Maggie Smith

Maggie Smith is an award-winning playwright based in Chicago, Illinois. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, she began studying theatre at a young age, taking any performance class she could. Upon graduating high school, she moved to Chicago to pursue a BA in Theatre from Loyola University Chicago and continue her career in theatre.

She was named "Best Playwright of 2024" in the Chicago Reader's annual "Best of Chicago" list, which she received for her work with Two Chairs Theatre Company on their production of "The Courtship of Winifred Edwards." She spent 2025 developing her play, "Calvaria: A Play for Feral Girls" with Babes with Blades Theatre Company, which won the company's Joining Sword & Pen Competition and Margaret W. Martin Award, which will be performed as a full production at a...

Maggie Smith is an award-winning playwright based in Chicago, Illinois. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, she began studying theatre at a young age, taking any performance class she could. Upon graduating high school, she moved to Chicago to pursue a BA in Theatre from Loyola University Chicago and continue her career in theatre.

She was named "Best Playwright of 2024" in the Chicago Reader's annual "Best of Chicago" list, which she received for her work with Two Chairs Theatre Company on their production of "The Courtship of Winifred Edwards." She spent 2025 developing her play, "Calvaria: A Play for Feral Girls" with Babes with Blades Theatre Company, which won the company's Joining Sword & Pen Competition and Margaret W. Martin Award, which will be performed as a full production at a later date. She is a company member with both Two Chairs Theatre Co. and BYOT Productions, the latter for whom she is also Media Director.

She is currently developing new work with a variety of theatre companies throughout Chicago, while also spending time at home with her partner and dog. You can learn more about her work on Instagram, @maggiesmithwritesandwrongs, or through her website maggiesmithwritesandwrongs.com

Scripts

Calvaria: A Play for Feral Girls

by Maggie Smith

Synopsis

When her family’s bull is found decapitated in the middle of a farm field, Edie Hruska makes it her mission to find the culprit. While on her search, she comes across a group of young girls claiming to communicate with gods, begging Edie to become their newest acolyte. While acclimating to their lifestyle, Edie finds herself face-to-face with the girls’ true intentions, and they are much more sinister than just...

When her family’s bull is found decapitated in the middle of a farm field, Edie Hruska makes it her mission to find the culprit. While on her search, she comes across a group of young girls claiming to communicate with gods, begging Edie to become their newest acolyte. While acclimating to their lifestyle, Edie finds herself face-to-face with the girls’ true intentions, and they are much more sinister than just a dead bull.

CALVARIA is the winner of the 2024-2025 Margaret W Martin Award/Joining Sword & Pen Competition, chosen by Babes with Blades Theatre Company.

Bohemian Rat City

by Maggie Smith

Synopsis

As punishment for their sins, God has banished Their offending humans to the Bohemian Rat City, where they live their sentences out as human-rat hybrids. Unsure of their past crimes and even more unsure of how to redeem themselves, Madden, Charlie, Sage, and Ara are resigned to their new rodent-like lives.

But what if there was a way out?

As punishment for their sins, God has banished Their offending humans to the Bohemian Rat City, where they live their sentences out as human-rat hybrids. Unsure of their past crimes and even more unsure of how to redeem themselves, Madden, Charlie, Sage, and Ara are resigned to their new rodent-like lives.

But what if there was a way out?

Love, the Sinners

by Maggie Smith

Synopsis

While preparing for a normal year at their "all-girls" Catholic high school, a group of queer teenagers are suddenly faced with a new series of anti-LGBTQ+ rules created by their city's archdiocese, threatening to expel each one of them. Tired of their school's "hate the sin, love the sinner" mentality, the teenagers turn to malicious compliance as a means of protest, boycotting every academic material and...

While preparing for a normal year at their "all-girls" Catholic high school, a group of queer teenagers are suddenly faced with a new series of anti-LGBTQ+ rules created by their city's archdiocese, threatening to expel each one of them. Tired of their school's "hate the sin, love the sinner" mentality, the teenagers turn to malicious compliance as a means of protest, boycotting every academic material and lesson plan that they argue goes against Church teachings.

Content Warnings: This play contains themes of homophobia/transphobia, though no characters are ever dead-named or misgendered. While this play has comedic elements, there are some moments where serious topics are discussed. Any specific questions about these topics can be directed to [email protected].

The Courtship of Winifred Edwards

by Maggie Smith

Synopsis

Set in 1890s America, The Courtship of Winifred Edwards tells the story of two families in the process of becoming one. When Winifred leaves her handkerchief at a dinner party, Anthony Tailor becomes convinced she did so as a means of gaining his attention. He enlists his cousin, Georgia, to help him return the handkerchief and scout out Winifred's feelings for him. But Georgia’s secret relationship with...

