF I’M STARIN’,
SWEETHEART,
YOU BUT YOU CLEARLY CAN’T HELP
THE LIGHTS ARE OUT, JONAS SHARIN’,
MARLA ‘CAUSE DARLIN’, IT’S ALL THERE
THE RAILS ARE GONE, IT WOULD HELP A TON
I can’t believe you’re hitting on me. IN BLACK AND WHITE.
THE MAP’S BEEN TOSSED, IF HE’S GONE BY MONDAY, I
MARLA MARLA (CONT’D) BUT LATE AT NIGHT, MARLA MIRACLES— JONAS
A few lucky guesses. My turn. DAMN RIGHT! IN THE FAILING LIGHT, SEE, I CAN READ YOU, LAUGHABLE! When I was your age, I wanted to
YOU’RE TIRED TO YOUR SOUL, LIKE AN OPEN BOOK. LIKE MAGIC. be a magician.
JONAS JONAS/MARLA AND EVERYTHING INSIDE YOU’RE PRETTY MUCH LIKE ME
You’re out of your league. YEAH, I CAN READ YOU, COMES BURSTING THROUGH. DOWN AT THE CORE.... ALL THEY ARE IS WISHFUL JAKE
LIKE AN OPEN BOOK! STILL, YOU KEEP IT HID THINKING, What happened?
MARLA SO YOUR POOR SWEET KID JONAS SIMPLY AN ILLUSION.
Here. MARLA WON’T SEE YOU LOSE CONTROL... OH, I CAN READ YOU... JUST A LIE WE TELL TO HELP US JONAS
(hands him flask) THE KIND THAT I PUT DOWN BY AND PRETEND THAT YOU’RE THROUGH. What you want as a kid, what you
I hope you can hold your liquor. CHAPTER TWO. JUST FINE, He kisses her tentatively. BUT IF THEY WERE REAL, get as an adult...
AND HOPE TO GOD IT’S TRUE. THINK HOW IT WOULD FEEL!
I BETCHA THINK YOU’RE PRETTY JONAS/MARLA MARLA MIRACLES, JAKE
SLICK— OH HONEY, I CAN READ YOU— Marla drinks, taken aback by this. YES, I CAN READ YOU... HAPPENING! Tell me about it.
THE TYPE WHO DOESN’T MISS EV’RY SINGLE NOOK. LIKE MAGIC
A TRICK. JONAS (CONT’D) She kisses him back, a bit more COMING TRUE. JONAS
AND I CAN SEE YOU’VE GOT JONAS Too much? aggressively. But if you’re going to try to do
YOUR ACT DOWN, AND HELL, YOU SEEM LIKE A Jonas sees Jake attempting to magic, you have to keep practicing
TO THE LETTER. BEST-SELLER— MARLA JONAS/MARLA perform a magic trick. your sleight of hand. Over and
I can take it. LET’S TURN THE PAGE over. ‘Til you get so good, ‘til it
JONAS MARLA (a beat) AND READ A LITTLE MORE. JONAS feels so natural, even you believe
Compliments don’t count. LEAST THE TALE, IF NOT THE Can you? Hey. Jake. You a magician? it’s real.
TELLER—
MARLA BUT HONEY, EVEN HELEN KELLER I THINK YOU READ FOLKS LIKE 9. LIKE MAGIC JAKE JAKE
AND OH, YOU’RE CHARMING, COULD SEE THROUGH YOU. YOU DO It’s just tricks, not like what you do. You did that?
GOODNESS YES, TO KEEP THE WORLD FROM JAKE
NOT HALF AS MUCH, THOUGH, JONAS READING YOU. Anyone here believe in God? I JONAS
AS YOU’D GUESS. My turn. IT’S HARD TO HIT A TARGET THAT don’t mean that new-age mumbo- Kid... I was so good, I made myself
BUT PLENTY ‘NUFF TO FOOL THE KEEPS MOVING. jumbo. I mean, like, a real God. disappear.
FOLKS MARLA SEE, I DON’T KNOW THE LIFE Someone you pray to at night. The
WHO DON’T KNOW BETTER. I’m quaking in fear. YOU’VE HAD, kind of God who can make it rain, MIRACLES,
BUT SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE, or make you walk...or... Never THAT’S THEIR CHARM—
JONAS JONAS HURT YOU BAD… mind, I know what you’re thinking. EVERYBODY THINKS THEY NEED
(drinks) YOU SPEND YOUR DAYS IN THE AND YOU DON’T WANT THAT ONE,
Cheers. HEAT AND HAZE, WOUND TO START IMPROVING. MIRACLES... SHINING OUT,
AND SLEEPWALK THROUGH THE SO YOU COME ON HARD HONESTLY... BRIGHT AND CLEAR,
MARLA TOWN. AND WON’T DROP YOUR WE ALL KNOW THEY’RE LIKE MAGIC.
AND IN EV’RY TOWN YOU WATCH IT TURN TO DUST GUARD FOR A SECOND. NOTHING, REALLY: SAY THE WORDS,
ALL THE GIRLS LAY DOWN AND BLOW AWAY. AND YOU PICK APART FAIRY TALES—
WHEN YOU BECKON. YOU TALK TO FOLKS, MAYBE TELL EVERYBODY’S HEART, MAKE-BELIEVE— JAKE
SO YOU GET ALL HOT SOME JOKES, SO YOUR OWN LIKE MAGIC. GO AHEAD.
WHEN THERE’S ONE WHO’S YOU SMILE WHEN THEY SEEM CAN STAY UNKNOWN...
GOT ANY FIGHT— DOWN, SLEIGHT-OF-HAND, JONAS
AND SWEAR THE RAIN’LL BE JONAS TRICKERY— WAVE YOUR ARM,
Jonas takes a big swig. HERE, ANY DAY. Can we stop now? MIGHT AS WELL ADMIT IT FREELY:
Talon Ackerman
JAKE JONAS JONAS I CAN READ YOU, JONAS YET YOU DON’T SEE WHERE
SHOW ME. JUST FOR YOU. IT’S NOT AT ALL LIKE THAT, OK? YOU AIN’T OFF THE HOOK! Trust me. YOU’VE GONE.
I KNOW YOU THINK YOU’RE
JONAS SAM SAM SAM WALKIN’ WITH JESUS, GIRL!
