Recommended by Nick Malakhow

"Koalas" is a delightfully weird and warm-hearted dramedy populated with truly unique and deftly rendered characters. Cox spins a compelling story propelled in many ways by Ray, while also giving satisfying arcs to every other character in the piece (Theo the koala included). Nate is an wonderfully complex and nuanced character--always a treat when a writer gives young people that level of depth. A real sense of the visual, spatial, and aural landscape of this theatrical world is also incredibly clear from just the text itself. How I'd so love to see a production of this piece!

This unique and warm-hearted play about the definition and redefinition of family throughout one's life contains a whimsical cast of eclectic personalities. The play moves at a steady and contemplative pace with new truths emerging and relationships evolving in believable and organic scenes. Rockwell successfully creates distinct and singularly-voiced characters in each of the Echo family members. It was a brisk and enjoyable read, and the Fresh Ink production I saw radiated the same melancholy and wistful energy that I so enjoyed when reading the script. I hope to see this have a continued production life!

Once again, Donna Hoke excels at writing compelling and universal naturalism that tackles large questions and themes by zeroing in on an intimate cast of characters. Abby is an amazing protagonist who is humanly flawed and impossible not to empathize with and root for. Humor and human quirkiness live alongside big moral and ethical choices in each scene, making for a quick and propulsive read! I hope to see this already well-developed play produced soon.

In "Elevator Girl," Donna Hoke explores rape culture, gender roles, heroism, trauma recovery, and identity reclamation--obviously huge social topics--by cleverly examining a small story comprised of multi-dimensional and unique characters. This piece moves along at a brisk pace and uses strategic filling in of exposition as a potent way of furthering both character and plot. As a director, the images and tropes of the world of comic books also provides potential for some amazing design elements! I sincerely hope this highly recommended play is produced soon!

In "La Llorona," Raker has created a unique and well-drawn theatrical world. Lyrical poetry, irregularly human naturalism, and haunting movement theater co-exist beautifully side by side. Rachel, Maria, and Molly are all incredibly distinct and compelling central characters with powerful journeys to go on. I love how this piece moves at a steady and intentional clip, but eschews cliched plot structure. When I got to the end, the effect felt almost like taking in an impressionistic painting--this sense that the whole was something profound and also so necessarily made up of its individual parts. Produce this!

McVay crafts an impeccably built fantasy/horror world that chills to the bone! She manages to both establish a wholly new society with its own set of rules, while forcing readers to think of their own roles in society as victims, perpetrators, bystanders, and complicit accomplices to social dysfunction. The Southern gothic elements pair well with the nightmare horror. Each character is distinctly defined, and the haunting and beautiful visual and aural landscape McVay builds provides fodder for directors and designers alike. There aren't enough good horror plays in the world, and I hope this one gets produced often!

What an absolutely gorgeous play! The engrossing dialogue is both lyrical and spare--it feels as if not a word is wasted. Darcy Parker Bruce also creates an exquisitely theatrical world in a visual and aural sense as well. It is easy to see how not only actors but also directors and designers would have a field day with this script. Finally, it is so awesome to see a powerful and universal story about grief, healing, trauma, and home populated by humans who don't often get to tell that story. I hope to see this produced far and wide!

A deftly rendered micro-cosm of the city is brought together in an apartment as imminent disaster looms! Sobler has created a fascinating and naturalistic portrait of how a scenario such as this might play out in real life. The page-turning dialogue moves at a brisk pace and the world building, ever important in a science fiction piece, is subtle but richly layered and communicated mostly through the socio-cultural issues at play. I hope to see a production of this sometime in the near future!

In this piece, McVay has crafted an incredibly compelling portrait of the scars that toxic and unhealthy relationships can leave us with. Rowan and Alex's history unfolds in funny and human dialogue that beautifully captures the irregularities of natural speech. By the end of the piece, we understand exactly why they self destructed in the past as well as who they are in the present. The ending is poignant, sad, and yet also looking towards the future. I look forward to seeing where this piece goes next!

This is an exquisitely gorgeous theatrical poem! Like a mosaic or quilt, characters, places, and moments weave in and out of focus. The overall effect feels grounded, complete, and very much something more profound than just the sum of its parts. Like RIMERS OF ELDRITCH and LARAMIE PROJECT, BLACK HOLLOW balances individual humanity and nuanced characters with a fully-rendered community. A quiet and poignant treatment of mass shootings and a potent examination of small town alienation. I hope to see this beautifully theatrical work on its feet!