Recommended by Nick Malakhow

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    A moving and unique portrait of a mother and a son (whose relationship is interestingly illuminated through an AirBnB business venture!). The specificity and closeness and beauty and precarity of that relationship is illustrated here with scenes that feel at once organic and highly theatrical all at once. Additionally, the theatrical grand gesture of the final quarter of the piece is striking and impactful. I'd really love to see this fully realized onstage!

    A moving and unique portrait of a mother and a son (whose relationship is interestingly illuminated through an AirBnB business venture!). The specificity and closeness and beauty and precarity of that relationship is illustrated here with scenes that feel at once organic and highly theatrical all at once. Additionally, the theatrical grand gesture of the final quarter of the piece is striking and impactful. I'd really love to see this fully realized onstage!

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    A sweet, gentle, relatable coming of age story that treats all of its characters (adult and teen) with great respect and tenderness while not ignoring the ways their needs and wants make them mistreat each other. I love the humor throughout and how much is told through subtle looks and body language (particularly between Quentin Aziz and Tommy). The elements of dance and the specters that haunt Quentin Aziz add a nice theatricality to everything. I'd love to see this fully realized onstage!

    A sweet, gentle, relatable coming of age story that treats all of its characters (adult and teen) with great respect and tenderness while not ignoring the ways their needs and wants make them mistreat each other. I love the humor throughout and how much is told through subtle looks and body language (particularly between Quentin Aziz and Tommy). The elements of dance and the specters that haunt Quentin Aziz add a nice theatricality to everything. I'd love to see this fully realized onstage!

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    I really loved how this piece captured and subverted the themes/story of Lysistrata, examining the patriarchy in a wholly different social, cultural, and religious context than the original text. All of the characters were deftly drawn and, in particular, I was amazed at how much of the wider social context of the Hasidic community was captured with just four bodies onstage. The piece moves briskly and kept me excited throughout to see all of the subtle yet seismic shifts in character/culture.

    I really loved how this piece captured and subverted the themes/story of Lysistrata, examining the patriarchy in a wholly different social, cultural, and religious context than the original text. All of the characters were deftly drawn and, in particular, I was amazed at how much of the wider social context of the Hasidic community was captured with just four bodies onstage. The piece moves briskly and kept me excited throughout to see all of the subtle yet seismic shifts in character/culture.

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    An original, poetic piece that upends and adds on to one's understanding of Romeo and Juliet as it explores repentance and forgiveness, love/desire, and more. The play is full of exciting stage images and theatricality and mixes whimsy, poetry, humor, and tragedy. I'd love to see this produced onstage!

    An original, poetic piece that upends and adds on to one's understanding of Romeo and Juliet as it explores repentance and forgiveness, love/desire, and more. The play is full of exciting stage images and theatricality and mixes whimsy, poetry, humor, and tragedy. I'd love to see this produced onstage!

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    This is one of the most exciting plays I've read about tech/AI. It addresses in a novel way how our relationships to AI/tech impacts identity formation, anxiety, and our relationships with other people. I found myself consistently delighted and surprised as the scenes moved along, and the play built to a poignant, powerful, human (and humorous) ending. I was also amazed at how the speculative world building aspects were folded in seamlessly. I'd be excited to see this fully realized onstage!

    This is one of the most exciting plays I've read about tech/AI. It addresses in a novel way how our relationships to AI/tech impacts identity formation, anxiety, and our relationships with other people. I found myself consistently delighted and surprised as the scenes moved along, and the play built to a poignant, powerful, human (and humorous) ending. I was also amazed at how the speculative world building aspects were folded in seamlessly. I'd be excited to see this fully realized onstage!

  • Nick Malakhow: Unaccompanied Minors by Jan Rosenberg
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    Molly and Clyde are two hilariously and deftly drawn characters who we are compelled to care about from the start. Their mix of vulnerability and boldness, wisdom and naivete is absolutely on point for middle schoolers and they are treated with respect and care and full humans all throughout the play. I also really enjoyed the slow descent into horror tropes and twists and how they served to amplify the girls' internal journeys, worries, anxieties, and desires. I'd love to see this staged!