ASK, AND YOU ARE 10. I CAN Yeah, right. AS FOR THE KID- You start caring about too many PARADIN’ DOWN THE PATH OF
GUARANTEED ONE. people, our whole thing goes THE LORD!
READ YOU JONAS JONAS straight to hell. YOU’RE STEPPIN’ PRETTY SWEET
JAKE (REPRISE) IT’S NOT YOUR BUSINESS, EITHER YEAH, WHAT ABOUT HIM? ON YOUR FANCY FEET,
(overlapping) WAY. BUT YOU AIN’T GOT A CLUE
HOW DO YOU DO IT? SAM SAM 11. DANCING WHAT YOU’RE HEADIN’
SAM HE COULD BE USEFUL. TOWARD--
JONAS AND JAKE
When we put that kid on stage
tomorrow— Oh, please.
IN THE DEVIL’S
JUST LIKE THAT, JONAS SHOES YOU’RE DANCIN’!
THEY APPEAR JONAS AS IF I’D BUY WHATEVER CRAP SURE, WHO’D DOUBT HIM? DANCIN’ IN THE DEVIL’S SHOES!
LIKE MAGIC. He’s not going on stage. YOU’D TRY TO SELL ME! ISAIAH TRAMPLIN’ ON THE LORD’S
Sam You are not spreading the word TABOOS!
JAKE SAM JONAS So? of the Lord, you are part of a KICKIN’ UP A MESS OF BLUES!
CALL IT LUCK OR FATE OR Are you kidding me? Do you hear yourself? righteous con. BETTER LOOK AT YOURSELVES!
FORTUNE— JONAS YOU’RE DANCIN’
JONAS COULD YOU SOUND MORE TRUST ME, WE’LL TAKE THIS JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MAN BUT DANCER’S GOTTA PAY THEIR
JONAS His mother is the sheriff. JEALOUS? TOWN WITHOUT HIM. YOU FOLLOW, DUES.
DRAW YOUR OWN LOOK AT THE SHOW YOU PUT ON. FOLKS, YOUR SOULS ARE YOURS
CONCLUSION. SAM SAM SAM THE THINGS YOU’RE DOIN’ ARE TO LOSE.
Oh. That was fast. HEY I’M NOT JEALOUS, I’M Jonas. HARD TO SWALLOW— AND SOON YOUR GONNA
JAKE ANGRY! HAVE TO CHOOSE—
MAYBE IT’S A SIGN FROM YOU- JONAS SINCE WHEN DO YOU LET A SO CHOOSE!
KNOW-WHO. What? PIECE OF STRANGE RUN OUR KEEP PRANCIN’...
SHOW? OR STEP IT ON BACK TO THE
JONAS SAM LORD.
Maybe. GEE, I SUPPOSED I SHOULD HAVE JONAS
GUESSED. (groans) ORNELLA
JONAS/JAKE Sam. Don’t pay my brother no mind.
ONCE THE DOOR’S AJAR, JONAS
LOOK—AND THERE THEY ARE... Sam— JUST LET IT GO- ISAIAH
I’m only telling them what they
JAKE SAM SAM know is true. I mean look at you,
MIRACLES... NO, I’LL ADMIT IT, I’M IMPRESSED. NO! Ornella—
HEY, DIDJA GET TO USE HER
JONAS HANDCUFFS? SAM/JONAS ORNELLA
EVERYWHERE... COME ON, TELL ME. I CAN READ YOU- Me?
LIKE AN OPEN BOOK!
JAKE/JONAS Well? It’s not like you, not to collect THERE AIN’T NO WAY TO HIDE A ISAIAH
LIKE MAGIC... on a bet. SINGLE LINE! Just what would Daddy say?
YOU KNOW IT
ORNELLA IDA MAE IF YOU’RE SITTIN’ IN YOUR SEAT. ALL ANGELS AND STOLE! I AIN’T JUDGIN’ YA, BRO—
Who cares? And you think I’ve lost That is enough, Isaiah. Now, these GIVE YOURSELF OVER! I’VE LUSTED AND LIED, I’M JUST SAYIN’, I KNOW HOW
my way? people have been good to me. ISAIAH/ANGELS ORNELLA GIVE YOURSELF OVER! AND LET EVIL INSIDE OF MY SOUL IT FEELS!
(to Isaiah) And I need you to show them some KEEP YOUR TOES A-TAPPIN’, GIVE YOURSELF, OH YEAH!
respect. Can you do that for me? YOU NEED A NEW STEP GIVE YOURSELF OVER! I HAVE HURT AND BETRAYED ‘CAUSE IF YOU THINK YOU’VE
JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE LINE ANGELS AND MISTREATED, STRAYED,
YOU’RE PREACHIN, ISAIAH KEEP DANCIN’! ANGELS I’VE SUCKERED AND SWINDLED YOU’RE ONLY A BEGINNER!
LOOK HOW YOU’RE PUTTIN’ I can show them respect, Mama. GET BURIED IN THE BEAT, OH DANCIN’! AND SCAMMED! IF YOU THINK YOU’RE CURSED,
ON AIRS! (to choir) WHY CAN’TCHA TRY KEEP DANCIN’! I’VE DONE SO MUCH DECEIVIN’ YOU STILL AIN’T TRULY BEEN!
WELL, I DON’T KNOW WHO But what about the people who are ONCE YOU THROW YOUR CAP IN, I’VE SCANDALIZED EVEN THE AND IF YOU THINK YOU’RE
YOU THINK YOU’RE REACHIN’, coming tonight? Who’s respecting A NEW STEP? JONAS/ORNELLA/ISAIAH ANGELS DAMNED, DOOMED,
LET’S FACE IT — NOBODY CARES. them? ANGELS C’MON, C’MON, C’MON NOW, YES INDEED! JUST LOOK AT ME, YOU SINNER!
YOU THINK YOU’RE REALLY KEEP DANCIN’! DANCIN’, AND LIKE IT OR NOT, I AM THE KING OF SIN!
WALKIN’ WITH JESUS, BRO, YOU NEED A NEW STEP— JUST RINSE AND THEN REPEAT! REACH INTO YOUR POCKETS, I’M EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED.
