Alvaro Saar Rios

Alvaro Saar Rios is a Texican playwright living in Chicago. His plays have been performed in Chicago, New York City, Hawaii, St. Louis, Milwaukee and all over Texas. Rios has received commissions from various organizations, including Kennedy Center, Chicago Children's Theatre, The Alley Theatre, Houston Grand Opera, and Honolulu Theatre for Youth. His award-winning play Luchadora! is published by Dramatic Publishing Inc. He is also the co-founder of The Royal Mexican Players, a national touring performance troupe. Mr. Rios teaches playwriting at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists and a Playwright-In-Residence at Milwaukee's First Stage. Alvaro recently adapted Matt de la Peña's CARMELA FULL OF WISHES for Chicago Children's...

Alvaro Saar Rios is a Texican playwright living in Chicago. His plays have been performed in Chicago, New York City, Hawaii, St. Louis, Milwaukee and all over Texas. Rios has received commissions from various organizations, including Kennedy Center, Chicago Children's Theatre, The Alley Theatre, Houston Grand Opera, and Honolulu Theatre for Youth. His award-winning play Luchadora! is published by Dramatic Publishing Inc. He is also the co-founder of The Royal Mexican Players, a national touring performance troupe. Mr. Rios teaches playwriting at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists and a Playwright-In-Residence at Milwaukee's First Stage. Alvaro recently adapted Matt de la Peña's CARMELA FULL OF WISHES for Chicago Children's Theatre & Omaha's The Rose Theatre. He is currently adapting Pam Muñoz Ryan's icon novel ESPERANZA RISING for the stage.

read more

Scripts

In Darkness, Audio Flowers Bloom

by Alvaro Saar Rios

Cast Size
10
Genre
drama,
movement/physical,
political,
young audiences

FULL LENGTH. This dystopian play is set in a world where you can be arrested (or worse) just for talking about music. But a group of teens decide the risk is worth it.

Estimated running time: 60-65 minutes.

FULL LENGTH. This dystopian play is set in a world where you can be arrested (or worse) just for talking about music. But a group of teens decide the risk is worth it.

Estimated running time: 60-65 minutes.

Alien Menudo

by Alvaro Saar Rios

Cast Size
3
Genre
comedy

10-MINUTE PLAY. A grandmother attempts to make menudo out of the extraterrestrial she battled in her backyard. Unfortunately, she can’t find her menudo pot. And her grandson isn't much help.

10-MINUTE PLAY. A grandmother attempts to make menudo out of the extraterrestrial she battled in her backyard. Unfortunately, she can’t find her menudo pot. And her grandson isn't much help.

Piggsville

by Alvaro Saar Rios

Cast Size
11—20
Genre
adaptation,
drama,
mystery/thriller,
tragedy

FULL LENGTH. When a young woman returns home to attend her father's funeral, she discovers the least capable of her siblings is now in charge of the family brewery. She reunites with an old friend and reveals her true reasons for returning home. She is hoping to find out about her father’s demise. There are rumors his death is “unnatural” and that one of the siblings is responsible. Set in a brewery and...

FULL LENGTH. When a young woman returns home to attend her father's funeral, she discovers the least capable of her siblings is now in charge of the family brewery. She reunites with an old friend and reveals her true reasons for returning home. She is hoping to find out about her father’s demise. There are rumors his death is “unnatural” and that one of the siblings is responsible. Set in a brewery and utilizing folk songs, this tale is inspired by Shakespeare’s HAMLET and his other works.

read more

La Llorona's Sidekick

by Alvaro Saar Rios

Cast Size
5
Genre
comedy,
dark comedy,
horror

10-MINUTE PLAY. Three destructive entities and a lucha libre wrestler audition to be the sidekick of the most legendary evil spirit. Who will be chosen?

10-MINUTE PLAY. Three destructive entities and a lucha libre wrestler audition to be the sidekick of the most legendary evil spirit. Who will be chosen?

Luchadora!

by Alvaro Saar Rios

1
Cast Size
11—16
Genre
adaptation,
drama,
fable/folktale,
young audiences

FULL-LENGTH. Imagine the Chinese legend Hua Mulan set in the world of lucha libre—Mexican wrestling. The discovery of a worn wrestling mask prompts Nana Lupita, a Wisconsin grandmother, to share her tale about growing up in 1960s Texas. As her tale unfolds, Lupita's life as a teen tomboy comes alive—bike riding with her friends Leopold and Liesl, working at her father's flower stand and lucha libre. When a World...

