Recommended by Shaun Leisher

Groustra wonderfully captures what it's like to be a girl in today's version of suburban America. This play is about the different ways these young girls process the horrible thing that happened to someone just like them. Some obsess and stay vigilant. Others deflect because if they feel the fear they know they could be next. I loved the fantasy elements in this play and how the lives of historical women parallel the ones of our protagonists. These are great roles for actresses and I can't wait to see this on stage.

The youth of this country have a lot to deal with. Making friends. Trying to find their place. On top of all of that they are also constantly being bombarded with new of war, school shootings and genocide. It doesn't make anything easier when the "adults" in their lives are just as lost as they are. I loved that these young boys are meant to be cast gender diversely. This is a play about gender and class and how factors like that can impact the lives of kids who should just be able to be kids.

I feel like this could have been a play about any vocation but the fact that it's about three domestic violence advocates makes it all the more impactful. I loved the diversity of ages between these characters. They are all victims of gender violence but their experience varies based on what generation they are from. I loved how the way these characters view the work they do varied. I love plays about work relationships and this is a great addition to that genre. I hope this play gets produced everywhere and inspires others.

Lardner has written a great play with KILLER roles for women and non-binary folx. I loved the way this play depicts friendship among young people that don't identify as cis men. That unique relationship where you will do so much for the other person. These characters stand by each other and try to help even when that help and support is not reciprocated. Loved that this play was race specific and how the identities of the characters say so much about their characters without bringing too much attention to it.

A feast for an actor that is willing to bare themselves (figuratively and literally) for a bunch of strangers. The writing here is so strong. I found myself very moved by the way Galahad is able to wear the mask of bravado and then be so vulnerable often in the same moment. My knowledge of this legend doesn't extend much beyond Monty Python but I didn't feel lost at all. The plight of this knight feels so relatable and I admire Jones for leaning into his humanity. He is such a flawed character that can't help but be endearing.

This take on the post-apocalyptic genre feels so authentic and unique. Yes it's about the collapse of society but it's also about childhood and overcoming pains of the past. Queen Chelsea forces these girls to recreate her trauma not as a way for them to make amends but as a way for her to understand what actually happened to her. These characters could have been one note but Jones finds a real depth in them. This one should be produced all over but should definitely be a staple in college theatre.

A psychological, sexual thriller that defied all of my expectations. I feel like the world of life coaching is a very interesting place to make art about and I think the playwright has a really interesting take on that world. Obviously it is something that can be very beneficial for people but it's also something that can be so easily twisted and turned into something toxic. Christine and Magda are two broken people that find comfort in each other through sex or violence. Wanna see this produced so badly.

I rarely get a chance to read rom-com plays so I'm glad I gave this one a shot. A really heart-warming play about discovering one's sexuality and learning to live life to the fullest. I loved the connection between Avery and Claire. Their banter was really endearing and their conflict felt like it came from an authentic place. And then there's the stuff with the muses. I love when plays get magical and this one does in a really fun way. The fact that this play also got to explore sexism in academia made me admire it even more.

I love the unique bond between sisters is being represented here. We don't know what caused Sylvia to be in the state we find her at the beginning of the play and I kind of love that we don't know. The reason behind it is not what matters. What matters is how the dark place Sylvia finds herself in impacts those around her. I believe that Alex deeply cares for her sister but she also harbors a huge amount of resentment. I love how the men in this play don't really do much. It's about these complicated women.

I loved the way that Lawrence portrays the confusion around figuring out one's sexuality at an early age. This play shows us what it's like for two girls to be friends while also exploring their emotions and desires. Lawrence did a great job capturing the obsessions young girls have whether it be about their looks, their social standing or a celebrity. The time jumps worked really well. I had questions about what happened to Esther and Mia between each scene but leaving it mysterious was effective.