SASHAYIN’ DOWN A CARPET OF PEOPLE, NOW I AIN’T UP HERE BRAGGIN’,
PRAYER? ORNELLA ORNELLA/ANGELS ISAIAH/ANGELS KEEP DANCIN’, I HAVE RUN DOWN THE MY LIFE IS A DISGRACE.
WELL— (to Angels) KEEP YOUR HANDS C’MON, C’MON, C’MON NOW, HIGHWAY TO RUIN, BUT LYIN’ IN MY BED ONE NIGHT,
WHATEVER’S UP YOUR BUTT, KEEP DANCIN’... C’MON,C’MON,C’MON NOW, DEEP INTO YOUR POCKETS— FALLEN FARTHER THAN LUCIFER I SAW THE GOOD LORD’S FACE.
IT SURE MAKES YOU STRUT, ANGELS KEEP DANCIN’ NOW— FELL! I CRINGED BENEATH THE COVERS,
BUT BROTHER, IT AIN’T JESUS ISAIAH KEEP DANCIN’! I’VE SPENT MY LIFE WAITIN’ SURE THE LORD WOULD STRIKE
WHO PUT IT THERE— YOU OUGHTA TRY A NEW STEP... A-CLAPPIN’, ANGELS TO PARTY WITH SATAN IN HELL, ME DEAD.
GET UP ON YOUR FEET, NOW, GIVE YOURSELF OVER! YES SIR! LET ME TELL YOU WHAT OUR
YOU’RE DANCIN’! ORNELLA/ANGELS YOU GOTTA DO IT, PEOPLE! GIVE YOURSELF OVER! AND WHATEVER MISDEEDS YOU SAVIOUR SAID:
DANCIN’ IN THE DEVIL’S SHOES KEEP DANCIN’… ANGELS GIVE YOURSELF BEEN DOIN’ HE SAID, JACK NEWTON,
TRIPPIN’ ON AN EGO CRUISE, KEEP DANCIN’! GIVE YOURSELF OVER! WHATEVER YOUR CONSCIENCE I WIPE AWAY YOUR SHAME!
MINDIN’ PEOPLE’S P’S AND Q’S— ISAIAH NOTHIN’S GONNA HAPPEN CONCEALS, I PARDON ALL YOUR SINS!
BETTER LOOK AT YOURSELF! WHY DON’TCHA TRY A NEW IF YOU’RE SITTIN’
YOU’RE DANCIN’, STEP? IN YOUR SEAT. 12. KING OF SIN
AND DANCERS GOTTA PAY ANGELS
THEIR DUES, ORNELLA/ANGELS KEEP DANCIN’! JONAS
GOD WON’T TAKE NO IOU’S. KEEP DANCIN’… KEEP YOUR TOES Brothers and Sisters, your sheriff
SOON YOU’RE GONNA HAVE C’MON,C’MON,C’MON NOW! is right when she warns you to
TO CHOOSE, ISAIAH A-TAPPIN’, beware. In fact—
SO CHOOSE— YOU GOT TO TRY A NEW STEP! GET BURIED
KEEP PRANCIN’, DON’TCHA TRY TO, SAM (THRU BLUETOOTH)
OR STEP IT ON BACK TO THE LORD. ORNELLA/ANGELS ANGELS Where you going now Jonas?
KEEP DANCIN’…! KEEP DANCIN’!
ISAIAH IN THE BEAT. JONAS
(to choir) ISAIAH ANGELS FIGHT IT, PEOPLE, —my past is far more disturbing
In your hearts, you know you’ve KEEP YOUR HANDS A-CLAPPIN’, ONCE YOU THROW than you can imagine.
lost your way. Just think about what KEEP DANCIN’! YOUR CAP IN,
I’m saying when you’re workin’ that GET UP ON YOUR FEET. C’MON, C’MON, C’MON NOW! I HAVE ROBBED, I HAVE
revival tonight? NOTHIN’S GONNA HAPPEN CONNED, I HAVE CHEATED!
KEEP DANCIN’! I HAVE DUPED, AND DEFRAUDED,
Dennis Stowe, Dierdre Friel, Raúl Esparza
BUT IN RETURN, I’LL TAKE YOUR
NAME!
GO FORTH FROM HERE, AND BE
REBORN
AS JONAS—MEANING, MY
PROPHET!
AND NIGHTINGALE—HE WHO
SINGS!
TELL ALL YOUR FELLOW SINNERS
THE FORGIVENESS JESUS
BRINGS.
ANGELS AND THE AUDIENCE
(ad-libbed shouts)
Yes! Praise Jesus! Testify, brother!
JONAS
THEN MY LIFE WAS CLEAR AS IT
COULD BE.
I UNDERSTOOD WHY GOD HAD
CALLED ON ME...
SAM
Get those baskets back out there!
JONAS
I’M THE LOWEST OF ALL OF THE
LOWLY!
THE BADDEST OF ALL OF THE BAD!
MY CRIMINAL RECORD
IS SO FRIGGIN’ CHECKERED,
IT’S PLAID!
OH, YEAH!
BUT IF I TURN FROM HELLBOUND
TO HOLY,
TURN FROM THE WRONG TO
THE RIGHT,
WELL, WHO BETTER, I SAY,
TO SHOW OTHERS THE WAY
TO THE LIGHT?
SO IF YOU’VE LOST AT LIFE,
I’LL HELP MAKE YOU A WINNER!
IF YOU’RE DOWN AND OUT,
I’LL POINT YOU UP AND IN! (flinging money at the crowd) LONG PAST YEARNIN’, DREAM ONCE MORE...
AND IF YOU NEED SOME PROOF,
ACT TWO LONG PAST LEARNIN’ THINGS SHOW ME SOMETHING THAT’S
JUST LOOK AT ME, YOU SINNER!
I AM THE KING!
SO TAKE IT BACK!
TAKE IT BACK!
13. LONG PAST CAN’T BE JUST RIGHT.
‘CAUSE ALL THAT WISHIN’
WORTH DREAMING FOR.
I AM THE KING! TAKE EVERY PENNY OF YOUR DREAMING COMES TO NOTHIN’
I AM THE KING OF SIN! DOUBT MONEY BACK! WHEN YOU WAKEN TO THE 14. ARE YOU
MARLA DAWN’S COLD LIGHT.