FULL-LENGTH. Imagine the Chinese legend Hua Mulan set in the world of lucha libre—Mexican wrestling. The discovery of a worn wrestling mask prompts Nana Lupita, a Wisconsin grandmother, to share her tale about growing up in 1960s Texas. As her tale unfolds, Lupita's life as a teen tomboy comes alive—bike riding with her friends Leopold and Liesl, working at her father's flower stand and lucha libre. When a World Championship match is announced, Lupita anticipates seeing it until she discovers her ailing father is one of the wrestlers. With the help of a magical mask maker, Lupita secretly trains to take her father's place. She soon finds it difficult keeping her secret from her friends and, most importantly, her father.

read more

On The Wings of a Mariposa

by Alvaro Saar Rios

1
Cast Size
6—10
Genre
adaptation,
drama,
young audiences

FULL-LENGTH. ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA follows ten-year-old Pilar as she uses a scarf filled with her grandmother’s scent to relive memories of her beloved abuelita—making corn tortillas, dueling the monsters under the bed and journeying to the forest known as El Círculo Mágico. As time passes, the scent fades and with it, Pilar’s memories. Convinced she will lose her abuelita forever, Pilar attempts to...

FULL-LENGTH. ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA follows ten-year-old Pilar as she uses a scarf filled with her grandmother’s scent to relive memories of her beloved abuelita—making corn tortillas, dueling the monsters under the bed and journeying to the forest known as El Círculo Mágico. As time passes, the scent fades and with it, Pilar’s memories. Convinced she will lose her abuelita forever, Pilar attempts to recreate the scarf's scent. When unexpected results occur, mother helps the young girl understand "when you love someone, they never really leave you."
Based on Barbara Joosse’s children’s book "Ghost Wings," ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA is set amidst the monarch butterflies' annual migration and Day of the Dead.

With original recorded music by Dinorah Márquez.

Running time: 70 minutes

Perusal scripts & licensing available through Playscripts, Inc.

read more

Juliana

by Alvaro Saar Rios

Cast Size
3
Genre
comedy

10-MINUTE PLAY. While rehearsing Romeo & Juliet, a Latina actress refuses to kill herself. She then discusses her reasons for wanting to change the ending of the play for the actual performance.

Sample pages available.

This play is published as part of an 8-play collection called MUSINGS OF A CRAZY TEXICAN. Published by TRW.

10-MINUTE PLAY. While rehearsing Romeo & Juliet, a Latina actress refuses to kill herself. She then discusses her reasons for wanting to change the ending of the play for the actual performance.

Sample pages available.

This play is published as part of an 8-play collection called MUSINGS OF A CRAZY TEXICAN. Published by TRW.

The History of Mexicans in 10 Minutes

by Alvaro Saar Rios

3
Cast Size
3
Genre
comedy,
political,
satire

10 MINUTE. This satirical play is a fast-paced journey attempting to tell the 500+ years of Mexican history that includes human sacrifices, Aztec gods, smallpox, lisping Spaniards, and Mexicans with bad hair.

Sample pages available.

This play is published as part of an 8-play collection called MUSINGS OF A CRAZY TEXICAN. Published by TRW.

10 MINUTE. This satirical play is a fast-paced journey attempting to tell the 500+ years of Mexican history that includes human sacrifices, Aztec gods, smallpox, lisping Spaniards, and Mexicans with bad hair.

Sample pages available.

This play is published as part of an 8-play collection called MUSINGS OF A CRAZY TEXICAN. Published by TRW.

Brown Only

by Alvaro Saar Rios

Cast Size
5
Genre
comedy,
political,
satire

10 MINUTE. When the director of "Pancho Villa—The Musical" refuses to let a Caucasian actor audition for the lead role, the actor pleads by sharing the historical tradition of white people portraying iconic Mexicans.

Sample pages available.

This play is published as part of an 8-play collection called MUSINGS OF A CRAZY TEXICAN. Published by TRW.

10 MINUTE. When the director of "Pancho Villa—The Musical" refuses to let a Caucasian actor audition for the lead role, the actor pleads by sharing the historical tradition of white people portraying iconic Mexicans.

Sample pages available.

This play is published as part of an 8-play collection called MUSINGS OF A CRAZY TEXICAN. Published by TRW.

Blue Bullets

by Alvaro Saar Rios

1
Cast Size
6
Genre
drama,
political,
tragedy

FULL-LENGTH. Blue Bullets is set in Houston, Texas in 1977. As protesters organize in the wake of rampant police brutality, the owner of a Mexican bakery discovers her oven is broken for good. The owner’s attempts to raise money are slowed when the bakery's sole employee becomes involved in the protests. As more police brutality occurs and the owner continues her focus on saving her livelihood, she soon...

FULL-LENGTH. Blue Bullets is set in Houston, Texas in 1977. As protesters organize in the wake of rampant police brutality, the owner of a Mexican bakery discovers her oven is broken for good. The owner’s attempts to raise money are slowed when the bakery's sole employee becomes involved in the protests. As more police brutality occurs and the owner continues her focus on saving her livelihood, she soon discovers the dangers of ignoring the needs of the community.

read more