Recommended by Olivia Lilley

  • Ghosts of Whitechapel
    8 Jun. 2020
    Kate's writing is fresh, action packed, and manages to really fuse the personal and political. An inventive concept crescendos to a surprising and very satisfying ending. This may appear to be a period piece but it is alive as hell. If you're looking for a play about intersectional feminism, crime dramas, and ghosts, look no further. Murder mystery podcast enthusiasts, get on this.
  • FLEX
    8 Jun. 2020
    One of the most original plays I've read in awhile. Jones has so much heart for her characters. She creates complex people who truly transform, each in their own way. The theatricality lets your imagination run wild. Deals with important issues effortlessly.
  • My Dear Hussein
    8 Jun. 2020
    Delightful and heartbreaking story of a young girl living through horrifying times. Wonderful Middle Eastern characters. If you're going to read only one play about war, read this one.
  • Pairi Daiza
    8 Jun. 2020
    Gorgeous world building. Complex characters. Fresh. Grounded in love and understanding. A must read.
  • The Persuadables
    8 Jun. 2020
    I've been fascinated by this play since experiencing the first draft at Prop Thtr. Hallie never shies away from characters with real complexity. She balancing the personal and political in exciting ways. Data Mining is something we absolutely need to be talking about. If you're looking for a play that is a legit serious political thriller with a heart, this is a must read.
  • The Prince and the Pauper
    8 Jun. 2020
    This adaptation is incredibly fun and brilliantly showcases the ensemble that pulls it off. It's not your run of the mill children's play. Check it out!
  • Gulliver's Travels: A Play With Scale
    8 Jun. 2020
    This children's theatre piece is so inventive and empathetic that it could play just as easily for teens and adults. Filled with humor, but also grounded in real issues, this adaptation is fresh and enchanting.
  • HOW TO PICK A LOCK
    8 Jun. 2020
    Tanuja's characters are highly specific and people you NEVER SEE ONSTAGE. Her world building is incredible and full of blood, sweat, and tears. By programming this play, you will be exposing your audiences to a point of view they urgently need to hear. Definitely check out "How To Pick A Lock", and keep an eye out for everything Tanuja writes. It will make you think hard about what you're doing for your community and the world at large.
  • SHINING
    8 Jun. 2020
    I recently caught a Zoom reading of this by BATCO. If you're a fan of modern verse plays, but you're looking for something highly fresh and singular, read this play. Zeus and Hera mingle with original characters such as Shining and his sisters (all with light infused names). Follow Shining on a quest that feels so incredibly relevant to our current moment. Aidaa is a writer to watch.
  • Minutes and Seconds
    20 Mar. 2020
    Minutes and seconds premiered in a stunning DIY production directed by Michelle Altman at Rhinofest 2019. This play is hilarious and feels like what early Steppenwolf must have been like. It's intense, grounded in a very clear world, and so dark you're crying/laughing/screaming. This play is the only post apocalyptic play that I've ever genuinely liked. Read it.

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