    Molly and Clyde are two hilariously and deftly drawn characters who we are compelled to care about from the start. Their mix of vulnerability and boldness, wisdom and naivete is absolutely on point for middle schoolers and they are treated with respect and care and full humans all throughout the play. I also really enjoyed the slow descent into horror tropes and twists and how they served to amplify the girls' internal journeys, worries, anxieties, and desires. I'd love to see this staged!

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  • Nick Malakhow: Cabin 6 Is Not Okay by Abe Johnson
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    Equal parts hilarious and horrifying, I was impressed with the way Abe established the horror aspects of this play in a solo show context. Zeke is a compelling, unhinged main character, and it was a blast to spend some time with him. I also enjoyed the exploration of the human need to feel cool, important, seen, and worthwhile, and the use of satire and heightened theatricality to explore what happens when those needs aren't fulfilled.

    Equal parts hilarious and horrifying, I was impressed with the way Abe established the horror aspects of this play in a solo show context. Zeke is a compelling, unhinged main character, and it was a blast to spend some time with him. I also enjoyed the exploration of the human need to feel cool, important, seen, and worthwhile, and the use of satire and heightened theatricality to explore what happens when those needs aren't fulfilled.

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  • Nick Malakhow: Incels and Other Myths by Ally Sass
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    This is a stellar, complex exploration of misogyny, coming of age, gender identity and roles, and more through the lens of the online world and technology. Sass examines the danger and power of online avatars and its impact on real life identity formation and mental health. I was taken in by both the exciting theatricality of the online world and the delicate nuance of all of the characters, especially Avery and Elaine. How that nuance is balanced with a heightened dramatic world is genius.

    This is a stellar, complex exploration of misogyny, coming of age, gender identity and roles, and more through the lens of the online world and technology. Sass examines the danger and power of online avatars and its impact on real life identity formation and mental health. I was taken in by both the exciting theatricality of the online world and the delicate nuance of all of the characters, especially Avery and Elaine. How that nuance is balanced with a heightened dramatic world is genius.

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  • Nick Malakhow: THAT TIME TERRI AND LILY TOOK A ROAD TRIP TO SEE THE LAURA INGALLS WILDER HOUSE by Gina Femia
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    A moving, nuanced portrait of family, identity, and missed/found opportunities. The dialogue is amazing--organic and fast paced--and while Lily and Terri are the nucleus of the play, Tess and Ruth jump off the page as well. The road trip is a perfect context in which to theatricalize the memories--it feels as if the scenes from the past emerge naturally from Terri and Lily drifting off in focus during the drive. That said, the clear focus and arc between those two anchors the piece beautifully.

    A moving, nuanced portrait of family, identity, and missed/found opportunities. The dialogue is amazing--organic and fast paced--and while Lily and Terri are the nucleus of the play, Tess and Ruth jump off the page as well. The road trip is a perfect context in which to theatricalize the memories--it feels as if the scenes from the past emerge naturally from Terri and Lily drifting off in focus during the drive. That said, the clear focus and arc between those two anchors the piece beautifully.

    ”
  • Nick Malakhow: The Half-Sibling Play by Agyeiwaa Asante
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    This is an exquisite exploration of complex family identity, home, and grief. Kweku and Amoaa are such well-rounded and complicated characters who remain sympathetic throughout even as they seek to fulfill their overlapping and divergent needs/wants--essential for an effective two-hander with no real villain. I loved how the world around them (the environment and family members) was so deftly rendered even though they were the only actors onstage. I would love to see this fully realized onstage!

    This is an exquisite exploration of complex family identity, home, and grief. Kweku and Amoaa are such well-rounded and complicated characters who remain sympathetic throughout even as they seek to fulfill their overlapping and divergent needs/wants--essential for an effective two-hander with no real villain. I loved how the world around them (the environment and family members) was so deftly rendered even though they were the only actors onstage. I would love to see this fully realized onstage!

    ”