“The Heart”: Joaquina Kalukango and Heidi Blickenstaff lead the new Off-Broadway musical — first photos from rehearsals

Roundabout Theatre Company has begun rehearsals for “The Heart”, the new musical that will take to the Off-Broadway stage of the Laura Pels Theatre, at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre, as Playbill announces with the publication of the first photos from rehearsals. The production will run from October 8 to December 6, with the official opening set for October 29.

The work is the musical adaptation of Maylis de Kerangal’s 2014 novel “Réparer les vivants”: the story centers on a young surfer whose life is suddenly cut short, while a stranger receives a second chance. According to Playbill, the beating of a single heart sets two families and a team of doctors in motion over 24 hours that “could not matter more”.

The cast is led by Tony Award winner Joaquina Kalukango (“Paradise Square”, “Slave Play”) in the role of Marianne Lamar, together with Heidi Blickenstaff (“Jagged Little Pill”, “Something Rotten!”) as Claire and Drew Gehling (“& Juliet”, “Almost Famous”) as Dr. Breva. The cast also includes Nick T. Daly, Lincoln Clauss, Jason Tam, Bre Jackson, Max McKenna and Wren Rivera, as well as four understudies.

It is directed by Tony winner Christopher Ashley, the book and additional lyrics are by Kait Kerrigan (“The Great Gatsby”), the music and lyrics are by Anne and Ian Eisendrath, and the choreography is by Mandy Moore, the choreographer of Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour”, according to Playbill. Casting is by Tara Rubin of TRC.