Recommended by Shaun Leisher

A compelling play about the power of faith. Lilia is such a complex character. She's an amazing role for a young Latinx actress. This play is so full of tension. Tension between the different ways we practice our faith and the tension we feel when long for something we shouldn't. I love how Hurst-Mendoza can even find the human qualities of monstrous characters like Pardre Salvador and Marujenia. This is a play about what it means to be human and how that can be at odds with one's faith.

A fascinating look at a story from mythology we all think we know told through the lens of modern-day motherhood. A play about the most horrible thing a mother could do and what it would take for a woman to get to the point in her life to commit that atrocity. I love the structure of this play and how it makes a shift from motherhood to the life of an actress. I'd love to see how this piece that is brilliant on the page would work with skilled actrs

A hysterical look at every parent's worst nightmare. This play does a great job at handling BDSM and kink without a bit of shaming. A fun opportunity for actors, directors and design teams to take on a bold piece of theatre.

There are moment in this short play that feel like two friends talking to each other and then there are moments when it seems like the play exists outside of time. A place outside of time when these two people look back on all the moments they could have said something different. Moments where they could have been vulnerable with each other. This is a play about how words can be so inadequate when it comes to speaking our truths. A great scene study piece for a cis man and trans man

I loved this short play so much. The dialogue felt so natural and I really enjoyed being let into a world so different from my own. I loved that this was a play about lesbians that had nothing to do with coming out or coming to terms with their sexuality. And that ending KILLED ME!!!!

A beautiful short monologue about overcoming past hurts and becoming who you truly are. This feels like such an honest depiction of kink and I loved the gardening metaphor. I was so moved by this piece as Partain took me on a journey with April as she reclaims her body. This is such a meaty piece for actresses.

This play is about such a niche subculture but Barr does a great job at introducing us to this world without dumbing anything down. This play is about trading cards but it's also about so much more. It's a play about being true to yourself and taking risks to let others know who you are. It's so refreshing to read a play with trans characters where their transness is hardly commented on. This play is an opportunity for trans actors to play thoughtful roles that aren't about their trauma.

I feel like we don't talk about community college much in the theatre. We talk a lot about high school and four-year universities but community colleges don't get their due on the stage. I loved that this play features a diverse group of characters. Some are older than the average college student and one is pregnant. I think this play handles pregnancy in a touching and nuanced way. At its core this is a play about artistic freedom and what we are willing to compromise as creative people.

A great piece of science fiction that centers the experience of Black people. So refreshing to read a script that allows Black people to be fully fleshed out characters and not just individuals that deal with racial trauma. I couldn't stop thinking about how this play could be staged. I can't wait to see what lighting and sound designers could do with a piece like this. The tone of this piece was so eerie and I loved every second of it. The ending really hit me. Please produce this play.

A moving period piece about two people who both don't seem to fit in but learn to enjoy each other's company at work. Craig-Galvan has a gift for dialogue and her use of magic in this play was a great touch. This is a great play for older actors of color that are looking for complex roles in plays that don't only focus on racism and trauma. Racism is certainly an element in this play but it's not the sole focus. I found that so refreshing. More productions of this play please.