Recommended by Nick Malakhow

An absolutely beautiful play whose contemplative tone is underscored so well by the use of cello and the wintry Chicago atmosphere! Gabriela is a compelling central character, and I am with her at every step of her journey. All of the other characters are also incredibly well-fleshed out, humanly flawed, and painted with a sense of humor. Walker manages to get us to feel for each character, warts and all. The theatricality brought on by the use of music and dreams makes me desperately want to see this piece on its feet!

A gloriously theatrical exploration of identity, family, and self-actualization using the world of superheroes and comic books. Barbot's piece also discusses cultural appropriation, legacy, and moving on from familial grief in a poignant and hilarious fashion. I hope to see a full production of this piece sometime soon--in addition to having meaty roles, it seems like a director's and designer's dream.

In this play, we are presented with a very compelling set of characters who clash in powerful and nuanced ways. This is a very astute examination of the root of dichotomous and polarized arguments between people who exist at different poles with regards to identity, beliefs, and values. Rather than making one side the villain, Kearns so smartly rejects the easy demonizing of the rural/conservative viewpoint in favor of a more subtle discussion of the catalysts and agitating forces behind so many battles at the personal and political levels. I hope to see this produced soon!

Beautiful and profound in its simplicity--Chinn crafts a supremely theatrical exploration of appropriation, appreciation, and xenophobia. Everything about this piece is impeccably structured and intentional from the pacing of scenes to the use of doubling to the selection of these three specific moments and places in time. I'd love to see this staged!

Terrifying, sharp, and real! This piece is so fantastically engrossing and fast-moving that I finished it in one very short sitting. Bentley-Quinn explores toxic masculinity and incel "culture" in an insightful and straightforward manner. Absurd (but all too real) satire, meta-theatricality, and an awesome use of choral dialogue punctuate tough to read yet darkly funny scenes of pointed naturalism. I'd love to see this highly theatrical play be produced frequently and hope it has a long life--it needs to be in the air in this socio-political environment.

Xtina presents here a wholly unique and totally mindblowing theatrical world. Christine's and Aimee's simultaneous journeys provide a rich exploration of coming of age, and the physically and mentally alienating experience of adolescence. Hyper real and astutely observed scenes are intermingled with grand, lyrical, bizarre, and downright fantastical images and moments. I'd be so curious to see this realized onstage and hope I get the chance to some day!

Set at a meditative and intentional pace, this haunting scene is a ten-minute theatrical poem that is an exquisite example of showing vs. telling. It addresses generational and inherited trauma and, while being specifically grounded in such a potent and well-known historical context, resonates as a universal commentary on the main issues it's concerned with. There's certainly a reason it's been produced several times, and I hope I have the opportunity to see it someday!

Carnes has assembled an exceedingly original and wholly compelling group of characters! At first, we wonder how this eclectic milieu is connected and why they're gathering in this odd outpost run by a hilariously offbeat pair. We are fully engrossed in the world by the time we realize exactly what/who brought them to this place. A huge, hilarious, poetic, and theatrical farce that serves as a unique parable about grief. "Malheur" wraps you up in its world from beginning to end. I'd love to see these characters live and on their feet!

What a compelling world Goldfinger has built in "Babel!" I am perhaps most astounded by her ability to achieve such masterful world-building in an intimate four character piece. Additionally, unlike many other science fiction/dystopian plays, "Babel" doesn't sacrifice nuanced characters in order to just simply focus on clearly established setting and atmosphere--it has ot all! I sincerely hope this play has a long life--it is great to see that it's getting so many upcoming productions! I hope to see one soon.

Like many great dystopias, this piece so elegantly illustrates how oppressive philosophical and political relics from what we like to think of as "the past" are still alive and well in in the world today! "Practice House" is a fascinating premise populated with unique and sympathetic characters. It is consistently surprising from the first jarring moment we realize this strangely historical world is not as it seems, all the way to the thrilling climax! I hope to see this theatrical and what I imagine to be visually compelling play developed and produced soon.