Recommended by Greg Burdick

This thoughtful, absurdist piece set at the end of the world puts our collective self-absorption front and center... (where, we’re all certain, it rightfully belongs.) Grega times bits between the Pilot, Writer, Editor, and Miser perfectly. And while these characters successfully waste their last 10 minutes, they’ll give audiences something to think about on the ride home.

Living in a political climate that is fraught with daily deception, denials, and bald-faced lying, our art demands us to be unashamedly honest, open, and forthright. In “Pussygrabber,” Gina Femia bravely answers the call. The truth hurts, and this piece will make you uncomfortable... but we all need to hear it. A daring and fearless work.

Asher Wyndham understands characterization. He displays it masterfully in this compelling monologue. Leena’s coarse, and gruff exterior is a stark contrast to the delicate, methodical work she’s doing at the sewing machine. And thematically the entire piece works much in the same way: on the surface he gives us a brief snapshot of prison life... but throughout Wyndham widens his lens to show us ourselves, and how we all fit inside this tiny story. Actors tackling Asher’s work need to bring their chops, because he’s certainly brought his.

I had the pleasure of seeing this play read at Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol’s “Scripts From Scratch” festival. Leavengood gives us a quirky corral of outlandish archetypal characters, and sets them free in a wild Shakespearean farce for our times. Loaded with plenty of physical gags, and fast-paced dialogue, “A Superior Shakespeare” delivers the laughs. Looking forward to reading more of this playwright’s work.

It’s been said: never meet your heroes... they’ll always disappoint. But what can you do if your hero happens to be a member of your own family? Hageman’s exquisite play “Blue” shows the inescapable truth behind the saying, yet how a young woman won’t allow her journey through time and revelation to tarnish the memory she holds so dear. This is a beautiful piece of writing.

Gardner has captured a conversation that has played out countless times, one can imagine, since the very dawn of humankind. We see very clear motivations driving the characters’ infidelity, and their collective struggle to overcome where to go from here. The image drawn to explain “Her’s” philosophy on the inevitability of stagnation in long term relationships is succinctly realized in a single line. CYCLE is yet more proof of Gardner’s mastery of sketching complicated characters in just a few strokes.

Minky triumphantly returns! In a follow up to Carnes’ side-splitting play “INERTIA,” the quirky sock monkey puppet continues to work through things with her kinda-sorta boyfriend Billie. Theaters, take careful note: if you don’t stage these two gems immediately, a road is being paved here for a groundbreaking new television show... someone get this puppet a pilot!

Partain absolutely chills in this page-turner. With the sensibility of a tale by Poe, she weaves themes of loneliness, obsession with death, and madness, into a dark and gripping one act. I’ve climbed several lighthouse towers all along the east coast... after reading this play, I’ll never be able to scale the steps of another without thinking of Griffith and Howell. Terrifying.

After their marriage is no longer a marriage, Britt and Joe want to try again. Britt can’t help but look back, while Joe wants to move forward. Hoke finely crafts seven progressive scenes which allow us to do both. It’s a strong lesson in negotiation, concession, playing the angles, and covering your bases. Neither of these people are perfect, but they’re struggling to be- for themselves, and for each other. And when we see that in our partners, even at their lowest moments, sometimes that’s enough. A smart, poignant two-hander that will make you laugh too.

If you’re an artist, of any medium, after reading Sheila Cowley’s HUE AND SATURATION, you’ll conclude that you’re either a Ripley, or a Robin. Play it safe and small, or dare to be fabulous in unthinkable scale. Whichever you are, you’ll be inspired to paint the sky at the end. Sign me up.