Center Stage's 'Chocolate Soup' Part of NYMF Starting 9/21

Opening on September 21st as part of the the New York Musical Theatre Festival, Center Stage Theater Company's new musical Chocolate Soup is a modern day fairytale with all the right ingredients in place – from clever, comedy-laced dialogue and a delightful musical score by Matt Corriel to the masterfully woven mix of thought provoking messages about life, choices and kids' ability to make a difference in the world.  

Written and produced by Center Stage's Jill Jaysen, Chocolate Soup deals with the familiar challenges of being a tween - or teen for that matter- when feelings about who you are and what you believe in are on shaky ground already. It's a drama that's played out every day in school cafeterias and hallways across the country, and between the lines it also tackles some real-life issues middle schoolers deal with daily, such as cliques, parents that don't get along, and rampant materialism. Jaysen hits home with a masterful storyline that speaks to middle school but will undoubtedly strike a chord with all who see it. 

The plot centers on Mia's ancient family recipe for a Aztec chocolate soup, the popular kids (Excessives) who scheme to alter it just to make it more extreme, the not-as-popular Extras who channel their desire for acceptance into saving the polar bears, and the hero Justin - Mia's self confident new neighbor whose Dad heads up General Electric's new Eco-Imagination campaign and who shakes up everyone's ideas about what really matters.    

 Chocolate Soup is rich in sub-plots and metaphors, providing food for thought for performers and audience alike. When the Extras assemble at the mall to raise awareness about global warming and how it might lead to the polar bears' extinction they sing a heartfelt song, "Making a Difference." The lyrics share messages about not only saving the planet and polar bears, but other serious issues such as world hunger, human rights, AIDS, war and disease. When Justin persuades Mia that protesting at the mall is cooler and better than going to the Excessives blow-out party and the not so new-and-improved Chocolate Soup, the messages come across loud and clear.

As the plot proceeds, Justin and Mia bottle and sell the original Chocolate Soup to raise money for the polar bear cause and audiences get a glimpse into the future lives of the musical's characters, including Mia and Justin who partner in a charitable foundation and convince Ben & Jerry's to create and sell Chocolate Soup ice cream to raise money for the polar bears. As expected in every fairy tale, the story ends in a happily ever after fashion, but the audience and its cast are left with a set of moving and inspiring messages to walk away with. 

 A Chance for Life To Imitate Art

For Jaysen, Chocolate Soup is more than just a production and she has taken her ideas full circle, from the more familiar "art imitates life" to 'life imitates art";  a concept that she strives to instill in her theater group. 

 "Chocolate Soup is rich in real life truths and positive message that young kids can relate to," says Jaysen. "My hope is to have it become a platform for kids to make real changes in their lives and in the world they live in."

Using the musical's story line as inspiration, she encouraged the entire cast to write letters to Ben and Jerry's, requesting they consider creating a real Chocolate Soup flavor. The corporation responded and enthusiastically agreed to a Chocolate Soup Polar Bear Sundae Weekend Fundraiser in Westport during their first show in June, donating a portion of the proceeds to their polar bear fund of choice. They also told Jaysen they will be considering a Chocolate Soup flavor in 2010. 

Jaysen will also be launching a web site, www.ChocolateSouptheMusical.com, to give kids a platform for talking about how they have, or hope to make, a difference with environmental causes. The site will include a blog for kids to participate, eco-friendly stories and news, and an online shop where Jaysen will sell eco-friendly Chocolate Soup tee-shirts, bags and accessories to help raise money for environmental causes. She will also use her performances as an opportunity to raise awareness off the stage, distributing materials and information about the global warming and the plight of the Polar Bear. 

The cast is comprised of 22 children from Fairfield County in grades 6 through 8 who along with having fun and exploring acting are taking in the message that they hold the power to make a difference in this world. The musical has been nominated for the esteemed New England Theater Conference Moss Hart Award (the TONY of New England).  This is the fourth original theater production by Jaysen since the inception of Center Stage Theater Company four years ago. Three of the original musicals have received The New England Theater Conference Moss Hart Award and two productions made it to Theater Row, 42nd St. NYC. Intervention, A Teen Musical Comedy has recently been licensed for publishing, allowing teens across the nation to perform it. 

Sunday, September 21st at 3:00pm and 6:30pm, the Zipper Theatre, 336 W. 37th Street, New York City, part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Tickets are priced at $15. To purchase tickets or for more information please visit www.thezipperfactory.com or call 212-695-4600.

For more information on Chocolate Soup or Center Stage Theater Company please visit www.cstcompany.com

Hailed as "the Sundance of Musical Theatre," The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) exists to revitalize one of America's greatest art forms by discovering, supporting and promoting new musical theater artists, producers, and projects, and by introducing a diverse audience to the vibrancy of contemporary musical theater. Since its inception in 2004, the three-week annual festival has premiered more than 130 new musicals – many of which have gone on to award-winning productions in New York, in regional theaters and on tour in 38 states, and nine countries worldwide.  NYMF 2004 hit Altar Boyz has played well over 1,000 performances off-Broadway and is now in its fourth year at New World Stages; fellow NYMF alum [title of show] recently began performances at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway.
 
Widely regarded as the essential source for new material and talent discovery, NYMF is the flagship program of The National Music Theater Network, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and is presented in association with BroadwayWorld.com, Production Resource Group and TheaterMania.com, and is supported by amNewYork, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, BroadwayBox.com, BroadwayInsider.com, Frank & Camille's Fine Pianos, HX Magazine, Jossip.com, King Displays, Queerty.com, Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, Metromix.com, The New York Blade, Next Magazine, Panasonic Astrovision, Queerty.com, Tekserve, TheMENEvent, VOGA Italia, and The Zipper Factory. NYMF is supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.
 
Festival memberships are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.nymf.org or by calling (212) 352-3101; single tickets go on sale on September 1. For more information, visit www.nymf.org.