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Jawbreaker Musical: Fern Mayo Becomes Trans Icon
2 Sep
Summary
- Fern Mayo's character is explicitly trans in the stage musical.
- Trans fans identified with Fern's outsider-to-glamorous transformation.
- AJ Paramo, a non-binary actor, plays Fern/Vylette in the musical.
The cult classic film "Jawbreaker" from 1999 has been reimagined as a stage musical, featuring a significant character update. Writer Darren Stein has transformed the character of Fern Mayo into an explicitly trans role, bringing subtext to the forefront. This decision stems from feedback from trans fans who identified with Fern's narrative of transformation and self-discovery.
This new iteration of "Jawbreaker The Musical" aims to provide authentic representation. Trans actor AJ Paramo, who is non-binary, has been cast to play both Fern and her glamorous alter ego, Vylette. The production, which also features choreographer Jay Jackson, a "RuPaul's Drag Race" alum, premiered on Friday at the Hudson Backstage Theatre and will run through September 20th.
