Recommended by Daniel Prillaman

A staggering powerhouse of a script. Just absolutely incredible and impeccably executed across the board, from its layered, delicious parallels with its source material, to the pitch-perfect pacing, to the ethical questions it leaves in its wake. As theatre practices and abuse of its artists by those in power comes further into question, this play is a reckoning in so many ways, from class to gender to religion and more, and it is always the youngest of us who suffer the most. We should be doing this play everywhere. Highly recommend.

Sweet and melancholy rarely go together, but Donnelly's play combines the two in such a deft way that I'm almost in disbelief. Archie's question could so easily be another case of improper time, improper place, but instead reveals itself as two people taking a chance and embracing "yes" in the face of mortality. A most thoughtful and tender piece.

If you have aversions to the word “babe,” you won’t come out of Heyman’s short horror with better feelings. Moreover, if you don’t, you’ll certainly come out with some. Marcus’ trigger phrase is a chilling repetition that slowly builds unease in the audience, then tension, then absolute terror. Putting ourselves into Pete’s shoes is evocative of a paralyzing venom, as we can only watch with wide eyes as the snake coils around us. Good boy, indeed. And while firmly in the land of horror, a sobering reminder that abusive, controlling partners are insidious. Terrific.

This play is, in fact, the most precious thing. I don't mean for that to come across disingenuous or gauche. It's truly rare when a play (even a full-length) so succinctly lends total gravitas and clarity to a struggling character's journey. A grand meditation on what makes life worth living, the connections between us, and how the smallest things or gestures can mean everything depending on the intention behind them. Absolutely brilliant.

The illness in "Leave a Light On" is perhaps even more terrifying than our recent pandemic. Swain takes the uncertainty of COVID and combines it with the memory stealing power of Alzheimer's, depicting a wrenching world in which we are in danger of losing everything except our physical lives. It's a powerful, commanding testament to the meaning and depth hidden in the little moments that make humanity...well, human. Things that we allow too often to go unthought of or unconsidered. What are we without these memories? And what does it mean to lose them? Excellent one-act.

An insidious and heartfelt revenge tale with a tremendously fun role for an older actor. Plummer's wit and dark whimsy are on full display here, and the twists and turns are not only just devilish, but perfectly paced. There are several morals here, but the biggest one is simply do not count out older women. They always have tricks up their sleeves. :)

A wonderful short about family and what part blood relation truly plays in it, Corley's play is a surefire hit for any festival. The pacing is absolutely brilliant, truly letting us into Baxter and Andy's situation layer by layer, bit by bit, so when the insecurities and fears finally hit, they land. You don't often see the complexities of fatherhood laid bare so deftly in such a short time. Bravo.

We say often that theatre "holds up a mirror" to the audience in order to reflect life. What happens when the play itself is full of mirrors? In Harriet's case, a resurgence of past Halloweens' traumas. Syran's short play is a powerful, introspective descent into grief, anger, the difference between "trickers and treaters", and just why some of us don't actually like certain holidays, thank you very much. A tender, horrific reminder. Take a deep breath and dive in.

To say that "The Story of Jimmy Kaplingus" contains multitudes is the understatement of the year. There's musing on voyeurism, the relationships between watcher and watched (audience and actors), as well as the sheer, existential terror of being alive and/or being a crab. There's also a plethora of highly curated and cared for Bro puns. Everything you're looking for in a play is here. Absolute fun and incredibly theatrical, with ample opportunity for the entire production team to do something they haven't before. And isn't that what theatre is all about? Or life?

Or maybe watching is better...

Every once in a while, we encounter a character who leaps off the pages and immediately into our hearts. It's hard to describe the majesty and charisma of a man like Pat the Exterminator. What drives a man with so many learned skill sets to choose the profession of humble pest control? What leads a man to act with such kindness and gentleness? Is it the parenting? Is it something hereditary? Something just naturally there?

Another hilarious adventure of Pat's "day?" job. I wish he was running for president. Bravo, Soucy.