MARLA MARLA WHEN I WAS JUST A KID,
ON THE BUS?
(trying to regain control) Jonas Nightingale, you’re under MORE THAN A BIT NAIVE, LOWERED MY HOPES A NOTCH—
ORNELLA
He puts on a good show, I won’t arrest. I KNEW DREAMS COULD COME WASN’T TOO HARD TO DO.
Where would any of you be
argue that, but before you give Anything you say can and will be TRUE, LIFE, LOVE, BIG DREAMS AND
without Jonas, huh? On the streets?
him your hard earned money, ask used against you. ‘SPECIALLY, IF YOU BELIEVE. SMALL—
In rehab? And you knew the deal
yourself where it goes. Look at the WISHED ON A MILLION STARS, SOMEHOW, THEY ALL FELL
when you signed on. So make up
clothes he wears, the Mercedes bus ISAIAH ANGELS PRAYED ‘TIL MY KNEES WERE RED, THROUGH.
your mind—
he drives. Look at the legal bills he WAKE UP! STOP AND I’D ACHE WISHED UPON ONE LAST STAR,
incurs. Ask yourself, if he’s truly a DANCIN’ DANCIN’! LYING AWAKE IN MY BED. SHIMMERING WAY UP HIGH.
ARE YOU ON THE BUS, OR OFF
man of God, why he needs your DANCIN’ IN THE DEVIL’S SHOES! BUT THAT, TOO,
OOO!... KEEP THE BUS?
money at all. BUT NOW I’M LONG PAST WAS JUST A BEAUTIFUL LIE.
FOLKS, YOUR SOUL ARE BABY, WHAT’S IT GONNA BE?
DREAMIN’,
JONAS YOURS TO LOSE! AND NOW I’M LONG PAST
DANCIN’ OH! WHOA! Sam and Jonas appear in another
Now you judge me falsely, Sister DREAMIN’,
IT’S TIME TO USE YOUR part of the stage.
Marla. That money is not for me. LONG PAST TRYIN’,
Or my choir. They haven’t seen HEADS AND CHOOSE! LONG PAST SIGHIN’ WHEN THE
SAM
a dime in months, isn’t that right, DANCIN’ OOO!... STARS SHINE BRIGHT.
Third night, Jonas.
Angels. YES, CHOOSE! ‘CAUSE HOPES GET STOLEN,
STOP PRANCIN’, HEARTS GET BROKEN,
JONAS
ANGELS PLEASE...! DREAMS GET TAKEN FROM YOU
Zak says everyone within fifty miles
Lord yes. OVERNIGHT.
is coming.
JONAS
JONAS I promise you, tomorrow night, AND YOU, WITH ALL THE PRETTY
SAM
This isn’t about making money. Oh, if this tent is filled, you will see a THINGS YOU LIKE TO SAY,
So we’re going to pull out all the
no, there’s far easier ways to do miracle! WE BOTH KNOW, COME
stops, that includes the boy, right?
that! This is about saving souls, this MORNING,
is about eternal life, about which ANGELS/TOWNIES/JAKE THEY’RE JUST GONNA MELT
JONAS
side of the ledger you will be on YOUR FAITH WILL SET YOU FREE! AWAY…
Sam—
when Judgment Day comes.
ANGELS Y’SEE, I’M LONG PAST DREAMIN’,
SAM
IF YOU THINK THAT I CAN’T LEAD DANCIN’! LONG PAST HURTIN’,
Hey, whatever it takes.
YOU FROM DAMNATION, WE’RE DANCIN’ IN LONG PAST CERTAIN THAT I
IF YOU THINK THAT I’M A FRAUD THE DEVIL’S SHOES! KNOW THE SCORE.
ORNELLA
WHO DON’T KNOW JACK, SO ALL I’M ASKIN’
END ACT ONE ARE YOU ONE OF THEM, OR
THIS MONEY HERE WON’T BUY IS A REASON,
ONE OF US?
YOU YOUR SALVATON... ONE GOOD REASON I SHOULD
TIME TO CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY
Ida Mae and Isaiah now appear in
a third part of the stage.
IDA MAE
I never thought I’d say this, but why
can’t you be more like your sister?
Go out. Drink. Sleep around a little.
ISAIAH
What you’re doing is wrong, Mama.
IDA MAE
I’m just taking care of my family.
Both of my families.
ORNELLA
CAN’T RIDE ‘TIL YOU DECIDE—
NO ONE CLIMBS ABOARD FOR
FREE.
SO IF YOU’RE ON THE BUS,
GET ON THE BUS.
BUT IF YOU AIN’T COMIN’,
BABY, DON’T WAIT UP FOR ME.
JONAS
We don’t need to play the kid, he’s
just a roper. have a full house—
SAM
See, this, right here? This is what
happens when you let Little Jonas
do the thinking for you.
JONAS
It’s not about — Jake’s been
through enough. His dad died
when he was ten, he’s —
SAM
Oh. I get it.
JONAS
What?
SAM
How old were you when our son-of-
a-bitch father died?
JONAS
Don’t dime-store shrink me.
SAM
Fine. They’re civilians, Jonas. Either
rip ‘em off, or get a new career.
You can’t have it both ways.
LIFE IS A HIGHWAY,
AND TRAFFIC MOVES FAST.
SOME PEOPLE RIDE IT,
SOME WATCH IT ROLL PAST.
THOSE ON THE ROADSIDE,
THEY SWIFTLY FADE OUT OF
VIEW—
WHICH I THOUGHT YOU KNEW!
ARE YOU ON THE BUS, OR OFF
THE BUS?
TIME TO SET THE RECORD
STRAIGHT.
ARE YOU ONE OF THEM,
OR ONE OF US?
HOW YA PLAN TO MEET YOUR
FATE?
YOU KNOW THERE’S MILES TO
GO—
WE’RE ALREADY RUNNIN’ LATE.
SO IF YOU’RE ON THE BUS,
GET ON THE BUS,
AND IF YOU AIN’T COMIN’—
BROTHER, I AIN’T GONNA WAIT!
Lights back up on Ida Mae and
Isaiah.
