I Scream Theater is the surreal two-act one-woman whirlwind by multidisciplinary writer/performer C.M. Soto, an unflinching multimedia musical that fuses performance art, poetry, noir film, circus art, abstract photography, comedy, neo-burlesque, and other dance into a confessional cabaret about familial addiction and raw self-reclamation, by way of creative ambition.

Described by audiences as “brave” and “riveting,” I Scream Theater follows the fractured personal journey of "Daughter"—from addict’s child, to addict, to mother, to survivor—with haunting humor and strange grace. The visually arresting true story moves between the sacred and profane, where sensuality becomes survival and trauma transforms into art.

First produced in New Orleans, I Scream Theater amplifies marginalized voices, exploring additional themes of abandonment, self-harm, single parenthood, domestic abuse, and rugged recovery. It is an adaptation of the author's book of previously published poems, These Are the Rooms to My Mother’s House, a factual accounting of “nightmares, fairy tales, and family.”

🎶Collaborative Sound by UFO Death Cult

  New Orleans–based UFO Death Cult composed the instrumentation for the original songs “Luna,” “Demons,” “Delightning,” and the title track of I Scream Theater. Microtonal instruments, analog machines, and digital devices—developed and manipulated by UFO Death Cult’s Benjamin Strange—create industrial-tinged tracks that drive Soto’s lyrics, infusing the show with dread and transcendence. ufodeathcult.com

🎧 Incidental Music & Multimedia Operation by Mike Goetz

The electro-ambient score woven throughout I Scream Theater was composed by Mike Goetz, enhancing the tension, emotion, and transitions. A New York native and Tulane University graduate in Digital Media Production, Goetz operates as both Stage Tech and Multimedia Operator. He's contributed to music videos and documentaries, and has worked as a sound designer for indie video games and comedic film shorts. He’s also a musician and vocalist in NYC’s Vuzz and New Orleans’ Bronze Comet. https://linktr.ee/mikegoetzproductions. 

🎭 Props & Multimedia

Additional elements are crafted by Soto—from abstract photography and video projections to handmade props like the Ice Scream Man mask, dolls made from trash, record-label roses, oversized paraphernalia, and timeline boxes. These tactile, symbolic objects bring an immersive layer to I Scream Theater, echoing the show’s deeply personal origins.

🔥 Production Highlights

I Scream Theater, in various iterations, has been performed at Scholes Street Studio and The Pink Frog in New York City as part of the Brooklyn Alternative Musical Theater Showcase. It has also appeared at the Marigny Opera House, the New Orleans Fringe Festival, and the Mudlark Public Theatre in New Orleans.

⚠️ Content Advisory

I Scream Theater contains a single use of strobe, vivid nightmare imagery, self-harm, child neglect, sexual assault, domestic abuse, drug use, strong language, and PG-13 nudity. Viewer discretion advised.

📍 Location

The RAT NYC is a lively, low-key artist hub nestled in a ground-floor corner of DUMBO, behind a glowing pink neon rat in the window. This 1,100 sq ft theater and comedy venue features a cozy bar serving craft cocktails and snacks. Founded by Random Access Theatre (RAT), it champions bold, experimental, and often interactive “incubator” performances—a community-driven venue dedicated to amplifying fresh, daring voices. theratnyc.com

🚆  Parking and Transportation

Subway: F at York, A/C at High Street, 2/3 at Clark Street
Ferry: East River Ferry at DUMBO/Fulton Ferry Landing
Vehicle: Some street, but parking garages are within walking distance 
Citibikes: docking stations are plentiful in the area
Parking Discount: Available through the Rat website

 🎪  Overview