‘Jawbreaker’ Stage Musical Shines Spotlight On Vylette’s “Trans Narrative” With Non-Binary Actor AJ Paramo

As Jawbreaker makes its way from 1999 teen cult classic to modern stage musical, one character is getting an update that was a long time coming.

While speaking with Deadline during a break from rehearsals for Jawbreaker The Musical, writer Darren Stein explained why he decided to “take the subtext” of Judy Greer’s performance as Fern Mayo/Vylette, with which many trans fans have identified, “and make it text” with the stage musical.

“Over the years, trans people have told me how the Fern character felt like a trans narrative,” he explained in the Hudson Theatre Coffee Shop. “I actually got a DM from an actress named Eve Lindley, who’s a trans actress, who sent me this DM, and she’s like, ‘Thank you for this movie. When I was a young girl, I saw myself in Fern’s transformation into Vylette, how she was an outsider and she wanted to be sort of inside, and then she took this deal with the devil and just became glamorous. And then she gets deadnamed by Courtney, and she gets outed for being Fern, and the devastation that causes. By the end of the film, she realizes she has to figure out who Fern is. It’s not about being this flawless one or being on the outside, it’s about being this individual that has agency, that’s empowered.'”

In Jawbreaker (1999), a clique of popular girls (Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart and Julie Benz) conspire to cover up the death of their friend after a prank gone wrong. But when outcast Fern Mayo (Judy Greer) witnesses their crime, she agrees to a glam transformation into Vylette in exchange for her silence.

Stein, who wrote and directed the movie, added, “So, knowing that the role meant so much to trans people, I just decided to make Fern trans in the musical and take the subtext and make it text.”

As Jawbreaker makes its way from 1999 teen cult classic to modern stage musical, one character is getting an update that was a long time coming.

While speaking with Deadline during a break from rehearsals for Jawbreaker The Musical, writer Darren Stein explained why he decided… pic.twitter.com/Z07bj41Bjl

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) September 2, 2026

One such trans fan who was impacted by the role is RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Laganja (AKA Jay Jackson), who serves as choreographer on the production from director Matt DiCarlo, which features music by Jeff Thomson and lyrics by Jordan Mann.

“I’ve definitely felt a connection to the character of Fern and how she sort of became the greatest version of herself,” said Jackson. “So, it’s so cool to see a narrative that I think so many of us trans people identified with actually become what we saw it as.”

Taking over the role of nerdy wallflower Fern, as well as her popular alter ego Vylette, is Chicago non-binary actor AJ Paramo.

“It was amazing because luckily, before I even got to watch the movie, Darren reached out to me and sent me this beautiful DM about why he initially made Fern trans and decided to take that choice—which usually in musical theater and theater in general, you don’t get to really engage with the creatives that early on,” they explained. “And so for him to take time to send me that DM and express the feeling and the subtext that lived within Fern Mayo with Judy Greer’s version and how many trans people in the queer community identified with Fern, it kind of gave me that subtext and I realized that’s why he made it text. It made me fall in love with the piece even more.”

Paramo added, “And then I watched the movie, and obviously Judy Greer is amazing, and I got to see why it’s so iconic for what it is after seeing the women and everyone play a huge role in making it what it is.”

Rebecca Gayheart, who starred as Julie in the film and now plays Principal Sherwood in the musical, is “literally blown away by the talent that I am surrounded by,” praising Paramo’s performance, as well as all their young co-stars. “I’m like a proud mom,” she said.

As the queer-driven legacy of Stein’s Jawbreaker makes its way from the screen to the stage, Paramo is “just so grateful to be here,” bringing trans representation to the character of Fern/Vylette.

“I’m from Chicago, and so to be able to come to California, have my debut, and this be the circumstance, to be able to give the trans community a light and a story that isn’t one of the Angels [from Rent] or the La Cienegas [from Bring It On: The Musical], but is its own youth story of a trans girl trying to find her confidence in a space like high school, I think it’s commendable,” said Paramo. “And I think it’s what happens every day, and you don’t get to really see it often in musical theater, so I’m just really happy to be doing it.”

Premiering Friday at Hudson Backstage Theatre, Jawbreaker The Musical runs through Sept. 20. Tickets are available online.