The funds will allow us to present 26 performances of the original nutrition musical, “Food for Thought 2: The Message Comes Home” at 13 public elementary schools in the San Fernando Valley beginning in February.  

The musical, written by Ian Patrick Williams, with lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum and an original score by Broadway veteran Norman L. Berman, features Anne Rene Brashier, Armando Ortega and Andy Taylor.  Designed to fight the epidemic of childhood obesity, the plot follows the family of MC Vendor, a rapping vending machine, as they learn to eat healthy and stay fit.   Musical numbers include “The No Breakfast Blues,” “Bienvenidos to the Farmers Market,” and “Let’s Go to the Health Club!”

LAUSD schools hosting the performances as part of Northridge Hospital Medical Center’s School-based Obesity and Diabetes Initiative (SODI) include Hart, Noble, Tarzana and Ranchito Elementary.  The program is coordinated for NHMC by Virginia Powell along with Enrichment Works Arts Education Associate Donna Wood-Babcock.