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KARDIA
a heart seeking musical
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KARDIA
a heart seeking musical
Set in the “perfect” world of 1968 America, and based on true events in the life of Keith’s family, Kardia tells the story of a young boy’s death, and the struggle of his mother to keep their family, and his heart, alive.
Kardia began development in 2017, had a Zoom reading in 2020, then staged readings in December 2023 and July 2024. Studio recordings of a sampling of the songs were made in May 2026.
In 1968, Keith’s older brother suddenly died at the age of 11; his family decided to donate his heart, resulting in the second attempt anywhere in the world to transplant a heart in a child; the young girl who received his brother’s heart thrived for a week, then rejected it and died. Families were broken; new families were formed.
Today, when so many seem unable (or unwilling) to fully embrace those who hold views different from their own – be they siblings or neighbors – we think it important to remember that we have control over who we call “family”. No matter what barriers others erect, we control how wide we open our own arms.
the creators…
Keith Herron
Keith is the composer and writer of Kardia. His family’s story was the spark that set him on this journey.
Anne Pasquale
Anne is the dramaturg of Kardia. She has honed the story to make it more compelling, more meaningful, and more
immediate.
Chris Ranney
Chris is the arranger of Kardia. He spent seven years as the Associate Conductor and Musical Director of the Tony
Award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated Broadway musical “Come From Away”.
the story…
KARDIA opens in the perfect world of America in 1968. Faith, Simon, and their boys, James, David, and Michael move from home to work to church and to the park. We meet everyone in OUR PERFECT WORLD. James awakens that night with a headache and Faith comforts him (SLEEP MY SON). She and Simon celebrate their love in THE QUILT. Simon departs on a work trip. James convulses – a blood vessel ruptures in his brain – and Faith rushes him to the hospital. But it’s too late. She considers her terrible options (GIVE ME BACK TOMORROW).
To fulfill Faith’s hope of keeping James “a little bit alive”, the family decides to donate James’ heart for a transplant. The Cardiac Surgeon revels (GIVE ME THE KNIFE), then we watch the transplant itself as Faith and company sing WHERE HAVE YOU GONE.
Maria, the heart recipient, and her parents, Alec and Anna, rejoice after the successful operation. Maria is full of energy for the first time in her short life. When they meet Faith, they “know what an angel looks like”. Maria improves all week, playing and singing (MY LITTLE LIFE), until her body rejects her new heart and she dies.
Faith throws herself into her nursing job and befriends Sally, a pregnant Black woman. Simon buries himself in his work and is counseled by his mentor, Mr. Gupta, to take THE MIDDLE WAY.
David stops talking; Faith doesn’t appreciate his teacher’s interference and numbs her pain with distractions (KNIT AND PURL). David disappears; Faith discovers his absence and lashes out at Simon (THE QUILT). She searches for and eventually finds David (ANOTHER TOMORROW).
When they’re reunited, Faith realizes she has been failing herself and her family. She reaches out to Simon (THE QUILT), and the family starts to heal. Everyone begins to find their own paths forward in the reprise of OUR PERFECT WORLD.
Sally has medical complications that lead Faith to care for her baby boy while Sally is in the hospital. When Sally recovers, Faith cannot bring herself to give the boy back (SLEEP MY SON).
Faith and Simon find their way back to each other in the final reprise of THE QUILT. She then joins Louis B. Russell, Jr., the longest living heart transplant recipient, speaking to civic groups – telling listeners not to take their organs to heaven, because HEAVEN KNOWS, we need ‘em here.
At the end of their lecture tour, everyone gathers at Alec and Anna’s Greek diner. They discover how large and varied their FAMILIES have become. The entire company joins in – eating and singing together.
the singers…
ALLY BONINO – Faith; CAMERON AMANDUS – Louis/Ensemble; NICK GASWIRTH – David/Alec/Ensemble; LAYKE JONES – Simon/Ensemble; HANNA KOCZELA – Biddy/Ensemble; FELICIA MARTIS – Sally/Ensemble; CELINA NIGHTENGALE – Anna/Ensemble; JAMILA SABARES-KLEMM – Ruth/Ensemble; DEV – James/Gupta/Ensemble