ISAIAH
You know, I just thank God
Daddy’s not here to—
IDA MAE
Oh no no no. Don’t talk to me
about your daddy. Your daddy was
a cold man, and he never touched
a single soul. And I had to clean
houses for twenty years to support
his empty church. Is that the kind of
man you wanna be?
LIFE IS A THRUWAY
TO GOD’S OWN ADDRESS.
SOME TAKE IT LOCAL,
AND SOME GO EXPRESS.
THOSE IN THE SLOW LANE,
JUST WATCH THE OTHERS PASS
THROUGH—
BABY—HOW ‘BOUT YOU?
ARE YOU ON THE BUS, OR OFF
THE BUS?
TELL ME, DO YOU EVEN KNOW?
ARE YOU ONE OF THEM, OR
ONE OF US?
IT’S TIME TO LET YOUR COLORS
SHOW.
THIS ROUTE LOOKS STRANGE,
NO DOUBT—
GETS YA WHERE YOU’RE
HEADIN’ THOUGH.
SO IF YOU’RE ON THE BUS,
GET ON THE BUS—
AND IF YOU AIN’T COMIN’,
BABY I’M STILL GONNA GO!
Lights up in all three locations.
ORNELLA/SAM/IDA MAE
NOW THE ENGINE IS IDLIN’,
AND THE MOTOR IS HOT.
THIS BUS IS ROLLIN’, BABY,
WITH YOU OR NOT. JONAS ISAIAH
MAKE UP YOUR MIND, I don’t want you talking to my Angels. MY DADDY, HE STRODE DOWN
I’M PULLIN’ OUTTA THE LOT. HEAVEN’S ROAD.
SOON I’LL BE GONE— ISAIAH ME, I PLAN ON WALKIN’ TOO.
IF YOU’RE ON, THEN GET ON! Why? Because they’ve been SO IF YOU’RE ON THE BUS,
ARE YOU ON THE BUS, OR OFF listening? GET ON YOUR BUS...
THE BUS? MISTER, WE AIN’T COMIN’—
TELL ME, HOW’S IT GONNA PLAY? JONAS WE’VE GOT BETTER THINGS
ARE YOU ONE OF THEM OR It’s gotta stop, Isaiah. This is my TO DO.
ONE OF US? tent. So make up your mind.
IT’S GETTING CLOSE TO JONAS
JUDGEMENT DAY. ARE YOU ON THE BUS OR OFF You think you’ve got what it takes
ROAD’S CLEAR, YOUR SEAT’S THE BUS? to shut me down?
RIGHT HERE,
BUT THERE’S STILL A FARE TO PAY. ISAIAH ISAIAH
SO IF YOU’RE ON THE BUS, GET I COULD ASK THE SAME OF YOU. Souls are at stake, Nightingale. I’m
ON THE BUS. gonna do what I have to.
AND IF YOU AIN’T COMIN’, JONAS
BABY, I’LL BE BUMMIN’, ARE YOU ONE OF THEM? ANGELS
AND IF YOU AIN’T COMIN’, ARE YOU ON OR OFF THE BUS?
BABY, BABY, BABY, DON’T GET ISAIAH
IN MY WAY. ARE YOU ONE OF US? JONAS
Then you better give it your best
Isaiah and Jonas to face off. JONAS shot. ‘Cause if you fail, you’re on
KID, YOU BETTER THINK THIS the street. And your sister and your
THROUGH... Mama with you.
ANGELS
OOH...ARE YOU ON OR OFF
THE BUS?
15. PEOPLE
LIKE US
SAM
DADDY SETTLED DOWN
NEAR SOME HILLBILLY TOWN,
GOD-KNOWS-WHERE,
TENNESSEE.
BUILT HIMSELF A CHURCH
OUT OF CLAPBOARD AND BIRCH
Kendra Kassebaum, Raúl Esparza, Jessica Phillips
AND MY BROTHER AND ME. MARLA LIFE HAS NEVER BLINDSIDED US— MARLA LAST CHANCE... JONAS
EV’RY SINGLE DAY, WE WOULD I’m sorry. But it’s no excuse. PEOPLE LIKE ME... LAST CHANCE, THERE’S A TRAIN A-COMIN’
KNEEL IN THE DIRT FOR HIM, MARLA LAST CHANCE, SALVATION! TO THE STATION!
EV’RY SINGLE DAY, OR HE’D HIT SAM CAN’T LET DOWN OUR GUARD... SAM/MARLA OHHH...AHHHH... AND IT’S YOUR LAST CHANCE—
‘TIL WE HURT FOR HIM. I know...but I see you when you AND YOU.
RIGHT UNTIL THE DAY THE GOOD think your boy is threatened. SAM SAM ANGELS
LORD GAVE HIM CANCER, ALL THE LONELY YEARS, All right, big brother. Let’s make LAST CHANCE!
AMEN. MARLA AND STILL NOTHING’S DIVIDED it rain. SALVATION! (YEAH, YEAH!)
I WAS FIVE, JONAS TEN. That’s totally different. US YET! 16. LAST CHANCE
DADDY DIDN’T NEED SAM MARLA
SALVATION JONAS
Hello Sinners! Are you ready for
JONAS
BUT THE TRAIN WON’T WAIT
NO DAMN PILLS, HE DECREED, Is it? NOT YET... ANGELS a miracle? FOREVER, FOLKS!
IF OUR FAITH WOULD BE BUT WE NEVER FORGET... LAST CHANCE... IF YOU’RE COMIN’, GET ON
STRONG. MARLA LAST CHANCE... ANGELS BOARD!
AND SO EV’RY DAY, WITH HIS DADDY GONE, SAM LAST CHANCE... LAST CHANCE! (LAST CHANCE!)
SPITTING BLOOD, HE WOULD WE JUST KEEP KEEPING ON, NO, WE NEVER FORGET! SALVATION! (YEAH, YEAH!)
SAY HOLDING FAST, CLINGING TIGHT.
WE WERE DOING IT WRONG. SAM/MARLA
EVERY DAY WE PRAYED, BUT SAM PEOPLE LIKE US ARE DIFFERENT!
OUR PRAYERS WEREN’T STRONG ALL WE HAVE IS EACH OTHER, PEOPLE LIKE US SURVIVE.
