Recommended by Quinn Xavier Hernandez

Gina Femia weaves such exhilarating images into her stage directions; images so full of magic that you wonder how the play can possibly hold everything and not overflow. The same can be said for her dialogue. Put in stark contrast to the magic, the gritty and highly realistic nature of her characters leads to some of the most vulnerable dialogue imaginable. THE MERMAID PARADE is horrifying, wonderful, and delightfully theatrical. #PlaywrightPlug

THE OCEAN THOUGHT NOTHING carries this haunting quality as it shifts backward and forward in time. Kari Bentley-Quinn has a mastery of dramatic timing. Her flashbacks are well placed and offer just as many questions as answers. By the play’s end, we are left off-kilter; uncertain if we are satisfied with what we have just witnessed, but prepared to face the unknown. #PlaywrightPlug

Dizzying and sharp, LOVELAND wastes no time getting to the crux of its drama. Writing about sexual abuse is difficult, but MT Cozzola delivers each beat fiercely and leaves you reeling with how brutally honest and vulnerable her characters can get. #PlaywrightPlug

Compassionate yet distant and filled with moments of confusion and pure clarity, IT’S NOT A TRIP IT’S A JOURNEY allows four wildly different friends to let go of themselves. June, Frankie, Rain, and Willie are allowed to exist for and in spite of themselves and it is in their interactions that they form a bond beyond friendship. It’s beautiful and intimate and so not about the destination that you can’t help but feel comfortable at the end, if not longing for more. #PlaywrightPlug #PlaywrightSpotlight

A journey of self-discovery, FORM OF A GIRL UNKNOWN plays on every expectation of the typical bildungsroman story and makes it something of a dream. We, as an audience, are able to immediately connect with Amali and her struggles and curiosities become our own. When she runs off into the woods, we are right there and ready to follow along on our own version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream that helps us accept the fact that there are no answers. We’ll always be looking and maybe, just maybe, that’s okay. #PlaywrightPlug #PlaywrightSpotlight

Breathtaking and vibrant, JUMP cycles through death, life, paranoia, certainty, grief, joy, hope, and despair seamlessly. There is such a delicate balance of poetry, visual magic, sound, and humanity that makes each page a delight. It’s full of wonder, dreamlike, and mesmerizing. If you’re looking for a play that deals intimately with human connection then look no further. #PlaywrightPlug #PlaywrightSpotlight

At first glance EXCEPTION TO THE RULE appears relatively straightforward: kids gathered in a room for detention waiting for release. But as time drags on, fights erupt, and the authoritarian voice over the intercom drones on about consequences and zero tolerance, Dave Harris’ world becomes something far greater than itself. It’s an epic in a deceivingly small package; a story of identity, circumstance, and sacrifice. #PlaywrightPlug

Dana Lynn Formby uses silence masterfully to fully flesh out the relationship between a father and daughter. JOHNNY 10 BEERS’ DAUGHTER is equal parts ceremony, rage, love, missed communication, and legacy that make for a compelling and heartbreaking story. #PlaywrightPlug

What do you do when there’s a timer ticking down to the end of life as you know it? Caity-Shea Violette answers this question by putting a mirror up to the fears and dreams that motivate us when our time is reaching its end. With four strong roles for women and a powerful family dynamic, REAP THE GROVE is a tearjerker and a delight. #PlaywrightPlug

“What does a snapshot of your life look like? Could it ever capture the entirety of your life? Your dimensions? Your senses, affections - your passions? It’s a ludicrous question.” Jaymes Sanchez drives his points on duty, necessary force, prejudice, and the consequences of our actions with every line. SODA FROM WATER CUPS delivers a harsh truth and doesn’t allow its audience to shy away from the reality of today’s society. #PlaywrightPlug