Recommended by Daniel Prillaman

  • Daniel Prillaman: ADAGIO

    Bivens has crafted a taut, unexpectedly thrilling two-hander, delving into grief, relationships, public/private personas, and legacy all in a few short pages. The rhythm and pace are brisk (even before the gun comes out), and Melinda and George feel perfectly drawn and matched. The philosophical moments are a beautiful touch as well, resulting in a complex musing: "How much say do the dead deserve to have over those of us left behind?"

    Bivens has crafted a taut, unexpectedly thrilling two-hander, delving into grief, relationships, public/private personas, and legacy all in a few short pages. The rhythm and pace are brisk (even before the gun comes out), and Melinda and George feel perfectly drawn and matched. The philosophical moments are a beautiful touch as well, resulting in a complex musing: "How much say do the dead deserve to have over those of us left behind?"

  • Daniel Prillaman: Click! (A Travel Motif)

    A single sound is all it takes. Eberlein's play is profound and deeply affecting, and will surely sit with you long after you take your eyes away. The staccato rhythm of the piece is striking, and it finds its way burrowing into you in a way that forever catches you off guard. Moreover, it is a simple truth. Privilege exists. Classism exists. Fear exists. A beautiful, uncomfortable work.

    A single sound is all it takes. Eberlein's play is profound and deeply affecting, and will surely sit with you long after you take your eyes away. The staccato rhythm of the piece is striking, and it finds its way burrowing into you in a way that forever catches you off guard. Moreover, it is a simple truth. Privilege exists. Classism exists. Fear exists. A beautiful, uncomfortable work.

  • Daniel Prillaman: The Early Flight

    How disillusioned must you be with your marriage if you WANT to catch your wife cheating? Feriend provides the answer with a hilarious spoof that twists and turns right up until its final pages (and multiple endings?!). Adultery has never been so much fun. This is a tightly packed, briskly paced comedy that will certainly delight any audience. And BOTH endings are sure to be a hoot you won't see coming.

    How disillusioned must you be with your marriage if you WANT to catch your wife cheating? Feriend provides the answer with a hilarious spoof that twists and turns right up until its final pages (and multiple endings?!). Adultery has never been so much fun. This is a tightly packed, briskly paced comedy that will certainly delight any audience. And BOTH endings are sure to be a hoot you won't see coming.

  • Daniel Prillaman: Children of Combs and Watch Chains

    McClain's tragedy is a remarkable piece of writing. There's a grim dread throughout the entire play as we feel the wrench slowly tighten. We know Della and Jim's desperation will have dire, perhaps deadly consequences, we just don't know exactly what shape they will take. Once they do, we are left in a complex web of trauma, shame, horrific ethics, maybe even evil, all because two people wanted something good. Heartbreaking, filled with full, moving characters, this play has a long life ahead of it.

    McClain's tragedy is a remarkable piece of writing. There's a grim dread throughout the entire play as we feel the wrench slowly tighten. We know Della and Jim's desperation will have dire, perhaps deadly consequences, we just don't know exactly what shape they will take. Once they do, we are left in a complex web of trauma, shame, horrific ethics, maybe even evil, all because two people wanted something good. Heartbreaking, filled with full, moving characters, this play has a long life ahead of it.

  • Daniel Prillaman: This Year

    There's a darkness, even a privilege, to apathy, but sometimes we have to take refuge in it to avoid breaking. Lam's play brings cathartic hilarity to that idea, giving us a 2020 in which one more very unique thing happens, and a pair of characters who react with a "yeah, I guess this might as well happen. I should probably adjust accordingly." Casually horrific and funny as hell, this is easily the best satire of the previous year I've seen. Well done.

    There's a darkness, even a privilege, to apathy, but sometimes we have to take refuge in it to avoid breaking. Lam's play brings cathartic hilarity to that idea, giving us a 2020 in which one more very unique thing happens, and a pair of characters who react with a "yeah, I guess this might as well happen. I should probably adjust accordingly." Casually horrific and funny as hell, this is easily the best satire of the previous year I've seen. Well done.

  • Daniel Prillaman: Science Friction; or, The Rapid Deconstruction of a Rational Mind

    The phrase "down the rabbit hole" comes to mind, albeit the trip of this play is filled with significantly more paranoia, anxiety, and expertly placed references. Preuss's short play is a hilarious, brilliant love letter to high concept sci-fi (and all the ways it is actually scarily similar to our own world). Daisy's imagination is probably getting away from her, but to be honest...I see where she's coming from. Wonderfully done.

