Exal Iraheta (he/his) advises undergraduate radio/television/film (RTVF) students. He is a Chicago-based Salvi-American playwright, screenwriter, and teaching artist by way of Houston, TX. Humorous and provocative, his work explores the intersections of cultural and gender identity, family, violence, sexuality, and magic through his lens as a brown, queer, first-generation American son. Notable works include Last Hermanos (A Red Orchid), They Could Give No Name, and Open Venas (Theatre Masters).
Honors include: 2023 Lortel Theatre Commissioned Playwright, The Chance Theatre's 2022 Resident Playwright, 2020-21 Goodman Theatre's Playwrights Unit member, Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center NPC Finalist, National Playwrights Conference finalist, Judith Royer Excellence in Playwriting Award finalist, honorable mention American Playwriting Foundation's 2019 Relentless Award, and 2018 Fornés Playwriting Workshop playwright. He was also featured in the May/June 2020 issue of American Theatre Magazine as part of its "People to Watch" list.
His work has been developed and presented by: A Red Orchid Theatre, The Goodman Theatre, Northwestern University, Victory Garden's Ignition Festival, The Magic Theatre's Virgin New Play Festival, The Chance Theatre, The Untold Collectiv (UK), Theatre Masters, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Gene Siskel Film Center, iO Chicago, & Annoyance Theatre Chicago.
Exal earned an MFA from Northwestern University's Writing for the Screen and Stage program and a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.