Just Breathe – In The Heights Pin

In The Heights

‘In The Heights’ is the vibrant and entertaining musical with the concept, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes. The show was first introduced to the world in 2005, and after this try-out launched Off-Broadway in 2007 with a transfer to Broadway a year later. Productions of ‘In The Heights’ have been produced on the across the globe including a West End run in 2015 and many school shows. In addition to this, a film adaptation of this musical was released in June 2021, which was well-received and garnered the stage version more popularity.

The story centres on a diverse group of characters in the Washington Heights neighbourhood of New York City and the hopes, dreams and aspirations of various people within the community. The show focuses in on Usnavi de la Vega, the owner of a small bodega, who takes on the role of tour guide as he narrates us through the highs and lows of the inhabitants. As the neighbourhood changes, his friends, family and other Washington Heights residents are dealing with the pressures of rising rents and struggling to keep their businesses alive. Usnavi is madly in love with Vanessa, a girl who works at the local beauty salon and longs to leave her life in the heights. In the meantime we also meet his best friend, Benny, a hard-working young man who dreams of starting his own business and another childhood friend of Usnavi named Nina who has just returned home from her first year at an Ivy League school. When the possibility of winning the lottery hangs surprisingly close, the potential to change the future of this close-knit community does too… In The Heights’ magnetic energy makes this story about chasing your dreams and celebrating the place from which you came so dynamic and enjoyable!

Find out more about In The Heights at www.linmanuel.com/in-the-heights.com

Just Breathe

‘Just Breathe’ is a reoccurring quote from the fan-favourite second song in the soundtrack called ‘Breathe’. This song is sung by Nina Rosario, a first-generation college student who has just returned home from her first year at Stanford. Her parents have used their life’s savings to pay for their brilliant and hard-working daughter’s Ivy League tuition. The neighbourhood sees that she has made her way out of “the Heights” and is thriving in this higher education, destined to become successful… however Nina has dropped out and, in this song, prepares to tell her parents. Pre-empting disappointment from not only her parents but also the community who sees her as this symbol of success, Nina panics. In many attempts to calm her mind and stop viewing herself as a failure, washout or let-down, she repeats to herself the phrase “just breathe”.

Inspired by this quote, the sunset-coloured skyline of the city and the iconic George Washington Bridge, this painted black pin is the perfect way to celebrate everything loved about this wonderful musical!