    The phrase "down the rabbit hole" comes to mind, albeit the trip of this play is filled with significantly more paranoia, anxiety, and expertly placed references. Preuss's short play is a hilarious, brilliant love letter to high concept sci-fi (and all the ways it is actually scarily similar to our own world). Daisy's imagination is probably getting away from her, but to be honest...I see where she's coming from. Wonderfully done.

  • Daniel Prillaman: Within Their Range

    Sometimes, all you need is a striking image and a rule. The image, a staircase where there shouldn't be. The rule, don't step on it. Perlman ratchets up the creepy suspense and casual menace by letting our minds do the work of imagining the terror and "what ifs," and it's a wild ride. The radios add a special layer of atmosphere, really allowing the audience to feel the isolation of the setting. All that and the fact it takes place during the daytime? You've got a lovely, unconventional horror short for any festival. Well done.

    Sometimes, all you need is a striking image and a rule. The image, a staircase where there shouldn't be. The rule, don't step on it. Perlman ratchets up the creepy suspense and casual menace by letting our minds do the work of imagining the terror and "what ifs," and it's a wild ride. The radios add a special layer of atmosphere, really allowing the audience to feel the isolation of the setting. All that and the fact it takes place during the daytime? You've got a lovely, unconventional horror short for any festival. Well done.

  • Daniel Prillaman: Marcus and Sextus Take A Bloody Walk Around London

    Unfortunately for Marcus and Sextus (wonderful for us), they make bloody brilliant tour guides. Part history lesson, part buddy comedy, Plummer's play provides us two perfect foils and chuckles as infinite as their ghostly plight. I could imagine the taking entire stroll (sorry, patrol) with a pint in hand and smile on my face, ghost watching our legionaries as they mill about the entirety of Southwark. What used to be Southwark. Where is London Bridge now again? Hilarious.

    Unfortunately for Marcus and Sextus (wonderful for us), they make bloody brilliant tour guides. Part history lesson, part buddy comedy, Plummer's play provides us two perfect foils and chuckles as infinite as their ghostly plight. I could imagine the taking entire stroll (sorry, patrol) with a pint in hand and smile on my face, ghost watching our legionaries as they mill about the entirety of Southwark. What used to be Southwark. Where is London Bridge now again? Hilarious.

  • Daniel Prillaman: Drowning Ophelia

    I LOVED reading this. Strayer's play is brutal, yet delicate, and theatrically enthralling as Jane and Ophelia both struggle to articulate anguish that cannot be put into words or song. The whole piece results in a mind-bending, intricate puzzle of trauma and grief, a brilliant metaphor for what it feels like mentally to try and unpack and acknowledge the hurt caused by our wrongdoers. Such fun design opportunities here, as well! I would love so much to see this on its feet.

    I LOVED reading this. Strayer's play is brutal, yet delicate, and theatrically enthralling as Jane and Ophelia both struggle to articulate anguish that cannot be put into words or song. The whole piece results in a mind-bending, intricate puzzle of trauma and grief, a brilliant metaphor for what it feels like mentally to try and unpack and acknowledge the hurt caused by our wrongdoers. Such fun design opportunities here, as well! I would love so much to see this on its feet.

  • Daniel Prillaman: Paper and Ink

    This is a fantastic example of staged horror at its best and most effective. Lee's chamber piece is a tight, provocative short with maddening scares and frightening audio/visual sequences, but ultimately, it's about the relationship between the two sisters, and the need for closure driving a wedge between them. This would be amazing to see, be in, or design, and is a piece you NEED to know about, even if you don't like horror. It's that good. And the ending, sometimes so easily a letdown, is perfect here. Highly recommend.

    This is a fantastic example of staged horror at its best and most effective. Lee's chamber piece is a tight, provocative short with maddening scares and frightening audio/visual sequences, but ultimately, it's about the relationship between the two sisters, and the need for closure driving a wedge between them. This would be amazing to see, be in, or design, and is a piece you NEED to know about, even if you don't like horror. It's that good. And the ending, sometimes so easily a letdown, is perfect here. Highly recommend.