ENOUGH. THAT’S ALL... WE’VE ALWAYS KNOWN
EVERY DAY WE SANG, BUT TOO WE’RE IN THIS ALONE,
SOFT OR NOT LONG ENOUGH, MARLA AND THAT’S WHY WE’RE STILL
‘TIL THE DAY HE CRAWLED TO PEOPLE COME AND GO— ALIVE.
THE GRAVE THAT WE DUG HIM, PEOPLE LIKE US ARE CERTAIN
AND DIED. SAM ONLY ONE THING IS TRUE:
THAT’S THE FIRST TIME I CRIED. YOU CAN’T TRUST IN ‘EM, PEOPLE LIKE US
BUT MY BROTHER, HE SAID THOUGH, DO WHATEVER WE MUST
AS HE SAT ON THE BED BY MY AND THEY FADE OUT OF SIGHT. TO COME THROUGH—
SIDE,
MARLA MARLA
“PEOPLE LIKE US ARE LUCKY CAN’T LET ANYONE INSIDE THE AND THAT’S WHAT WE DO.
PEOPLE LIKE US ARE TOUGH. WALL...
LIKE IT OR NOT, SAM
WE’RE ALL THAT WE’VE GOT— SAM AND THAT’S WHAT WE DO...
BUT THAT’S GOTTA BE ENOUGH. AND THROUGH ALL THE YEARS, PEOPLE LIKE US.
PEOPLE LIKE US DOUBT HAS NEVER MISGUIDED
HAVE NO ONE— US— MARLA
NO ONE BUT US, PEOPLE LIKE US...
THAT’S WHO. MARLA
PEOPLE LIKE US THIS WORLD IS TOO HARD... SAM
HAVE TO STICK TO EACH OTHER PEOPLE LIKE ME.
LIKE GLUE.” SAM
AND THAT’S WHAT WE DO. AND THROUGH ALL THE YEARS,
ANGELS JONAS/ANGELS WHY REMAIN IN PURGATORY? AUDIENCE MEMBER NOW IT’S YOUR LAST CHANCE! FREE.
TIME TO BUY YOUR ONE-WAY YOU’RE LOOKING AT YOUR LAST SEATS ARE GOIN’ QUICKLY, Yes! YES, YOUR FAITH WILL SET YOU
TICKET CHANCE— FOR A PRICE! ANGELS FREE!
TO THE LORD! JONAS LAST CHANCE! YOU GOT TO GIVE IT A
ANGELS JONAS FOUR? SALVATION! (YEAH, YEAH!) HUNDRED AND TEN PERCENT,
JONAS LAST CHANCE! HOW ‘BOUT FIVE, TO MAKE TWENTY-FOUR SEVEN,
SO YOU THINK GOD HANDS SALAVATION! YOUR FAM’LY THRIVE? AUDIENCE MEMBER JONAS EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR!
OUT MIRACLES LIKE CANDY? LAST CHANCE (LAST CHANCE) WHO’S GOT TEN TO FIND SOME More! DON’T BE LEFT BACK ON THE AND IF YOU GIVE IT AGAIN AND
SALVATION! WORK AGAIN? PLATFORM, FOLKS AGAIN,
ANGELS TWENTY BILLS’LL CURE A WORLD JONAS WHEN IT GOES TO YOUR THEN AND ONLY THEN
NO, NO! JONAS OF ILLS! FIVE HUNDRED? SIX HUNDRED? REWARD! WILL THE GOOD LORD HEAR!
NOW, I KNOW YOU WANNA SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE? TIME TO BUY YOUR ONE-WAY
JONAS SHOW YOUR FAITH IN JESUS! JONAS/ANGELS TICKET! JONAS
LET ME HIT YA WITH A SLICE NO ONE’S FAITH’LL BE IN VAIN! AUDIENCE MEMBER Kid — if this doesn’t work, it’s
OF BREAKING NEWS! ANGELS A GRAND! ANGELS nothing you did wrong, you know
YOU CAN GET AN EASY FIX, JESUS! JONAS BETTER BUY YOUR ONE-WAY that.
OR THE KIND THAT REALLY STICKS— FORTY GETS YA OUTTA ALL YOUR JONAS TICKET!
BUT THE CATCH IS JONAS DEBTS! Oh yeah! Wait! Can you hear it? JAKE
THATCHA GONNA HAVE TO BETTER DO IT NOW, BEFORE THE FIFTY FLAT AND YOU’LL BE LIVIN’ God’s holy thunder! JONAS I know you’re going to heal me,
CHOOSE! MOMENT’S GONE! FAT! WHO WANTS A ONE-WAY Jonas. I know it.
HUNDRED BUCKS, YOU GET THE THE AUDIENCE TICKET TO THE LORD?
SO YOU WANT GOOD LUCK, ANGELS GRAND DELUXE! (ad-libs) ANGELS
GOOD LOVE, WHOA...! HUNDRED BUCKS’LL MAKE IT RAIN! I hear it! Me too! It’s gonna rain! AHHHH...!
GOOD LIVES, 17. IF YOUR IF YOUR FAITH IS STRONG
GOOD WEATHER? JONAS THE AUDIENCE JONAS ENOUGH—
YOU WANT GOD TO FILL YOUR (Ad-Lib) I know how desperately everyone
FAITH IS STRONG
ANGELS (CONT’D) CUP? Yes! Hallelujah! Praise Jesus! in this town wants the rain to come. ENOUGH Jake tries to walk, but collapses.
GOOD WEATHER! DIG DEEP, AND ANTE UP How bad do you want it? Ask for The choir and crowd fall silent.
‘CAUSE I THINK I FEEL A HEALING JONAS it! Ask for it, and you shall receive!
JONAS COMING ON! DO I HEAR TWO? Boyd stands and makes his way JAKE
WELL, YA CAN’T GET ALL THAT BUTCHA GOTTA SHOW THE forward. Get me up, Jonas. Jonas, please.
GOODNESS FREE OF COST! Oh yes, I feel it! I feel the Lord’s AUDIENCE MEMBER LORD ALMIGHTY Pray for me.
power! Over here, Reverend! HOW MUCH YOU BELIEVE! JONAS
ANGELS Who wants it? Who wants it? IF YOUR FAITH IS STRONG IF YOUR FAITH IS STRONG
NO, NO! NO! You? You? You? You? JONAS JONAS/ANGELS ENOUGH... ENOUGH...
