Andrea Zile Bish

Andrea Zile Bish is a writer and director living in Chicago. With experience in both film and theatre, she is committed to telling compelling visual stories in a variety of genres. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon’s John Wells Directing Program, her work includes the docu-drama 'Kafala', historical drama 'Monsters of Men', the short horror 'Hogs', among others. She is a member of the Chicago Playwrights Collective and an alumni of the New Colony writers workshop. Previously she has worked with Waltzing Mechanics, The New Colony, The Agency Collective, Dandelion Theatre, The Runaways Lab Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre, Polarity Ensemble, Porchlight Music Theatre, and others.

Andrea Zile Bish is a writer and director living in Chicago. With experience in both film and theatre, she is committed to telling compelling visual stories in a variety of genres. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon’s John Wells Directing Program, her work includes the docu-drama 'Kafala', historical drama 'Monsters of Men', the short horror 'Hogs', among others. She is a member of the Chicago Playwrights Collective and an alumni of the New Colony writers workshop. Previously she has worked with Waltzing Mechanics, The New Colony, The Agency Collective, Dandelion Theatre, The Runaways Lab Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre, Polarity Ensemble, Porchlight Music Theatre, and others.

Scripts

KAFALA

by Andrea Zile Bish

Cast Size
6—8
Genre
docudrama/historic,
drama,
political

In the heart of the Persian Gulf, a journalist seeks to unravel a mystery of labor, culture, and abuse. In 2010, I journeyed to Kuwait to complete a documentary about the Kafala sponsorship system. Over a period of three years, I collected interviews with Filipino domestic workers, Kuwaiti activist, policy makers, and humanitarians. Kafala was the result of these interviews. Centering around four Filipina maids...

In the heart of the Persian Gulf, a journalist seeks to unravel a mystery of labor, culture, and abuse. In 2010, I journeyed to Kuwait to complete a documentary about the Kafala sponsorship system. Over a period of three years, I collected interviews with Filipino domestic workers, Kuwaiti activist, policy makers, and humanitarians. Kafala was the result of these interviews. Centering around four Filipina maids, the play exposes the abuses in a broken system, as well as challenges of foreign intervention

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Sex in the Age of Purity

by Andrea Zile Bish

1
Cast Size
5—10
Genre
dark comedy,
drama,
political,
satire

A teen girl navigates her first relationship while growing up during the Purity movement. Set in the mid-2000s, Evangelical Christian beliefs about 'purity' and 'abstinence' come up against issues of abuse and consent.

A teen girl navigates her first relationship while growing up during the Purity movement. Set in the mid-2000s, Evangelical Christian beliefs about 'purity' and 'abstinence' come up against issues of abuse and consent.

Somewhere in Uptown

by Andrea Zile Bish

Cast Size
1
Genre
drama,
political

A monologue about how gun violence affects a neighborhood in Chicago. Based on real events.

A monologue about how gun violence affects a neighborhood in Chicago. Based on real events.

Reverse

by Andrea Zile Bish

Cast Size
4—10
Genre
drama,
political,
science fiction

On the verge of graduating with a Masters degree, Abigail is perplexed as to why she cannot find a job. As she goes about her daily life something seems off. Small things around her are starting to change, or maybe she's just remembering things?

On the verge of graduating with a Masters degree, Abigail is perplexed as to why she cannot find a job. As she goes about her daily life something seems off. Small things around her are starting to change, or maybe she's just remembering things?

I Cry While Watching Sports

by Andrea Zile Bish

Cast Size
3
Genre
docudrama/historic

Three women discuss their life, their sport, as similar patterns emerge between them.

Three women discuss their life, their sport, as similar patterns emerge between them.

Women in the Workplace

by Andrea Zile Bish

Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy,
parody/spoof

Two women in similar positions find commonality in how they are treated despite being AI interfaces.

Two women in similar positions find commonality in how they are treated despite being AI interfaces.

Monsters of Men

by Andrea Zile Bish

Cast Size
7—15
Genre
adaptation

How does an idealistic young scholar become a brutal, detached war criminal? Based on a secondary character in ‘Doctor Zhivago', ‘Monsters of Men’ follows Pasha Antipov’s decent from Bolshevik to butcher. His dark journey explores themes of free will vs fate, while asking how much control do we have over our destiny.

How does an idealistic young scholar become a brutal, detached war criminal? Based on a secondary character in ‘Doctor Zhivago', ‘Monsters of Men’ follows Pasha Antipov’s decent from Bolshevik to butcher. His dark journey explores themes of free will vs fate, while asking how much control do we have over our destiny.

Hard Times

by Andrea Zile Bish

Cast Size
6
Genre
adaptation,
docudrama/historic

An adaption of the oral history taken by Studs Terkel about the Great Depression.

An adaption of the oral history taken by Studs Terkel about the Great Depression.