Inspired by true events and based on the film by Ken Loach and Paul Laverty, BREAD AND ROSES is the story of 25-year old Maya, who risks her life making the terrifying cross into Los Angeles from Mexico with the help of her sister Rosa.
For as long as she can remember, Maya’s dreamed about reuniting with Rosa and working with her as a janitor in upscale Building 646 in downtown LA. Once there, Maya learns the truth about the corrupt and abusive manager Perez, who bullies and blackmails the workers, pitting them against each other and exploiting them for his own gain as he cozies up to the powerful building owners who hold everyone’s destiny in their hands.
With the help of the passionate and often reckless Sam from Justice For Janitors, Maya becomes a force for change in the building. Fighting for her fellow workers, Maya pushes her relationship with Rosa to the brink. Alliances are formed, backs are stabbed, and families are torn apart. Ultimately, Maya must give up what she holds dearest, but not before she changes the lives of the janitors of Building 646, and the world, forever.
A finalist in the National Alliance For Musical Theatre's 27th Annual Festival of New Musicals, BREAD AND ROSES was also featured in NAMT's "Other Shows You Should Know" Jukebox.
Under the direction of Melissa Crespo and music direction of Alex Gemignani, the show was selected for the 2016 New York Musical Festival's Developmental Reading series and made Playbill’s top ten shows to see at NYMF.
In 2017 Amas Musical Theatre presented three staged readings of BREAD AND ROSES, also directed by Melissa Crespo, with music direction by Meg Zervoulis and music supervision by Alex Gemignani.
Amas Musical Theatre • Staged Reading
Two-Minute Highlight Reel
Featuring:
Blanca Carmacho, Richard R. Henry, Miguel Jarquin-Moreland, Andrea Jones-Sojola, Michelle Lauto, Cedric Leiba, Jr., Travis Mitchell, Diomargy Nuñez, Nick Rehberger, Desiree Rodriguez, Jennifer Sanchez, Martín Solá, Forest Van Dyke and Jessica Vosk
Directed by Melissa Crespo
Music Direction by Meg Zervoulis
Music Supervision by Alexander Gemignani
Guitar – Eric B. Davis
Listen Please
Performed by Jessica Vosk at Lincoln Center
Cello arrangement by Joy Son
Piano – Aron Accurso
Cello – Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf
Put Me To Work
Performed by Arielle Jacobs at 54 Below
Piano – Benjamin Rauhala
Guitar – Eric B. Davis
Bass – Ivan Bodley
Drums – Grant Braddock
Building 646
Performed by F. Michael Haynie at Lincoln Center
Piano – Aron Accurso
Cajon – Andrew Potenza
A contributing lyricist on Broadway’s IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, Jill is the lyricist of TheaterWorksUSA’s MARTHA SPEAKS which toured nationally (book by Kevin DelAguila, music by Brad Alexander). She is the lyricist and co-bookwriter (with Leah Napolin) of the award-winning THE PACK, formerly known as THE DOGS OF PRIPYAT, with composer Aron Accurso, (Weston Playhouse New Musical Award, Jerry Bock Award, NAMT and Goodspeed’s Festival of New Artists).
With Brad Alexander and book-writer Erik Forrest Jackson, she is developing MISTY MAKES IT BETTER. Jill is a member of the BMI Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop, a past Dramatist Guild Fellow and a Harrington Award winner in the BMI Workshop. She, Brad and Erik developed MISTY in part in the Musical Theatre Factory writer’s workshop as well as Goodspeed’s Mercer Grove.
Some past commissions include original songs for the Blumey Awards (“The Blumey’s”) with composer David Dabbon and “Kind of Crazy” for the finale of the popular web series SUBMISSIONS ONLY, with composer Brad Alexander. She and Brad also penned “Gene Rosen” honoring one man’s act of quiet heroism in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook tragedy. 100% of proceeds go to Everytown for Gun Safety.
In addition to writing, Jill is a theatre and television actor whose credits include six Broadway shows including BEETLEJUICE and ALL IN: COMEDY ABOUT LOVE, as well as recurring roles on CHICAGO MED, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL and others. jillaonline.com
Brad is an award-winning BMI composer for theater and TV. He wrote the music for DOG MAN: THE MUSICAL and CAT KID COMIC CLUB: THE MUSICAL (book and lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila), based on the best-selling books by Dav Pilkey. Both New York Times Critic’s Picks, the shows premiered Off-Broadway and continue to tour North America and Australia. DOG MAN makes its UK premiere at the Southbank Centre in London this Summer 2026.
Brad teamed with Kevin Del Aguila (lyrics) and Billy Aronson (book) for CLICK, CLACK, MOO (Drama Desk and Lortel nominations) and collaborated with Kevin on WE THE PEOPLE: AMERICA ROCKS! (Lortel nomination). He wrote the music for SEE ROCK CITY & OTHER DESTINATIONS (book and lyrics by Adam Mathias), recipient of The Richard Rodgers Award, The BMI Foundation Jerry Bock Award, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical, and six Drama Desk Award nominations including Outstanding Music.
Brad’s screen credits include Lead Composer for CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG (Amazon/PBS Kids), PBS’s Emmy-winning PEG + CAT, WONDER PETS IN THE CITY (AppleTV+), VH1’s “Celebreality” campaign, Showtime’s THE L WORD, and web series SUBMISSIONS ONLY. Upcoming projects include a sequel to DOG MAN: THE MUSICAL with Kevin Del Aguila. Brad is a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, SAG-AFTRA, The Dramatists Guild, and The National Alliance for Musical Theatre. bradalexander.com
Mark Sendroff
(212) 840-6400
Jill Abramovitz
Brad Alexander