Recommended by David Hansen

“Hottentotted” is a haunting piece, a bold and beautiful examination of the black female body, and how it is seen, one which explores the dichotomy between that which is perceived as beautiful and unsightly, self-denial and self-awareness -- of wanting to be something else, and the struggle towards empowerment, safety, and self-love. Highly recommended!

Whidden’s brief, gritty and intense noir thriller, packed with psychological gamesmanship, communicates the pressure, the damage, and the wide-raging effect a public panic can have on the greater community. The "Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run" is the catalyst for a confrontation between three police officers officers at a crime scene which acts as a cautionary tale about reputation, responsibility, and the ghosts of our fathers. With cracking dialogue and urgency, it's a must read!

A lyrically told, heart-hurting tale of grief, touchingly communicating one father’s feelings of utter helplessness and the inability to do or say anything right for his child. "The Story of Walter" is a moving sketch book of emotional recovery, and one I deeply recommend.

Memoir, lecture, and dramatic interpretation of the living nightmare that is addiction. The lies, the crimes, the pain. There's a lot going on here in 80 minutes. Creating an improvised "how to" video suits the subject very well, providing context and structure. For better or for worse, I can't imagine there is a better time in history for a piece like this, this play should be produced everywhere.

An urgent work set ten-minutes into our future. How will you (or I) confront the government censorship which we may eventually face? Rahn-Lee creates a believable and harrowing scenario, one which is impossible to easily discount. Strongly recommended for production, before it is too late.

Perlmutter pairs characters Shakespeare never allowed to speak together to tell a well-known tale from the woman’s perspective, exploring and exploding preconceived ideas of ambition, and the frustration and madness that arise when your own advancement and success depend upon the actions of men. Sinister, satiric and sexy, compact and compelling. Highly recommended.

Read this in "American Theater," and checked out the music on Spotify. Yee’s script is at once specific and transcendent, a survivor’s tale, describing how music can make us complacent in times of crisis, and also be a powerful weapon of hope and survival. A Cambodian Scheherazade preserves his own life through rock and roll, but his sacrifices are almost overwhelming. A powerful warning for our time, for those of us who fiddle while the world burns. Highly recommended.

Brett is a shining wit, master of the elegantly absurd (or absurdly elegant) turn of phrase, and the cleverly dropped pop culture reference. This brief script is a delightful, jewel-encrusted box of Cracker Jack, at once classy but déclassé. A high-tone howler. Hilarious!

THE WOLVES is a devastatingly insightful display of female drive and determination, which also poses a strong question for those charged with raising tomorrow's women; How far do we push children and young adults in the pursuit of excellence, achievement, love, and acceptance? A brilliantly urgent new work.

Gunderson has written a concise, playful, and earnest tale of how Shakespeare’s First Folio might have come together. Surprisingly energetic for a story about publishing, the playwright also very successfully tackles such questions as what is the enduring attraction of Shakespeare, and why do we even produce and attend the theater? Finally, Gunderson once again squarely addresses the hardship and wonder of mortality with dignity, pathos, and joy. A brilliant work by one of our great modern playwrights.