RAISE YOUR HAND! THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE!
JONAS ANGELS (LAST CHANCE!) Angels? THE AUDIENCE
AND YOU’LL NEVER SEE THAT CLIMB ON THE FREEDOM TRAIN! AUDIENCE MEMBER SALVATION! (ad-libs)
STUFF HOLD ON TIGHT, WE’RE BOUND Yes sir! ANGELS C’mon, Jake. Walk! You can do it!
IF YOUR FAITH AIN’T STRONG FOR GLORY! JONAS IF YOU KEEP BELIEVING LONG
ENOUGH! CLIMB ON AND EASE YOUR PAIN! JONAS NOW THE TRAIN’S A-LEAVIN’ ENOUGH, Jake takes a single shaky step
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR WE’RE OFF TO PARADISE! DO I HEAR THREE? FROM THE STATION IF YOU SING GOD’S SONG forward, then another and another.
MOUTH IS, CLIMB ON—THE CHOICE IS ENOUGH,
OR GET LOST! PLAIN! JONAS/ANGELS THEN YOUR FAITH WILL SET YOU
JAKE
IF YOU KEEP BELIEVING LONG
ENOUGH...
IF YOU SING GOD’S SONG
ENOUGH...
YOUR FAITH WILL SET YOU
FREE...
YOUR FAITH WILL SET YOU
FREE...
YOUR FAITH WILL SET YOU FREE!
18. JONAS’S
SOLILOQUY
JONAS
HELL, IT’S SOME KIND OF SCAM,
ISN’T IT?
IT WAS ALL JUST TOO PAT,
WASN’T IT?
IT’S THAT KID AND HIS MOTHER,
IN CAHOOTS WITH ONE
ANOTHER...
SURE, IT’S GOTTA BE THAT...
DOESN’T IT?
WHAT’S THE GAME?
WELL, WHO KNOWS?
SHOULDA SEEN IT, I SUPPOSE…
WELL, THEY WORKED ME AND
THEY PLAYED ME—
CAN’T BELIEVE THEY NEARLY
SWAYED ME...
OR IT MIGHT BE A FLUKE,
MIGHTN’T IT?
COULD BE ALL IN HIS HEAD,
COULDN’T IT?
SOMETHING WRONG IN HIS
ATTIC,
PSYCHO—WHAT’S THE
WORD?—SOMATIC,
WOULD EXPLAIN IT INSTEAD,
WOULDN’T IT?
THAT MAKES SENSE—
IT WAS ODD,
ALL THAT CRAP WITH HIM AND
GOD—
AND THOSE MORONS REALLY
THINK THEY GOT A MIRACLE!
SWEAR THEY FELT THE HAND
OF FATE!
ANYONE CAN SEE IT’S NOT A
MIRACLE!
TIME TO SET THOSE SUCKERS
STRAIGHT!
NO ONE HERE BUT ME CAN
MAKE A MIRACLE!
I’M THE GUY WHO PULLS THE
STRINGS!
I SAY WHEN AND WHERE TO
FAKE A MIRACLE—
GET IT, FOLKS? THERE’S NO
SUCH THINGS!
‘CAUSE WE’RE JUST FLESH AND
BONE,
AREN’T WE?
IN THIS WORLD ON OUR OWN,
AREN’T WE?
FINE WITH ME—
I’VE SUCCEEDED,
I AM ALL I EVER NEEDED,
AND WE’RE BETTER OFF ALONE,
AREN’T WE?
AREN’T WE?
AREN’T WE...?
WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED IN
THAT TENT TONIGHT...?
CAN’T BE YOU—
YOU’RE NOT REAL—
ARE YOU?
AND YOU KNOW FAITH CAN’T
HEAL—
DON’T YOU?
BUT IF GOOD DID COME SAM SAM ISAIAH/IDA MAE/ANGELS
THROUGH ME, Great. Let’s talk about it on the bus. But, Jonas... SO TAKE THAT LEAP OF FAITH!
DON’T JUST STAND THERE, WALK OUT ON THE LEDGE!
PROVE IT TO ME— JONAS JONAS LAY ASIDE YOUR DOUBTS!
C’MON, MAKE ME A DEAL, I’m not going on the bus. YOU’VE BEEN RUNNING THINGS STAND RIGHT ON THE EDGE!
WON’T YOU? FOR YEARS, YOU KNOW. BID YOUR FEARS GOODBYE!
WIPE THE SLATE, SAM YOU’RE GONNA COME UP ACES.
MAKE ME NEW, What do you mean, Jonas? AND STEP INTO THE SKY!
POINT THE WAY SAM YOU GOTTA TAKE A LEAP OF
TO SOMETHING TRUE— JONAS WE’VE ALWAYS BEEN FAITH!
DO IT NOW, I think I’m done, Sam. TOGETHER, THOUGH.
‘CAUSE I’LL NEVER ASK AGAIN! ALWAYS, ME AND YOU. JONAS
GIVE ME SOMETHING TO BELIEVE SAM I’M NOT TOO SURE WHAT’S
IN— What are you talking about? JONAS HAPPENING,
ONE DAMN THING AND WE’LL AND WE’LL ALWAYS BE OR IF IT’S REALLY SO.
BE EVEN— JONAS TOGETHER, SAM...
GO AHEAD! It’s time. JUST IN DIFFERENT PLACES. MARLA
HERE I AM! WE’LL PULL THROUGH JUST FINE, I’M NOT TOO SURE OF
SAM
BRING IT ON! KID. ANYTHING,
No. No, it’s not.
PLEASE...! YOU KNOW WE ALWAYS DO. EXCEPT THAT I DON’T KNOW.
Amen. TELL ME, WHAT’LL I DO JONAS
WHEN WE’RE OUT ON THE ROAD 20. LEAP OF I DON’T KNOW WHERE I’M
AND THE MONEY RUNS LOW GOING,
19. RISE UP AND WE DON’T KNOW WHERE
FAITH OR EVEN WHO TO BE,
TO GO
BUT I WANT TO BELIEVE IN
(REPRISE 2) AND YOU WON’T BE THERE AND
IDA MAE
SOMETHING!
SOMETIMES IN YOUR LIFE, YOU
MAKE IT ALL BE FINE?
