The Heart

Book and Additional Lyrics by Kait Kerrigan | Music and Lyrics by Anne Eisendrath & Ian Eisendrath
Originally produced at La Jolla Playhouse
August 19, 2025 - October 10, 2025

Synopsis: 

When a young surfer’s life is cut short, it means a second chance for a stranger. Over the course of 24 suspenseful hours in San Diego, we follow one precious heart on its vital, life-saving journey, and meet the people whose lives are impacted along the way.

Artistic Statement: La Jolla Playhouse has a rich history of creating new American plays and musicals and pushing the boundaries of theatre, and we are grateful for the Edgerton Foundation's commitment to our work. The Heart tells an indelible story with honesty and compassion as we follow one precious heart on its vital, life-saving journey from donor to recipient. This new musical asks us to reconsider the ways in which we can be of service to each other, even those we may never meet. Especially in this current climate, stories that delve into processing grief and not taking for granted the previous nature of life are all the more crucial for audiences to experience. - Christopher Ashley, the Rich Family Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse

 
Grant Statement: The productions in La Jolla Playhouse’s 2025/26 Subscription Season engage with complex issues and thought-provoking themes, and feature both new voices and veterans of the stage. An additional week of rehearsals for The Heart, supported by the Edgerton Foundation, ensures not only that the creative team and cast can further refine the text, but that the designers will be able to fully realize the creative vision for the show. This grant from the Edgerton Foundation helps the Playhouse continue our tradition of producing groundbreaking, challenging and inspiring new work and adding to the American theatre repertoire. - Debby Buchholz, Managing Director of La Jolla Playhouse

Creative team:

Christopher Ashley - Director
Mandy Moore - Choreographer
Jacole Kitchen - Associate Director
Robert Brill - Scenic Design
Amanda Zieve - Lighting Design
Lucy Mackinnon - Video Design
Sarafina Bush - Costume Design
Gareth Owen - Sound Design
Alberto “Albee” Alvarado - Hair Design
Juan Ariza and Elin Sandberg - Orchestrations and Music Production
Wendy Bobbitt Cavett - Music Director and Conductor

Cast:
Heidi Blickenstaff
Lena Ceja
Lincoln Clauss
Cody Ingram
Bre Jackson
Max Mckenna
Kenita Miller
Paul Alexander Nolan
Zachary Noah Piser
Nevada Riley
Wren Rivera
Brandon Keith Rogers
Jason Tam
Joy Yandell-Hall