Recommended by Daniel Prillaman

Anytime Medusa shows up to have a chat, you have to acknowledge maybe there's something you're pushing down. Wry, twisting, and visually arresting, Karuc's play is a fantastic descent into the nightmare-scape of figuring out the self in the aftermath of trauma. Gabby's uneven internal battle for love, hope, purpose, acceptance, and everything in-between is mirrored beautifully by the constantly shifting world. There are so many delightful, theatrical images at play here, and producing companies would have a hell of a time mounting this piece of work.

Few people on this earth have the deftness to create beautiful monsters like Scott Sickles. Creatures that could break your heart both figuratively and literally. In his newest, The Minotaur (that one!!) meets a new meal. Wait...no. Human? Uh...Doesn't matter, I guess. What matters is the journey that follows, a fascinating adventure of finding connection, illusion, and kindred spirits. Actors and designers alike will have a hell of a time crafting this world and its characters.

Aside from the damn good advice, what's most magical here is the amount of room Elisabeth Giffin Speckman gives producing companies to play. The only thing more fun than an atmosphere that jumps off the page is one that jumps off the page in hundreds of ways. You could stage this infinitely, and never see the same thing twice. This play is a hug. A comforting rite of perseverance. In 4 words...this play is astounding.

Pure fun. Just pure, absolute fun. And helpful! I want so much to talk about how this play provides the perfect answer for any befuddled actor or writer, but I will not spoil Richter's delivery. Rest assured, this short is hilarious and an ultimate truth. If you read one play today, make sure it's this one.

I just got engaged recently. This is not an attempt to fish for congratulations. This is relevant information. If you have also recently gotten engaged...hell, if you're THINKING about getting engaged, if you're dating someone, if you've ever had a crush, if you've ever been anywhere ever with literally anyone else, Sickles has provided immaculate advice.

Write your vows beforehand.

Or don't. Fuck it.

If you're with the right person, nothing else much matters.

There's something inexplicable about encountering something (or someone) we know is powerful or otherworldly. Do they pose a threat? What are their intentions? Is the pleasantness of the company enough to override that? As someone unfamiliar with the folklore at hand (but so excited now to dive in), Karuc's short play blew me away. This is an incredible piece of writing, with serene, slightly empty (or it is sinister?) visuals and dialogue that cuts like cold ice. A surreal musing on death, grief, and moving (not even forward, just moving) after loss. Highly recommend.

It's almost frightening to think of God (or whatever deity came before) as more human. The idea that our creator doesn't know what the hell they're doing might be comforting, but not exactly reassuring. Heyman's thoughtful comedy explores the insanity of creating and managing the entire universe(s), but also bravely meditates on the most important part of the story, the end. Even if you're God, we all have a finite amount of time to do what we choose to do, or make what we choose to make. That can mean everything. Lovely short work.

What is worth defying God for? Bavoso is amazing. Instead of taking what could easily be a one-joke premise stretched out to ten minutes, he adds an insane amount of BEAUTIFUL layers to one of the most "extra" Sunday School stories. We chuckle at the thought of the awkward conversation, but the surprising heartfelt words both said and unsaid are moving, funny, and eye-opening, as son and father truly see one another for the first time. This is a stellar short play.

Moving, inspiring, and filled with the literal perfect amount of sass, Feriend's play is just beautiful. A brilliant meditation on so much, from the multiple meanings of home, collaboration amongst romantic partners, matriarchal generational legacy, what happens to our dreams as we age, and everything in-between. The staggering feat is how tightly focused it is. The dialogue here will sneak up on you, strike you from underneath like the rattlesnakes under the trailer. Have I even mentioned the "Texas" jokes, yet? Like, really, there's so much here. And it even has great roles for some older actors. Highly recommend.

Absurd and vindicating, "Unfortunately" is a delightful (for the audience) window into the unique shit playwrights have to put up with, something people who are not playwrights will never quite understand. But no matter your affiliation with plays, everyone will most certainly enjoy the comedy at play, as we watch how far Sarah is willing to go for the chance of a production. Hilarious short.