A great deal of American history has attempted to take the breaths away from African Americans through rape, lynching, Jim Crow laws, KKK terror, injustice, and police brutality.

BREATHE: The Musical is the story of the Jones family, a post-slavery family of sharecroppers in the early to mid 1900’s as they seek refuge from America’s violent racial climate. Supremacy has begot rape, false allegations, lynch threats, and eventually death to the family. With the help of five timeless Midwives, the ghosts of historic lynching victims, and a vibrant close-knit community, they navigate through the everyday trials of the era to reformation and anti-lynch laws.

The production executes this message through original dialogue, choreo-poems, negro spirituals, and many genres of dance and music.

About  Cleavon Meabon IV:

Hailing from Wynne, Arkansas, Cleavon Meabon, IV is an artist with an extensive professional background in theatre, television, film, and recently radio.

He attended Howard University in Washington, DC for Musical Theatre and Economics. Post-college Cleavon was coined  as “Atlanta’s Youngest Writer & Director.” Soon after his recognition in theatre, he delved into film directing and producing independent films, short films, series, PSA’s, and local ad campaigns for companies such as McDonald’s, The Salvation Army, Geico, and various other businesses. As he grew and developed in the film industry, he was given the opportunity to jump into casting and managing. He has worked as an extras casting director/local casting director/casting assistant for Paramount’s Selma, Barbershop 3, All Eyez on Me, Greenleaf, and Being Mary Jane.

Cleavon has been an entrepreneur since the age of 19 when he opened his first studio and continues to make significant strides in his career. In 2016, he founded Bring It Black, Inc., an organization dedicated to the past, present, and future of black theatre.

Cleavon has been featured on multiple television outlets, popular radio stations, and notable blogs like Broadway World, Back Stage, and DC Metro Theatre Arts for his projects.

He has returned to Washington, DC to continue his pursuits as a visionary.

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