Set in 1890s America, The Courtship of Winifred Edwards tells the story of two families in the process of becoming one. When Winifred leaves her handkerchief at a dinner party, Anthony Tailor becomes convinced she did so as a means of gaining his attention. He enlists his cousin, Georgia, to help him return the handkerchief and scout out Winifred's feelings for him. But Georgia’s secret relationship with Winifred proves that love is never that simple, is it?

Exquisite Corpse

by Maggie Smith

Synopsis

The creative writing class of Mary Magdalene's Preparatory School for Girls have less than three hours to finish editing their school's literary magazine. Too bad they don't have any poems to edit. In a last-ditch effort to complete their task, the girls lock themselves in their classroom in order to have a long and hard conversation that even the smartest among us can't answer: What makes good poetry?

This...

The creative writing class of Mary Magdalene's Preparatory School for Girls have less than three hours to finish editing their school's literary magazine. Too bad they don't have any poems to edit. In a last-ditch effort to complete their task, the girls lock themselves in their classroom in order to have a long and hard conversation that even the smartest among us can't answer: What makes good poetry?

This play can be read FOR FREE at https://www.gitelmangoodpublishers.com

Saint Louise, Pray for Us

by Maggie Smith

Synopsis

After their youngest sister's unexpected death, two young women, Gen and Toni, take the logical next step in attempting to canonize her as a saint. In diving into the details of her life, however, the two learn much more about her than they bargained for.

After their youngest sister's unexpected death, two young women, Gen and Toni, take the logical next step in attempting to canonize her as a saint. In diving into the details of her life, however, the two learn much more about her than they bargained for.

Bohemian Rat City — Ten Minute Version

by Maggie Smith

Synopsis

God watched the sinners. God got mad. God turned them into human-rat hybrids. How unfortunate.

God watched the sinners. God got mad. God turned them into human-rat hybrids. How unfortunate.

The Final Meeting of the Unnamed Children's Protection League of Adolescent Vigilantes

by Maggie Smith

Synopsis

Based on true events, Laura, Elmer, Nellie, Alice, Ida, and Edgar embark on an all-night journey to protect the city they love from vampires. Despite their young ages and constant need for adult supervision, the six Chicago children are determined to prove their neighbor's disappearance is related to the supernatural, though their excursion may prove to reveal something more sinister.

This play can be read FOR...

Based on true events, Laura, Elmer, Nellie, Alice, Ida, and Edgar embark on an all-night journey to protect the city they love from vampires. Despite their young ages and constant need for adult supervision, the six Chicago children are determined to prove their neighbor's disappearance is related to the supernatural, though their excursion may prove to reveal something more sinister.

This play can be read FOR FREE at https://www.gitelmangoodpublishers.com

Winchester Geese

by Maggie Smith

Synopsis

Inspired by the history of the Crossbones Graveyard, this play tells the story of Avis, Cecily, and Bridget, three young women stuck on earth since their burials, all of whom spend their afterlives clinging onto the hope of one day being remembered.

Content Warning: This play contains a brief discussion of suicide. Any specific questions about these topics can be directed to [email protected].

Inspired by the history of the Crossbones Graveyard, this play tells the story of Avis, Cecily, and Bridget, three young women stuck on earth since their burials, all of whom spend their afterlives clinging onto the hope of one day being remembered.

Content Warning: This play contains a brief discussion of suicide. Any specific questions about these topics can be directed to [email protected].

Le Cirque de Fleurs

by Maggie Smith

Synopsis

Taking place over the course of one night, Le Cirque de Fleurs tells the story of six performers, all contracted to work with Le Cirque de Fleurs' during its 1919 national tour. They soon find, however, that they are spending their entire career making an unlivable wage in an unsafe environment. Their response: Set the circus on fire.

Taking place over the course of one night, Le Cirque de Fleurs tells the story of six performers, all contracted to work with Le Cirque de Fleurs' during its 1919 national tour. They soon find, however, that they are spending their entire career making an unlivable wage in an unsafe environment. Their response: Set the circus on fire.

If I Die Before I Wake

by Maggie Smith

Synopsis

Based on the Faustus myth, a young woman sells her soul to the Devil in order to learn magic. Told through poetry, this play focuses on what to make of our limited time on earth, asking if it is better to be known well or well-known.

Based on the Faustus myth, a young woman sells her soul to the Devil in order to learn magic. Told through poetry, this play focuses on what to make of our limited time on earth, asking if it is better to be known well or well-known.