William Bietsch

He is a founding member of Telling Humans Playwright Studio (Chicago+) and the Founder of Quebrado Piñata Producciones (Chicago/CDMX/Monterrey).

Writer, designer, educator, and marketing/advertising professional he is always looking to live or create his next story. A life philosophy of “What if” has taken him from a PLO training camp in Ramallah to the island of Zanzibar, a remote mountain top in the NE of China and a small village in the state of Morelos. A cultural chameleon, he loves hearing people’s stories and trying to step into their shoes, boots, sandals, or bare footprints.

A fitness fanatic, he admits that hiking the summit of Nevado de Toluca almost killed him and was not one of his better moments. He is also not afraid to admit he is not a fan of being in nature. His recent...

He is a founding member of Telling Humans Playwright Studio (Chicago+) and the Founder of Quebrado Piñata Producciones (Chicago/CDMX/Monterrey).

Writer, designer, educator, and marketing/advertising professional he is always looking to live or create his next story. A life philosophy of “What if” has taken him from a PLO training camp in Ramallah to the island of Zanzibar, a remote mountain top in the NE of China and a small village in the state of Morelos. A cultural chameleon, he loves hearing people’s stories and trying to step into their shoes, boots, sandals, or bare footprints.

A fitness fanatic, he admits that hiking the summit of Nevado de Toluca almost killed him and was not one of his better moments. He is also not afraid to admit he is not a fan of being in nature. His recent list of being “the worst one in the room” includes: Adult swim camp in San Luis Potosi, Wing Chun Martial Arts Academy in Siping, China, Spanish Improv at Latino Theatre Hub, and most recently Chicago Dramatist playwrighting courses!

His professional time most recently has been spent working with corporate executive clients at the intersection of innovation/strategy as well as media/events and partnerships at CES and Cannes. Currently based in Chicago but equally at home (and desperately misses) Tel Aviv, Shanghai and Mexico City. And in case you are wondering…his Chinese consists of 5 words, his Spanish is a couple of phrases, and his Hebrew is reasonable…depending.

Scripts

La Noche de Los Visitantes (The Night Visitors)

by William Bietsch

Cast Size

6—8

Genre

dark comedy,

drama,

fantasy

El Patrón in a gesture of pity and mocking tasks a local musician who is mute with composing his narcocorrido before the final bell of Dia de Muertos. As night falls, El Patrón seeks relief from the torment of three spirits sent by his dead business partner in an attempt to change the course of his life. The evening is on course for redemption until the final spirit, Death, decides to turn the tables on El...

El Patrón in a gesture of pity and mocking tasks a local musician who is mute with composing his narcocorrido before the final bell of Dia de Muertos. As night falls, El Patrón seeks relief from the torment of three spirits sent by his dead business partner in an attempt to change the course of his life. The evening is on course for redemption until the final spirit, Death, decides to turn the tables on El Patrón as the young musician completes the narcocorrido and El Patrón realizes he has been the pawn this whole time.

(Inspired by Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol" & Renulfo's "Pedro Paramo")

hijo de... (son of...)

by William Bietsch

Cast Size

3

Genre

biography,

drama,

tragedy

On the night of his big break, a young actor recounts his journey to the stage, confronting powerful memories and crazy family dynamics, unaware that his opening night has one final twist that isn't in the script.

Alma Salvaje (Savage Soul)

by William Bietsch

Cast Size

7

Genre

dark comedy,

mystery/thriller,

tragedy

Oaxaca, Mexico. 1954. A young man born under a blood moon is increasingly tortured by vivid nightmares as he grows older. On his 21st birthday his mother sends for a priest to decide his fate. On the journey out of the village the priest goes missing. Abandoned with no money and far from home, his only clue is a photo of his estranged father who fled to Xochimilco shortly after he was born. On the road he meets...

Oaxaca, Mexico. 1954. A young man born under a blood moon is increasingly tortured by vivid nightmares as he grows older. On his 21st birthday his mother sends for a priest to decide his fate. On the journey out of the village the priest goes missing. Abandoned with no money and far from home, his only clue is a photo of his estranged father who fled to Xochimilco shortly after he was born. On the road he meets another boy his age and the two set off to find his father, unaware that his father has sworn to kill him if their paths ever cross. In the sleepy canals of Xochimilico all is not what it seems as danger and unexpected support collide, revealing his true nature. But his journey inward threatens to destroy him and those around him when he is reunited with his father forcing old superstitions to bleed into real life.

Corazón Cicatrizado (Scarred Heart)

by William Bietsch

Cast Size

7—8

Genre

dark comedy,

docudrama/historic,

drama,

political

Three 20-something workers at a piñata workshop in Mexico City navigate the complications of love and freedom under the watchful eye of the matronly owner. Each harbors a personal trauma connected to Mexico’s turbulent past and present. Their decisions on the eve of Independence Day change the trajectory of their lives forever as cycles of history come crashing down. Only an intervention from the spirit world...

Three 20-something workers at a piñata workshop in Mexico City navigate the complications of love and freedom under the watchful eye of the matronly owner. Each harbors a personal trauma connected to Mexico’s turbulent past and present. Their decisions on the eve of Independence Day change the trajectory of their lives forever as cycles of history come crashing down. Only an intervention from the spirit world can help set things right.