Works by Jaime Cepero:
CITY FREAK
FRANCOIS & THE REBELS
EXTROIDINARY MACHINE
Synopses:
City Freak – A glam rock concert performance piece detailing the life and death of the first openly gay and HIV positive 70s Glam Rock star – JOBRIATH. As told through a series of scenes paired with music from his two posthumously released albums.
Francois & The Rebels – a punk rock ritual movement that details the history of the 1791-1804 Haitian Revolution (the first successful slave rebellion against France resulting in the creation of the first free black republic – the country of Haiti, and consequently the catalyst to the ending of global slavery) using the theatrical device of modern storytelling by way of the lens of punk rock music and grunge esthetic as access, we honor and reclaim the inherent blackness of the rock genre and uplift the black history of Haiti.
Extroidinary Machine – A dark and otherworldly adaption of Alice In Wonderland as told through original scenes paired with the music of alt rock legend Fiona Apple. DARK ROOMSA play/film Inspired in large part by the harrowing details of the *ED BUCK murder trials (2021)*. A cautionary tale dedicated to healing black & brown queer masc trauma, in hopes of transmuting unhealthy habit & drug induced escapism to unconditional love & true self Analysis. Further influence obtained thru personal testimony & interview w/ community members having experience in drug addiction & sex trafficking, w/emphasis on crystal meth as an epidemic that continues to ravage black queer communities globally to this very day.
Bio:
JAIME CEPERO (They/He) is an afrolatino queer non-binary artist and award winning activist, most well known for playing the conniving Ellis Boyd on NBC’s cult favorite musical drama “SMASH” from executive producer Steven Spielberg. Other credits include TV: “Connecting…”(NBC), “Mess” (HereTV/Amazon), FILM: “Daddy”, “Dating My Mother”, “Jess”, “I Am Michael”. THEATER: Porgy & Bess 75th Anniversary(National Tour), Night Of The Living Dead: The Musical! (Off- Broadway & Cast Recording), Excorcistic: The Musical (Off-Broadway), Hair (Claude) Dallas Theater Center, Jesus Christ Superstar: Gospel! (Simon) Alliance Theater, Choir Boy (US Pharrus/David) Geffen Playhouse. Jaime is an alumni of the WIO Playwriting Cohort at National Queer Theater, and the Devised Theater Working Group artist residency at The Public Theater. Their music has been featured in The Musicals Of Tomorrow for Broadway Podcast Network, the Times Square City Songwriting Competition (2x Semi Finalist), as well as the New York Theater Barn Choreography Lab at Baryshnikov Arts Center. As a writer Their punk rock theater ritual “Francois & The Rebels” was a 2022 nominee for the Vivace Award for groundbreaking new musical theater, and their organizing & community engagement work on the 2020 March On Broadway won two Gold Anthem Awards from the International Academy Of Digital Arts & Sciences.
Website: linktr.ee/Papimagic