I SCREAM THEATER musical

A modern multimedia musical by C.M. Soto

“BRAVE, RAW, AND RIVETING!”

Unpack the boxes, one by one, to reveal a tumultuous tale of child neglect, addiction, and redemption. Journal entries, shock poetry, and dark humor deliver a chilling narrative. Performance art imagery, puppetry, photo, and video assault the senses, illuminating a daughter’s journey from addict’s child, to addict, to mother, to survivor. Neo-burlesque, mime, contact ball, scarf, and fan dance punctuate this true story by New York multi-disciplinary artist, C.M. Soto. An original score reimagined by New Orleans musician, UFO Death Cult, and Mike Goetz completes the surround-sound experience of I Scream Theater.

THE STORY

Desiring her addicted mother’s attention, 13-year-old Daughter plunges headlong into the 80’s drug scene. She retreats into her imagination. It is here that her drug house takes on a life of its own. Her dolls become syringes, her blankets gauze. Her world is abstract and unsafe. Buckling under the pressure of being a surrogate mother to her siblings and overstimulated by the adult world of drug addiction, she abandons her mother’s house. She moves in with her grandparents. It is there that she begins her re-education. She excels in college, but her mother’s downward spiral leaves her restless. Just when it seems she’s escaped, she finds herself back in her hometown, pregnant, in an abusive relationship, and caring for her pre-teen sister. Taking a chance, she returns to college alone and pregnant. She followed her schooling to New Orleans to study the arts. Motherhood opens the wounds of a wronged child, straining her relationships. In New Orleans, she is forced to face her demons. Daughter finds therapy in artistry. She plays in bands, her poems are published, and her plays are produced. She begins to accept the pressure and expectations associated with being a driven woman and mother without becoming a martyr. With her mother’s advancing illness, Daughter is forced to complete the circle from her own birth to her mother’s death. She must release childhood hurts from her heart to truly embrace her potential. 

THE MUSIC

I Scream Theater is a rocking cacophony of music-box dirges, haunting instrumentals, and original songs by C.M. Soto, reimagined by electro-acoustic artist, UFO Death Cult for the production: “Ice Scream Theater,” “Delightning,” “Demons,” “Bonecho,” and “Luna.”

THE MEDIA

Original images, mini-films, and puppet shows provide a textural ambiance to the play.

The short film, “Rooms” starring Gwynneth Stier was filmed, narrated, and edited by Soto.

THE CREW

C.M. SOTO (Vinylux) is a New York-based writer. She has been performing original electronic-based music since 2002 and is additionally a photographer, videographer, and graphic designer.

UFO DEATH CULT is the electro-acoustic project of New Orleans-based Benjamin Strange. Ben is the co-owner of Strange Guitarworks.

MIKE GOETZ is a New York-based video editor, videographer, photographer, and lead singer for the bands, Bronze Comet and Vuzz

I Scream Theater – theatrical actor/singer, writer, Marigny Opera House in New Orleans, LA (2017) Textbook Fans– Symbolic of the college years tht provided Daughter her earliest wings. These fans hold over 100 individually cut feathers fixed to 78 records

Production History as I Scream Theater

  • The Rat(68-117 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY) October 10, 17, 22, 29, 2025 – 

Production History as Ice Scream Theater

  • Pink Frog (221 N 9th St, Brooklyn, NY) October 20, 2023 – Selected scenes
  • Scholes Street Studio(375 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn) October 22, 2023, 2 showings – Selected scenes
  • Marigny Opera House(725 St Ferdinand St, New Orleans, LA) June 30 & July 1, 2017 – Full production
  • Mudlark Theater(1200 Port St, New Orleans, LA) July 29,30,31, 2016 – Full production
  • New Orleans Fringe Festival (New Orleans, LA) November 20, 22, 23, 24, 2013 – Full production starring Nicole Lovince, directed by John LaTier

Production History of Ice Scream Scoops (Performance Art)

  • City Park Botanical Gardens (New Orleans, LA)  October 8, 2016 – Performance art/music in the birdcage skirt
  • Maple Leaf Poetry Series (New Orleans, LA)  May 29, 2016 – Poetry and music only
  • Tulane University Lavin-Bernick Center (New Orleans, LA)  February 27, 2016 – Poetry and music only

BOOKING CONTACT: C.M. Soto
EMAIL: cmsotostory@gmail.com
WEBSITE: www.iscreamtheater.com
MUSIC:https://soundcloud.com/c-m-soto
FB: www.facebook.com/cmsoto72
HASHTAG: #iscreamtheater