Maria I. Arreola

Maria I. Arreola is a Chicana playwright from the Midwest who uses her writing to process life experiences. She's currently working her way through high school.

Some formative writing experiences include being a 2021 Sewanee Writers’ Conference Scholar, a 24 Hour Plays: Nationals participant, and the former Peter F. Sloss Artistic Fellow at Berkeley Rep. Outside of playwriting, she is an Artistic & Administrative Apprentice at The Playwrights' Center and has her own podcast called Crush(ed).

Upcoming: Saving Myself at Subtext Studio Theatre Company (Chicago, IL), running Oct 02 – Oct 19, 2025

More information: https://www.subtextstudiotc.org/saving-myself

Maria I. Arreola is a Chicana playwright from the Midwest who uses her writing to process life experiences. She's currently working her way through high school.

Some formative writing experiences include being a 2021 Sewanee Writers’ Conference Scholar, a 24 Hour Plays: Nationals participant, and the former Peter F. Sloss Artistic Fellow at Berkeley Rep. Outside of playwriting, she is an Artistic & Administrative Apprentice at The Playwrights' Center and has her own podcast called Crush(ed).

Upcoming: Saving Myself at Subtext Studio Theatre Company (Chicago, IL), running Oct 02 – Oct 19, 2025

More information: https://www.subtextstudiotc.org/saving-myself

Scripts

Saving Myself

by Maria I. Arreola

Synopsis

[FULL-LENGTH] Seeking an ever-elusive God, Idalia attends the annual Saint Barbara Young Women’s Retreat for the first time ever. Instead of finding peace, however, she finds herself caught in the crossfire between fellow participants, pious Elena and rebellious Hana. They both promise Ida their own version of salvation, but lo and behold this salvation comes at a cost. The question is what price is Idalia...

[FULL-LENGTH] Seeking an ever-elusive God, Idalia attends the annual Saint Barbara Young Women’s Retreat for the first time ever. Instead of finding peace, however, she finds herself caught in the crossfire between fellow participants, pious Elena and rebellious Hana. They both promise Ida their own version of salvation, but lo and behold this salvation comes at a cost. The question is what price is Idalia willing to pay? And this is totally random, but does God care about premarital sex, I mean s-e-x? (Asking for a friend).

Floating Girls Go To The Moon

by Maria I. Arreola

Synopsis

[ONE-ACT] With a traditional, overbearing mother, two Chicana sisters navigate the dynamics of their home in their own way. The eldest seeks freedom. Unable to truly be herself around her mother and the confines of their small apartment, she seeks a better place. The youngest strives to keep her family together, regardless of the cost. In a world where some girls become floating girls, these two sisters must...

[ONE-ACT] With a traditional, overbearing mother, two Chicana sisters navigate the dynamics of their home in their own way. The eldest seeks freedom. Unable to truly be herself around her mother and the confines of their small apartment, she seeks a better place. The youngest strives to keep her family together, regardless of the cost. In a world where some girls become floating girls, these two sisters must decide to stay or to go.

Lumbrada

by Maria I. Arreola

Synopsis

[FULL-LENGTH] A group of friends gathers around the campfire to tell scary stories. Each tale reigniting old fears they'd long since forgotten, forcing them to confront the horrors they thought only existed in movies—or their worst nightmares.

[FULL-LENGTH] A group of friends gathers around the campfire to tell scary stories. Each tale reigniting old fears they'd long since forgotten, forcing them to confront the horrors they thought only existed in movies—or their worst nightmares.

Vampire Girl's Halloween Bash

by Maria I. Arreola

Synopsis

[ONE-ACT] Missy (aka Vampire Girl) is throwing a party! You're invited.

[ONE-ACT] Missy (aka Vampire Girl) is throwing a party! You're invited.

The Ángel Sisters

by Maria I. Arreola

Synopsis

[MUSICAL] Rosalia and Lugarda Angeles have been at odds ever since their mother died, disbanding the Angeles family church choir shortly thereafter. But now that Rosalia and Lugarda have their own separate church choirs, they've been asked by their priest to come together for the annual Christmas Eve mass. What are they to do?

[MUSICAL] Rosalia and Lugarda Angeles have been at odds ever since their mother died, disbanding the Angeles family church choir shortly thereafter. But now that Rosalia and Lugarda have their own separate church choirs, they've been asked by their priest to come together for the annual Christmas Eve mass. What are they to do?

Benny's Amusement Park

by Maria I. Arreola

Synopsis

[ONE-ACT] Benny's Amusement Park has a vacancy for the next Mr. Carrots and Laura fits the bill. There she meets two other Benny's employees and potential friends, Carlos and Gigi. But friendship can be hard and Carlos and Gigi's friendship is particularly fraught.

[ONE-ACT] Benny's Amusement Park has a vacancy for the next Mr. Carrots and Laura fits the bill. There she meets two other Benny's employees and potential friends, Carlos and Gigi. But friendship can be hard and Carlos and Gigi's friendship is particularly fraught.

I'm Not Her

by Maria I. Arreola

Synopsis

[SHORT PLAY] Dalia runs away from home and ends up at the abandoned amusement park, Treasure Trove. Convinced that she'll only be spending the night, she's surprised to find someone else already there. Julia, the ride attendant/park greeter/security guard/concessions manager/occasional patron, who attempts to entice her to stay.

CW: Violence and domestic abuse

[SHORT PLAY] Dalia runs away from home and ends up at the abandoned amusement park, Treasure Trove. Convinced that she'll only be spending the night, she's surprised to find someone else already there. Julia, the ride attendant/park greeter/security guard/concessions manager/occasional patron, who attempts to entice her to stay.

CW: Violence and domestic abuse