Boundless and poetic, “jellyfish pine” toys with the traditional notions of the nonlinear love story. Protagonists Jack and Emily’s not-quite-romance pushes them ever closer to each other, and their chemistry is apparent with each other as well as their respective spouses. Their relationship truly shines, though, when taken in the context of playwright Yichao’s mythic dream ballet sequences, interspersed between the more realistic scenes. The fantastical and the grounded blend seamlessly, giving heightened value to both.

It is the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's pleasure to recommend Michael Yichao and their play "jellyfish pine" as a finalist for our 2015 National Playwrights Conference. The play rose through a competitive, anonymous, multileveled selection process that took nearly nine months to execute. As one of 59 finalists out of more than 1,300 submissions, it is the value of the page that has allowed this work to prosper in such a competitive selection process. Our readers found that Yichao tells a relatable love story through through a structurally imaginative framework.