Frankenstein’s monster, testosterone, and a mattress nobody can figure out how to transport — welcome to the strange, tender, gross-out world of post-modern prometheus.
Written and performed by Cesario Tirado-Ortiz, this pseudo one-man show catches fire at Strange Birds on Thursday, October 8 at 7:00 PM, Friday, October 9 at 6:00 PM, and twice on Saturday, October 10 at 2:30 PM and 7.00 PM. Built out of Frankenstein tropes, way too many movie references, and one very personal reckoning with what manhood means, this is Fringe theater doing exactly what Fringe theater is for.
Below, Cesario opens up about the show’s origins.
In your own words, what is your show about?
post-modern prometheus is a pseudo one man show about hating men, being a man, and becoming a man. Using Frankenstein tropes and way too many movie references, the show deconstructs what makes manhood viable in an age where masculinity can easily become toxic.
What sparked this piece?
I started writing post-modern prometheus when I began taking testosterone. I finished the first draft soon after my health insurance denied my coverage and forced me to stop my transition. In that time frame, I had very well meaning trans men/mascs tell me it was actually fine I was off T; it would make me ugly, hairy, mean, gross, etc. I realized that despite the fact I felt true joy about being a man, so many of my fellow men didn’t want to be — or rather, were so clouded by judgement of their joy of being men that they overcompensated into not transitioning, to stay palatable and “safe” for others.
Thus, Oz was born. My warning to my fellow trans men: the act of being a man isn’t evil. Denying your identity to the point of hurting others? That’s where true evil lies.
What does “Fringe” mean to you as an artist?
Fringe is the place where the weirdest art can flourish. This show is not one I could put up off Broadway to sold out houses of fancy, uppity people — it belongs in the scrappy scenario where plastic becomes an apartment, string lights represent guts, and the crack of a glow stick is a bone snap. It needs to be where the people can most easily access it. That’s the priority, always.
What do you want someone to feel — or think about differently — after seeing your show?
I hope it grosses you out. I hope it makes you laugh one second and gag the next. I want you to groan, to gasp, to giggle, and to wonder if Oz is redeemable. Maybe he isn’t. Maybe he is. Maybe you should look into how many clinics deny gender affirming care. Maybe you should see where your nearest trans-run group is. Maybe! Or maybe you just want to see Rope. I love Rope.
What’s been the hardest or most surprising part of making this?
Trying to figure out how to transport a mattress… anywhere. Still TBD on that, to be honest. Why did I decide this show needed a mattress, I’ll never know. Oh, and where to get a good commemorative tattoo in Scranton!
Anything else you want people to know before they walk in?
This group of people (my director Avery, our actors James and Nathan, my sound designer Kaden) have all put in such incredible work for a show that can feel so much bigger than just me on stage for an hour. I am so eternally grateful that they all read this piece and found their “in” almost immediately.
If you get anything from this show other than the message, it’s that I am truly blessed with the best team ever, and you should see the show for the work they put in alone!
Also, please feel free to laugh. I know you’re signing up for a horror play, but the jokes are for your benefit as much as they are for mine. So feel free to giggle.
Catch post-modern prometheus at Strange Birds on Thursday, October 8 at 7:00 PM, Friday, October 9 at 6:00 PM, and twice on Saturday, October 10 at 2:30 PM and 7.00 PM as part of the 2026 Scranton Fringe Festival. Buy tickets here. Big thanks to Cesario for going deep with us — we’ll see you there.
