Recommended by Quinn Xavier Hernandez

Moving with ferocity and openly condemning white violence of all levels, WELL INTENTIONED WHITE PEOPLE is unapologetic in its portrayal of black trauma. Imani Vaughn-Jones has written a powerful examination of society, allyship, and the work left to be done--the work that must be taken up by white allies. I applaud her vulnerability and ask that you give this piece every consideration. Develop it. Invest in it. Produce it.

BLUETOOTH is a beautiful short piece full of representation and such dramatically high stakes. I've seen numerous readings of this piece and each time it has resonated on so many emotional levels. Read this short play and produce it, please!

I had the great fortune of hearing this piece at a Monday Night Critique Session through Working Title Playwrights and all I can say is oh. My. God. There is such power in this monologue and Benjamin Carr's dialogue is simultaneously a gut punch and a feather boa on your skin. Read this monologue. Embrace it. Then produce it. It's a powerful piece tackling family, drug abuse, owning who you are, how we choose to remember the dead, and the way the dead ought to be remembered.

THE BEDROOM SUMMIT is filled with heartbreak, pain, desire, and charm. Scott Sickles sketches two beautifully complex young men that balance all of these motifs effortlessly. It's refreshingly hard to read this on the page and that is why I hope I will get to see it staged soon. That discomfort is vital and necessary. Fantastic job!

If you're familiar with Emily Hageman's work then you already know she has a beautiful penchant for writing young characters and creating gripping plays for younger actors. THE INEXPLICABLE CHAOS FACTOR OF MIA GREGORY is another shining example of Ms. Hageman's skill. Strong LEADING roles for young women, a delightful cast of awkwardly real characters, and difficult subject matter in the forms of mental health and suicide; all are tackled with finesse and care.

Hilary Bluestein-Lyons hits hard with her comedy. TIGHTEN YOUR BORSCHT BELT is incredibly funny, tender, and (at times) difficult to watch. The character of Hattie is simply tremendous; she's strong, well-spoken, witty, and committed. Bluestein-Lyons' twisting of her pain into comedic gold is a delight. I would love to see this staged. Produce it now, please!

THE CURSE OF DYSFUNCTION is a beautiful slow burn of a play. From the jump, there's this sense of impending doom lingering overhead and each of Baynard's characters is inching their way closer and closer to it. By the end, Baynard creates his own beautiful and twisted masterpiece that demands his audience question the lengths they would go for family. The gore in this play would be a delight for a set designer and props master to collaborate on. I'm very eager to see this play staged with full special effects!

Shifting between tragically tender moments and almost frantic comedy, THEY KNOW NOT forces three dysfunctional family members to coexist in the least ideal of conditions. Jennifer Skura's knack for witty, emotionally-driven dialogue really shines. I highly recommend this play!

Liz Dooley's knack for delightfully weird and honest characters shines in all of her writing but especially in FIDGET AND TILDY. A powerful youth play with strong messages about dealing with fear and trauma, embracing maturity, and the bonds of family–Dooley's imaginative and honest re-imagining of Peter Pan is a joy to read and would be even more wonderful staged.

Such a powerful and timely play! The characters are vibrant and diverse––while I don't always love a group protagonist, THE WOLVES certainly manages to make the concept shine!