Recommended by Scott Carter Cooper

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    I saw the Chicago production. Harris has created the kind of play I wish I'd written. Smart and funny. It's the kind of material that makes competent actors give good performances, and brilliant actors inspired ones. One of my favorite pieces of the past year.

    I saw the Chicago production. Harris has created the kind of play I wish I'd written. Smart and funny. It's the kind of material that makes competent actors give good performances, and brilliant actors inspired ones. One of my favorite pieces of the past year.

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    With echoes of A Death of A Salesman, and played out against a backdrop of American tragedy, Maronich creates a loving portrait of three generations of a family through the musicality of their language and illustrates how ambition can lead to the commoditization of culture and potential disaster. The journey comes full circle to a message of hope. Highly satisfying.

    With echoes of A Death of A Salesman, and played out against a backdrop of American tragedy, Maronich creates a loving portrait of three generations of a family through the musicality of their language and illustrates how ambition can lead to the commoditization of culture and potential disaster. The journey comes full circle to a message of hope. Highly satisfying.

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    Silva effortlessly creates authentic generations with conflicting and complementary points of view in this light little family comedy/drama. His senior citizens in particular are more than just plot devices for younger characters. They're delightful, fully rounded characters. Deceptively simple, this play packs a punch and uplifts without ever feeling forced or contrived.

    Silva effortlessly creates authentic generations with conflicting and complementary points of view in this light little family comedy/drama. His senior citizens in particular are more than just plot devices for younger characters. They're delightful, fully rounded characters. Deceptively simple, this play packs a punch and uplifts without ever feeling forced or contrived.

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    Writing a comedy is one of the hardest things in the world. Lipshutz and Hall not only demonstrate an unparalleled creativity, they make it look effortless with A Date with a Dragon. Finely drawn characters that humanize the terrifying. Excellent.

    Writing a comedy is one of the hardest things in the world. Lipshutz and Hall not only demonstrate an unparalleled creativity, they make it look effortless with A Date with a Dragon. Finely drawn characters that humanize the terrifying. Excellent.

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    Patel creates complex characters with relationships that echo one another, set against a rugged backdrop of a dystopian near future. Using an investigation of British colonialism as a framework, and not letting anyone completely off the hook, this script is rich with tension and compassionate to all of its characters. The payoff at the end as emotionally devastating for the reader as it is catastrophic for these characters.

    Patel creates complex characters with relationships that echo one another, set against a rugged backdrop of a dystopian near future. Using an investigation of British colonialism as a framework, and not letting anyone completely off the hook, this script is rich with tension and compassionate to all of its characters. The payoff at the end as emotionally devastating for the reader as it is catastrophic for these characters.

  • Scott Carter Cooper: Plague Year by Matthew Chong
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    Matthew Park is one of the few playwrights who's able to tackle a big theme without coming across as pedantic or letting his work scream, "I DID RESEARCH!" I first encountered Park's work in the Playground - NY Writer's Pool. His plots are simple and elegant. His characters are fresh and true. Park is a writer to watch.

    Matthew Park is one of the few playwrights who's able to tackle a big theme without coming across as pedantic or letting his work scream, "I DID RESEARCH!" I first encountered Park's work in the Playground - NY Writer's Pool. His plots are simple and elegant. His characters are fresh and true. Park is a writer to watch.

    ”
  • Scott Carter Cooper: Mother Of by Katherine Gwynn
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    Katherine Gwynn is the bravest playwright I know. Not only does this script challenge conventional form, it unflinchingly challenges the heart the patriarchy. With humor and pathos, some of Gwynn's lines are pure poetry. Two of my favorites:

    The angel has lived through too much to not need the comfort of humor.

    I am god-wrought and god-rotten

    Katherine Gwynn is the bravest playwright I know. Not only does this script challenge conventional form, it unflinchingly challenges the heart the patriarchy. With humor and pathos, some of Gwynn's lines are pure poetry. Two of my favorites:

    The angel has lived through too much to not need the comfort of humor.

    I am god-wrought and god-rotten

    ”
  • Scott Carter Cooper: Elevator by Dakota Pariset
    “

    With fifty-nine words of dialogue - FIFTY NINE! - Dakota Pariset creates a touching little romantic comedy that is as satisfying as any in recent memory.

    With fifty-nine words of dialogue - FIFTY NINE! - Dakota Pariset creates a touching little romantic comedy that is as satisfying as any in recent memory.

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  • Scott Carter Cooper: Good Samaritan by Debra A. Cole
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    Cole creates a vivid portrait of a family blinded by crisis, and a tense final moment that chills the audience.

    Cole creates a vivid portrait of a family blinded by crisis, and a tense final moment that chills the audience.

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  • Scott Carter Cooper: 7 Minutes to Live by Richard Lyons Conlon
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    Conlon deftly packs high art, broad comedy, and existential dread into two compact acts with four characters who navigate a single night filled with shifting allegiances. This is a fascinating work that asks all of the right questions of an audience and trusts us to reach our own conclusions. Gripping.

    Conlon deftly packs high art, broad comedy, and existential dread into two compact acts with four characters who navigate a single night filled with shifting allegiances. This is a fascinating work that asks all of the right questions of an audience and trusts us to reach our own conclusions. Gripping.

    ”