About
“But Tirado-Ortiz’s story of people who all experienced separate kinds of violence coming together a decade later … shows a playwright with promise and moxie.” - Chicago Reader
Cesario Tirado Ortiz (he/it) is a playwright, actor, singer, producer, and exhausted barista. A SUNY New Paltz graduate, Rio bases most of his work around creating queer stories for queer folk that's not really about being queer. He’s also a successful drag artist performing under the name Scam Likely (it/its), and utilizes drag frequently in his work. Cesario was part of the first cohorts of the Genesis Project at 54 Below, providing performance opportunities, master classes, mentorship roundtables, and networking events with industry professionals to emerging artists in the cabaret scene. You can read more about it here.
Cesario self produced the NYC premiere of his play it’s been ten years since everyone died, utilizing a Kickstarter campaign to fund the show. Throughout the month long endeavor, it was able to raise over $3k, and became the highest fundraised percentage wise on the website. A documentary by Avery L. Ingvarson on the making of the production is currently being made.
He is also part of the non-profit board for Pied Piper Theatre of New York City and is the creative consultant for Wait in the Wings on YouTube. Cesario is a member of the Dramatist’s Guild.
Currently, Cesario is working on his one act post-modern prometheus, a gory trans reimagining of Frankenstein. When not doing that, he’s usually slinging cappuccinos or info-dumping about horror movies. IG: @wowokthenbruh
