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Conor McShane

Recommended by Conor McShane

  • Good Guys by Dakota Pariset
    23 Jan. 2022
    “ A delightfully surreal short play that feels like it exists in an ever-so-slightly heightened reality that nonetheless feels true to the world of corporate bro-speak. Pariset keeps the true nature of the story ambiguous, leading to a truly creepy ending. It packs a whole lot into its short runtime! ”
  • Kingdom by Michael Allen Harris
    12 Jan. 2022
    “ An absolutely beautiful, life affirming play with some of the most richly drawn and lived-in characters I've read in quite some time. It doesn't shy away from the sometimes harsh realities its characters face, but approaches them all with genuine warmth and a lack of judgment. I'm kicking myself for not seeing this onstage when I had the chance! ”
  • Ageless by Bridgette Dutta Portman
    6 Dec. 2021
    “ The worldbuilding in this play is fantastic, suggesting a highly plausible future world where we may have solved aging but are still forced to confront the end of our existence. The hyper-sterile world suggests that without aging, life loses much of its meaning, without much use for art or poetry. The play presents some fascinating ethical dilemmas: aging is a natural part of life, but can bring a great deal of suffering; wouldn't we try to prevent it if we could? Portman's sensitive writing and masterful control of language make this a truly stunning play I'd love to see. ”
  • Small Steps by Briandaniel Oglesby
    21 Nov. 2021
    “ With the mounting existential threats we face, I'm sure every one of us has wished we could just leave it all behind. We've all wished to be someone important, to do something that leaves a lasting mark on history. This extremely funny, deeply relatable, oddly hopeful play tackles these feelings, as well as the recognition of just how dang hard it is to make a human connection in this world. I loved the sense of heightened reality in the play, and the use of projections and voiceover to augment the jokes. Beautiful stuff! ”
  • The Whale and the Dog Star by Ben Holbrook
    9 Nov. 2021
    “ A lovely, heady, deeply affecting play that gets at some big subjects: love, family, even the nature of our existence in the universe and the perspective from which we view it, imbued with humor and genuine emotion. Excellent stuff! ”
  • Aglaonike's Tiger by Claudia Barnett
    1 Nov. 2021
    “ A wonderfully imaginative and theatrical illumination of an overlooked figure, dangling on the precipice between science and magic. The play's exploration of the gender imbalance in science and limited roles for women in society is still sadly relevant thousands of years later. I loved how Ms. Barnett never explains how to pull off the onstage magic, and I can imagine a director or designer's brain lighting up while reading the script. ”
  • Atacama by Augusto Amador
    30 Sep. 2021
    “ A beautifully rendered two-hander exploring the brutality of dictatorships, both Pinochet's and others, as well as what happens to those left behind to sort through the pieces. The turn at the end really blew me away! ”
  • en-DANGER!-ed by A.R. Cohen/Corwin
    22 Sep. 2021
    “ The rare play that works as both an educational tool and a very funny satire of the conflict between conservation and Capitalism, en-DANGER!-ed is a delightful play that just might move you into action - if only to avoid becoming one of the endangered animals on display. ”
  • MetaMorphic by Dolores Díaz
    16 Sep. 2021
    “ I'm sure we all feel so much has changed in the past year and a half (and counting), in the world we live in and in our own lives, minds, and bodies. Diaz uses the classic Kafka story as a jumping off point to examine the anxieties of modern life, from the pandemic to the feeling of living in what may be the last days of human civilization, in a deeply relatable and imaginative way with this play. From a formal standpoint, the more stylized/fantastical turn in the second act is stunning. ”
  • SAA(not that one) by Luis Roberto Herrera
    7 Sep. 2021
    “ A deeply unsettling play that makes great use of theatricality and never overdoes its strange happenings. I appreciated the exploration of the ways in which we look to outside forces to explain our pain and trauma, and how often we're left without any concrete answers. Fascinating, occasionally funny, and very creepy, aka right up my alley! ”

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