Recommended by John Minigan

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    In Optional Boss Battle, Nick Malakhow crafts a beautifully rendered portrait of two teen boys coming to terms with past trauma in a locked-down world, struggling to connect to their mothers and, most importantly, to each other. It's a gorgeous play that uses technology not simply to dazzle but to advance the story and reflect the struggles and complexities of Alonso and Ruben. Affirming, sharp, and deeply felt work.

    In Optional Boss Battle, Nick Malakhow crafts a beautifully rendered portrait of two teen boys coming to terms with past trauma in a locked-down world, struggling to connect to their mothers and, most importantly, to each other. It's a gorgeous play that uses technology not simply to dazzle but to advance the story and reflect the struggles and complexities of Alonso and Ruben. Affirming, sharp, and deeply felt work.

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    It was a true joy to see this play on stage. Such brilliant humor and such heart weave together to make a brilliant concept a raucous, affecting, and stunningly entertaining play. David Templeton has created a work that is as exhilarating for the audience as it is likely exhausting for the actor playing Featherbaby. The role is a gift (and a stretch) for any actor. I expect the play will be part of seasons all over the country soon. Kudos!

    It was a true joy to see this play on stage. Such brilliant humor and such heart weave together to make a brilliant concept a raucous, affecting, and stunningly entertaining play. David Templeton has created a work that is as exhilarating for the audience as it is likely exhausting for the actor playing Featherbaby. The role is a gift (and a stretch) for any actor. I expect the play will be part of seasons all over the country soon. Kudos!

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    I was able to see the Portland Stage workshop reading of this brilliant play. At the same time it's a dynamic and harrowing portrait of Gisella Perl, the play is also a clear-eyed presentation of the need to do what is right regardless of the risk or the cost to ourselves. The play's dark themes are beautifully balanced with brighter tones that deepen the play's connection to heritage, faith, and history even as they give us momentary relief from the darkness. Compelling and important work.

    I was able to see the Portland Stage workshop reading of this brilliant play. At the same time it's a dynamic and harrowing portrait of Gisella Perl, the play is also a clear-eyed presentation of the need to do what is right regardless of the risk or the cost to ourselves. The play's dark themes are beautifully balanced with brighter tones that deepen the play's connection to heritage, faith, and history even as they give us momentary relief from the darkness. Compelling and important work.

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    Lee Roscoe's Impossible? is chilling, partly in itself, and partly because we can see that the impossible has become increasingly possible every day. This trenchant play is a warning that we need to turn away from the direction we're headed or we will, like the characters in the play fighting from the start or thinking they will win, lose big.

    Lee Roscoe's Impossible? is chilling, partly in itself, and partly because we can see that the impossible has become increasingly possible every day. This trenchant play is a warning that we need to turn away from the direction we're headed or we will, like the characters in the play fighting from the start or thinking they will win, lose big.

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    A sharp, funny, and truly moving play in which the best kind of holiday miracle happens--cynicism meets its match in the power of love. Yes, maybe oil can last eight days, but it's love that can endure and light our way much longer.

    A sharp, funny, and truly moving play in which the best kind of holiday miracle happens--cynicism meets its match in the power of love. Yes, maybe oil can last eight days, but it's love that can endure and light our way much longer.

  • John Minigan: Drummer Boy by Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend
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    This little gem of a play is both a reality check (for my least favorite holiday song) and a laugh-out-loud delight! Maybe, at last and thanks to Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend, the song will fade from the holiday, even if it didn't fade for Joseph, Mary, and the kiddo. Like that famous family, we could all use a little peace and quiet.

    This little gem of a play is both a reality check (for my least favorite holiday song) and a laugh-out-loud delight! Maybe, at last and thanks to Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend, the song will fade from the holiday, even if it didn't fade for Joseph, Mary, and the kiddo. Like that famous family, we could all use a little peace and quiet.

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  • John Minigan: ALEXANDRIA by Vince Gatton
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    A powerful play that is such a gut-punch, especailly in the time we're in and the times we're entering. There is rage, there is compassion, there is acknowledgement that conversations can only take us so far. But most of all there is the essential question of how we will survive our times and our fragmentation--and what, if anything, will survive with us. A necessary play that should be produced all over in 2025

    A powerful play that is such a gut-punch, especailly in the time we're in and the times we're entering. There is rage, there is compassion, there is acknowledgement that conversations can only take us so far. But most of all there is the essential question of how we will survive our times and our fragmentation--and what, if anything, will survive with us. A necessary play that should be produced all over in 2025

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  • John Minigan: Dough by Miranda Jonté
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    This gem of a monologue moves beautifully and joyfully from dissatisfaction with self to a kind of wonder, a wonder that comes with beginning to discover your possible self rather than "proving yourself to yourself (or anyone else)." The arc of the piece provides a great opportunity for the actor to dive into and build on both uncertainty and positive possibilities. Lovely work!

    This gem of a monologue moves beautifully and joyfully from dissatisfaction with self to a kind of wonder, a wonder that comes with beginning to discover your possible self rather than "proving yourself to yourself (or anyone else)." The arc of the piece provides a great opportunity for the actor to dive into and build on both uncertainty and positive possibilities. Lovely work!

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  • John Minigan: Yours Until Niagara Falls by Claudia Haas
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    Yours Until Niagara Falls is stunning in both its simplicity and its depth. Like Gurney's Love Letters, it uses a series of letters (and digital communication) to trace a complex relationship over time, but it is refreshing in its honest, sometimes quirky, sometimes devastating portrayal of female friendship over time. The play's structure allows for a large or small cast to portray Lina and Izzy, and it is a testament to the strong, resonant writing that it would work equally well as a play for young audiences (and actors) or as a two-hander for adults.

    Yours Until Niagara Falls is stunning in both its simplicity and its depth. Like Gurney's Love Letters, it uses a series of letters (and digital communication) to trace a complex relationship over time, but it is refreshing in its honest, sometimes quirky, sometimes devastating portrayal of female friendship over time. The play's structure allows for a large or small cast to portray Lina and Izzy, and it is a testament to the strong, resonant writing that it would work equally well as a play for young audiences (and actors) or as a two-hander for adults.

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  • John Minigan: Romeo & Her Sister by Jillian Blevins
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    I had the great pleasure of seeing the premiere production of Jillian Blevins' often funny, richly imagined, and highly satisfying Romeo & Her Sister. The play captures the complexity of its three central characters – sisters Charlotte and Susan Cushman and Sally Mercer – as they struggle to navigate their relationships with one another, with their identities, and with the world (theatrical and otherwise) around them. At the same time, it centers an important piece of queer history and provides a compelling portrait of the challenges and ultimate joy and power of even difficult sisterhood.

    I had the great pleasure of seeing the premiere production of Jillian Blevins' often funny, richly imagined, and highly satisfying Romeo & Her Sister. The play captures the complexity of its three central characters – sisters Charlotte and Susan Cushman and Sally Mercer – as they struggle to navigate their relationships with one another, with their identities, and with the world (theatrical and otherwise) around them. At the same time, it centers an important piece of queer history and provides a compelling portrait of the challenges and ultimate joy and power of even difficult sisterhood.

    ”