“…a dazzling production that celebrates the incredible strength and spirit that define women of all ages.” —Seattle’s Child Magazine

Imagine the Chinese legend Hua Mulan set in the world of lucha libre—Mexican wrestling. The discovery of a worn pink 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.

Originally commissioned by First Stage, Milwaukee, WI

SELECT LIST OF PRODUCTIONS

Rose Theater, Omaha, NE. Fall 2025

Teatro de las Americas. Oxnard, CA. Oct 11-27, 2024. Final performances sold out!

Seattle Children’s Theatre. 7-performer version

Baytown Little Theater, Baytown, TX

Teatro Audaz, San Antonio, TX

University of Missouri—Columbia

Osceola HS, Kissimmee, FL

St. Edwards University, Austin, TX

Orlando Rep, Orlando, FL

Cara Mía Theatre, Dallas, TX

CATCO, Columbus, OH

Adventure Theatre, Glen Echo, MD

American School Foundation, Mexico City

DePaul University

Texas Lutheran University

Arizona State University

Whitford MS, Beaverton, OR

Theatre Nuevo & Mustard Seed Theatre, St. Louis

University of Houston

Bakersfield Community Theatre, CA

First Stage (World Premiere, 2015)

WORKSHOPS + READINGS

Palo Alto College

Teatro Vivo’s 2014 Austin Latino New Play Festival

AWARDS

Distinguished Play Award, American Alliance for Theatre and Education

SCRIPT & LICENSING

To purchase a script or license the play, contact Dramatic Publishing Inc.

**A 7-performer version of this script is available. Please contact me if you are interested in reading a 20-page sample.

PRESS

“You don’t have to know anything about wrestling…to appreciate playwright Alvaro Saar Rios’s overriding idea: People should be free to follow their dreams, and young people, in particular, deserve to have their dreams supported by those who ostensibly love them most.” —Orlando Sentinel

“Playwright Alvaro Saar Rios create[s] an engaging, lively piece... great fun to watch.” —Shepherd Express

“This world premiere...is an intricate and affectionate look into a slice of the distinguished and romantic culture of Mexico...Cradled in the web of the story is a magnificent paean to a world where there is nothing that a girl can't do. Nothing.” —OnMilwaukee.com

“...completely captivating and richly layered…” —KDHX, St. Louis

INSPIRATIONAL RESOURCES

Here are links to videos and readings that inspired the creation of Luchadora!

“Olympic boxer fights to inspire.” A short video about boxer Marlen Esparza.
Tales of Masked Men. A documentary about the world of lucha libre.
Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask by Xavier Garza. A children’s book about a young boy seeing his first lucha libre match.
“A Courageous Pioneer in the Bullfighting Arena.” An article about one of North America’s first female bullfighters.