The
Heart
THE HEART Joins Roundabout Theatre Company’s 2026–2027 Season
“Heart-felt…Tender and tear-inducing…a story about life, sacrifice, generosity and, ultimately hope.”
“The Heart rides its wave with courage, empathy, and a beat that stays with you long after the curtain falls… Theatrical, funny, and devastatingly moving…”
One day, one heart, one breathtaking ride.
When a young surfer’s life is cut short, it means a second chance for a stranger. Over the course of 24 suspenseful hours, we follow one precious heart on its vital, life-saving journey, and meet the people whose lives are impacted along the way.
With a gripping book by Kait Kerrigan (The Great Gatsby) and a thrilling electronic score by Anne Eisendrath and Ian Eisendrath (Executive Music Producer of KPop Demon Hunters, Music Supervisor of Come From Away), The Heart is choreographed by Mandy Moore (Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, La La Land), and directed by Tony Award-winner Christopher Ashley (Come From Away). Based on the highly lauded novel by Maylis de Kerangal, Réparer les vivants, you can expect a unique, powerful and inspiring theatrical experience.
Media
Watch the making of the heart at lajolla playhouse
Creative
Kait Kerrigan
Book and Additional Lyrics
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Kait Kerrigaan
Boook and additinoal lyrics
is an award-winning book writer, lyricist, and playwright. Broadway: The Great Gatsby (book). West End: The Time Traveller’s Wife(add’l lyrics). Off-Broadway: The Mad Ones, Henry and Mudge. Regional credits include book for Indigo; lyrics for Justice, Ernxst, Earthrise, Rosie Revere Engineer, Friends; book and lyrics for The Bad Years, an immersive house party (sold-out pop-ups in Bushwick and Clinton Hill); as well as the plays Father/Daughter (Edgerton Award), Imaginary Love, Transit and Disaster Relief. Albums: The Great Gatsby, The Mad Ones, Our First Mistake, Kerrigan-Lowdermilk Live. Digital: A Killer Party (screenplay with co-writer Rachel Axler). Her plays and musicals have been developed by the Kennedy Center, Goodspeed, Theatreworks/Silicon Valley, New York Stage and Film, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Primary Stages, Weston Playhouse, and others. Awards: Kleban (libretto-writing), Larson (lyric-writing). Alumna of Dramatists Guild Fellows, Page 73’s I-73 writers’ group, Barnard College, BMI Musical Theatre Writing Workshop. For Nathan, Tess, and Lucy – you’re my heart.
Anne Eisendrath
Music and Lyrics, Arrangements
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Anne Eisendrath
Music and lyrics, arrangements
is an electronic music producer, songwriter and vocalist. A classically trained musician, Anne attended the University of Michigan, where she earned a degree in vocal performance and met her husband, Ian. Upon graduation, she spent a decade as a musical theatre performer and professional vocalist in Seattle. After the birth of her third child, Anne shifted her artistic focus from performing to songwriting and composition. She channels her obsession with electronica, her love of crafting beats, melodies, and vocals, and her deep passion for storytelling and poeticism into the music she creates. In addition to composing for musical theatre, she writes, records, produces, and performs her own brand of theatrical synth-pop as the artist “Anniee,” and is currently at work on her first LP. Creating this show has been the most fulfilling experience of her life and marriage—only surpassed by being mom to Lucy, Oscar and Charlie. Special thanks to them and to our parents, Kirk, Amy, Wendy and Bris who gave of themselves tremendously so we could give ourselves to the music.
Ian Eisendrath
Music and Lyrics, Music Supervisor, Arrangments
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Ian Eisendrath
Music and lyrics, music supervisor, arrangements
is an Olivier Award-winning, Grammy-nominated music supervisor, music producer, arranger and music director for theatre, film and television. Film/TV: Executive Music Producer for KPOP: Demon Hunters (Sony Pictures Animation); Only Murders in the Building Season 3 (Hulu); Wicked (Music Consultant); Disney’s Snow White; Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (Sony); Come From Away (Apple TV+); and Fox TV’s A Christmas Story Live. Selected Theatre: Music Supervisor and Arranger for the Broadway, Toronto, North American, Australian and UK companies of Come From Away, Diana: The Musical (Broadway), A Christmas Story (Broadway and National Tour), and multiple projects at La Jolla Playhouse, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Symphony, ACT and the Banff Centre for the Arts. Ian was the Director of New Work Development and the Music Supervisor at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle from 2003 to 2016. University of Michigan Music graduate. He is beyond delighted to be working with his wife, Anne.
Based on the book Réparer les vivants by Maylis de Kerangal
Mandy Moore
Choreographer
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Mandy Moore
Choreographer
La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. 3x Emmy winner. Film: La La Land, Silver Linings Playbook, Babylon, Snow White, The Life of Chuck. TV: SYTYCD, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Strictly Come Dancing, Dancing with the Stars, Modern Family. Stage: Producer/Choreographer for Taylor Swift’s The Eras World Tour, Dancing with the Stars Tour, Celine Dion’s Taking Chances tour. Vegas: Awakening at The Wynn, Shania Twain’s You’re Still the One. Love to Mom, Dad and Missy.
Christopher Ashley
Director
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Christopher Ashley
Director
has served as La Jolla Playhouse’s Artistic Director since 2007. During his tenure, he directed the world premieres of Come From Away, 3 Summers of Lincoln, The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical, Babbitt, Diana: The Musical, Memphis, Escape to Margaritaville, The Squirrels, A Dram of Drummhicit, Restoration and Chasing the Song, as well as As You Like It, His Girl Friday, Glengarry Glen Ross, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Freaky Friday and Xanadu. He also spearheaded the Playhouse’s Without Walls (WOW) initiative, the DNA New Work Series and the Resident Theatre program. Mr. Ashley recently directed Come From Away for AppleTV+ and Diana: The Musical for Netflix. Other screen credits include the feature films Jeffrey and Lucky Stiff, and the American Playhouse production of Blown Sideways Through Life for PBS. Mr. Ashley’s Broadway credits include Come From Away (Tony and Outer Critics Circle Awards), Diana: The Musical, Escape to Margaritaville, Memphis (Tony Award nomination), Xanadu, Leap of Faith (Drama Desk Award nomination), All Shook Up and The Rocky Horror Show (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award nominations). He also helmed productions of Come From Away in London (Olivier Award nomination), Toronto, Australia and on national tour. Other national tours include Escape to Margaritaville, Memphis, Xanadu, All Shook Up and Seussical: The Musical. Additional New York stage credits include Blown Sideways Through Life, Jeffrey (Lucille Lortel and Obie Awards), The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Valhalla (Lucille Lortel Award nomination), Regrets Only, Wonder of the World, Communicating Doors, Bunny Bunny, The Night Hank Williams Died and Fires in the Mirror (Lucille Lortel Award), among others. Mr. Ashley is the recipient of the Princess Grace Award, the Drama League Director Fellowship and an NEA/TCG Director Fellowship.