The cast and creative team are set for La Jolla Playhouse's world premiere of the new musical The Heart, which will play the California venue August 19-September 21 in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre.
Directed by Tony winner Christopher Ashley (Come From Away) with choreography by Mandy Moore (La La Land), the cast will feature Heidi Blickenstaff (Something Rotten!) as Claire, Lincoln Clauss as Thomas Driscoll, Bre Jackson as Cordelia Owl, Max McKenna as Juliette, Kenita Miller (for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf) as Marianne Lamar, Paul Alexander Nolan (Water for Elephants) as Dr. Breva, Zachary Noah Piser (Redwood) as Simon Lamar, Wren Rivera as Marthe, and Jason Tam as (A Chorus Line) Sean Lamar, along with understudies Selena “Lena” Ceja, Cody Ingram, Brandon Keith Rogers, and Joy Yandell-Hall.
Based on Réparer les Vivants by Maylis de Kerangal, The Heart has a book and additional lyrics by Kait Kerrigan (The Great Gatsby) and music and lyrics by Anne Eisendrath and Ian Eisendrath.
The new musical begins as a young surfer’s life is cut short, which means a second chance for a stranger. Over the course of 24 hours in San Diego, audiences follow one heart on its life-saving journey and meet the people whose lives are impacted along the way.
The upcoming production will also feature scenic design by Robert Brill, costume design by Sarafina Bush, lighting design by Amanda Zieve, sound design by Gareth Owen, projection design by Lucy Mackinnon, hair design by Alberto “Albee” Alvarado, music supervision and arrangements by Ian Eisendrath, music direction by Wendy Cavett, orchestrations and music production by Juan Ariza and Elin Sandberg, and casting by The TRC Company's Tara Rubin and Hannah Reinert.
Jess Slocum is the stage manager, and Alexa Burn, Karla Garcia, and Amanda Salmons are the assistant stage managers.
“I am so delighted to work with this superb cast and creative team to bring The Heart to the Playhouse stage,” said Ashley in a statement. “Told through a propulsive, EDM-infused score, this deeply moving new musical expertly weaves a mesmerizing tale of both tragedy and hope, with explosive energy and profound poignancy.”
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