What we leave behind
Music by Jenny Giering
Book by Sean Barry
Lyrics by Jenny & Sean
What We Leave Behind is a profound and timely musical exploring the impact of chronic illness on a family. When Jenny receives a diagnosis of breast cancer, it seems as though her world has come crashing down around her. Yet nothing can prepare her for the journey she’s about to embark upon. Written and composed by husband-and-wife team Jenny Giering and Sean Barry, & based upon their shared experiences, What We Leave Behind is a compelling one-woman musical addressing some of the most pressing questions of our time with heartwarming humor and heart-wrenching honesty.
“Giering and Barry have crafted an impressive and complex literary work, made complete by raw, emotional songs...[S]omething new, different, and intriguing.”
“[A] musical sure to leave audiences not only moved, but also feeling grateful to be alive at the moment. ”
Development History
What We Leave Behind originated at the Sundance Theater Institute’s Theater Makers Residency in 2016. Over the years that followed, Jenny & Sean worked on the show at multiple residencies, including at the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, the Weston Theater, and TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. In 2019, What We Leave Behind appeared in the inaugural “Solo Flights” Festival at Theater Aspen. Following the 2020 pandemic, Jenny & Sean resumed work on What We Leave Behind in 2022 with a workshop at the Weston Theater, followed by a 2025 workshop at Capital Arts Theatre Guild and a 2025 developmental production at Theatre Raleigh, both in Raleigh, NC.
Demos
theatrical inquiries
For more information about What We Leave Behind, please contact:
Beth Blickers
Michael Moore Agency
315 West 39th St, Suite 607
New York, NY 10018
(347) 305-7996
beth@michaelmooreagency.com