A Musical
THE BREATH is a contemporary musical set in a neighborhood where visibility can be dangerous and safety feels temporary.
Alex survives by watching. From rooftops and doorways, he tracks cars, faces, and routines, believing vigilance is the only thing keeping him alive. When a late-night misunderstanding with Evan, a new teacher in the neighborhood, nearly turns violent, Alex is drawn into the local community center—a place he has intentionally kept his distance from.
The center is led by Sofía, a determined community organizer who believes survival depends on showing up for one another. She runs meetings, coordinates support, and insists that isolation is more dangerous than presence. Against his instincts, Alex begins helping out. As he and Sofía work side by side, a guarded connection forms—one shaped by shared fear and opposing survival strategies.
As surveillance increases, tensions rise within the community. Some neighbors believe gathering makes them safer; others believe it makes them targets. When Carlos, a respected community member, refuses to leave and is later taken, fear becomes reality. Attendance drops. Chairs empty. The community fractures.
Alex and Sofía's relationship deepens just as the stakes escalate. Their growing love does not offer escape—it heightens the danger. By the end of Act I, they confront a hard truth: choosing each other means becoming more visible, not less.
In Act II, Carlos's absence looms large. His family searches for answers that never arrive. Grief turns into resolve as a court hearing approaches, forcing the community to decide whether anyone will risk being seen by showing up. No one knows who will attend—or who will stand alone.
In the final moments, the community gathers despite the uncertainty. Alex, who once survived by counting every second, stops measuring his breath. He chooses presence over vigilance, connection over control.
THE BREATH is a grounded, intimate musical about fear, love, and the cost of staying when disappearing would be easier.