SAM REACH A WALL.
MARLA
Jonas...you okay? UP YOU CLIMB, RISKING ALL.
JONAS I NEED TO BELIEVE IN
THERE YOU STAND ALONE,
You’re in charge now. You’ll know. SOMETHING...
JONAS AFRAID TO FALL,
Me? Never better. I’ve got great ‘TIL YOU TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH.
SAM JONAS
news. You know how you always
AND WHAT’LL I DO IF I BELIEVE IN YOU,
go on about how we need to be a ISAIAH
IF IT ALL GOES TO HELL COULD YOU BELIEVE IN ME?
first class company? GAZE DOWN FROM THAT BRINK
AND THE CHOIR QUITS
AND LOOK AROUND.
AND THE SHOW FALLS TO BITS MARLA
SAM DARK PREVAILS, DOUBTS
AND I’M LEFT ALL ALONE AT THE I CAN’T EVEN TRY TO
Yeah...? ABOUND.
END OF THE LINE? UNDERSTAND
IF YOU WANT TO LAND ON
WHERE WE’VE BEEN...
JONAS SOLID GROUND,
JONAS WHERE WE’LL LAND.
We made enough last night to get YOU GOTTA TAKE A LEAP OF
Put Isaiah in the pulpit. He’s a true ALL THAT I CAN GIVE YOU IS...
you started. FAITH.
believer. That could be helpful for
a revival.
MY HAND.
CAN YOU TAKE THAT LEAP?
JONAS
I CAN TAKE THAT LEAP...
JONAS AND MARLA
I CAN TAKE THAT LEAP OF FAITH
They kiss. And Jake joins in their
embrace.
ANGELS
TAKE THAT LEAP OF FAITH!
WALK OUT ON THE LEDGE!
LAY ASIDE YOUR DOUBTS!
STAND RIGHT ON THE EDGE!
BID YOUR FEARS GOODBYE
AND STEP INTO THE SKY!
GOTTA TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH!
ANGELS/TOWNSPEOPLE
TAKE THAT LEAP OF FAITH!
IDA MAE
GO AHEAD, GOTTA TAKE THAT
LEAP!
ANGELS/TOWNSPEOPLE
WALK OUT ON THE LEDGE!
CAESAR
NEVER MIND HOW HIGH OR
STEEP!
ANGELS/TOWNSPEOPLE
LAY ASIDE YOUR DOUBTS!
ORNELLA
LEAVE BEHIND THE COMFORT
ZONE!
ANGELS/TOWNSPEOPLE
STAND RIGHT ON THE EDGE!
ROSA
AND HEAD INTO THE WILD
UNKNOWN!
ANGELS/TOWNSPEOPLE
BID YOUR FEARS GOOD BYE!
BROTHER AMON
TELL YOU WHAT BELIEVING
BRINGS—
ANGELS/TOWNSPEOPLE
AND STEP INTO THE SKY!
BROTHER CARL
IT LIFTS YOU LIKE A PAIR OF
WINGS!
ISAIAH/ALL
THERE’S A WORLD TO REAP
IF YOU BREATHE IN DEEP,
AND YOU TAKE A LEAP OF
FAITH!
AHHHHH!
ANGELS TOWNSPEOPLE
TAKE THAT LEAP OF FAITH!
TAKE THAT LEAP OF FAITH!
WALK OUT ON THE LEDGE!
GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD,
LAY ASIDE YOUR DOUBTS!
IT’S THE ONLY CHANCE
YOU’LL GET!
STAND RIGHT ON THE EDGE!
GO AND LIVE, GO AND LIVE,
BID YOUR FEARS GOODBYE
GO AND LIVE WITHOUT A NET!
AND STEP INTO THE SKY!
GO AHEAD,
GOTTA TAKE THAT LEAP,
GOTTA TAKE THAT LEAP
NEVER MIND HOW HIGH
OR STEEP!
GOTTA TAKE THAT LEAP
GOTTA TAKE THAT Produced By: Alan Menken and Michael Kosarin
LEAP OF FAITH!
GOTTA TAKE THAT LEAP OF...
Executive Producer: Rick Kunis
GOTTA TAKE THAT LEAP OF… Recording Engineer: Peter Karam
Engineering Assistants: Bob Mallary, Tim Marchiafava
ALL Mastered by: Mark Wilder at Sony/Battery Studios NYC
FAITH! Orchestrations: Michael Starobin and Joseph Joubert
Music Supervision, Incidental Music and Vocal Arrangements: Michael Kosarin
CURTAIN Music Director: Brent-Alan Huffman
Dance Music Arrangements: Zane Mark
Recording Production Manager: Janet Weber
Electronic Music Programmer: Jeff Marder
Music Preparation: Anixter/Rice Music Service
Music Assistant: Brendan Whiting
Package Design: Jessica Disbrow Talley
Production Photography: Joan Marcus
Session Photography: Bruce Glikas
Recorded on June 13, 2012 at Avatar Studios, NYC
Company Manager: Kathy Lowe
Associate Company Manager: Sammy Ledbetter
Technical Supervisor: Hudson Theatrical Associates / Sam Ellis
Alan Menken, Glenn Slater
Stage Manager: Joseph Sheridan
Assistant Stage Manager: Marisha Ploski
For Sh-k-Boom / Ghostlight Records: Kurt Deutsch, Steve Norman, and Greg Brunswick
Special Thanks: Freddie Gershon, Drew Cohen, Jack Tantleff, Richard Kraft, Taylor Hackford, Rob Ashford, Michael
Ritchie, Neel Keller, Audrey Wells, David Chase, Leah Levenson, Jennifer Bartram, Mark Martin, Emily Cole, Seth
Gelblum, Ricky Jay and Michael Weber
All Songs © 2012 MENKEN MUSIC (BMI) / PUNCHBUGGY MUSIC administered by UNIVERSAL MUSIC CORP. (ASCAP)
& © LOFCA, LLC 2012, under exclusive license to Ghostlight Records.
Live dramatic performance rights for Leap of Faith
are represented exclusively by Music Theatre International (MTI)
421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019. www.mtishows.com
For further information, please call (212) 541-4684
or email: Licensing@mtishows.com
GHOSTLIGHTRECORDS.COM
Jessica Phillips, Raúl Esparza