Recommended by Nick Malakhow

  • #GodHatesYou
    20 Oct. 2019
    Dendinger finds humanity in each of the very flawed characters in this important and bold piece. Laurel's evolution as a character feels organic and plausible, while her fellow congregation members are rendered with a nuanced touch and in a way that helps get to the root of the misguided ways they act upon their beliefs. #GodHatesYou also moves briskly and with a good dose of situation humor to help lighten (and enlighten) some of the darker moments and character motivations throughout. Hope to see this produced far and wide soon!
  • Greyhounds
    17 Oct. 2019
    A taut and well-observed two person piece. In a succinct few scenes, Toby and Mercy emerge as fascinating characters whose parallels bring the unlikely pair together in an organic and satisfying arc. This is also my favorite genre--an excellent, intimate drama with a sense of humor to balance out the pathos and drama. I'd love to see this onstage!
  • Abortion Road Trip
    15 Oct. 2019
    Truly an awesome play--Lynett crafts several very compelling characters and places them in a potent and plausible situation. I love the way in which information is slowly revealed about various characters throughout (even to those related by blood and supposedly the closest!) through organic conversation and well used flashback and aside scenes. One of the play's biggest strengths is its totally human and humorous approach to big ideas and issues--it makes a political statement (several even) with a small and fairly self contained story. I would love to see this produced all over the country soon!
  • Alabaster
    13 Oct. 2019
    Beautiful piece with an evocative sense of place and extremely compelling characters. A funny, human, and poignantly wrenching story of healing from trauma and individual paths and roads to discovery. I truly hope I get to see this onstage soon!
  • Tar and Feather
    11 Oct. 2019
    A briskly moving and sharply satiric exploration of call out culture, the roots and evolution of public shaming, and the gears that turn in the minds of trolls. Idaszak has crafted very compelling and complex characters. How the story progresses is equally surprising as it is inevitable. I also love the way the piece demands creative staging and careful consideration of the role of the audience in a way that mirrors the very culture it is interrogating. Hilarious, dark, and exciting--I'd hope to see this of the moment play onstage soon!
  • MinorityLand
    10 Oct. 2019
    What a wonderfully rendered exploration of gentrification and found family populated with dynamic and complex characters. I was most impressed by the nuanced and intersectionally rich cast that allowed for multi-layered conversations about privilege and identity. Ortiz also beautifully balanced comedy with drama, realism with some sublime and meta theatrical poetry. MinorityLand could be produced in any number of cities and speak to gentrification in an immediate and palpable way. I'd love to see this on its feet!
  • Bundle of Sticks
    8 Oct. 2019
    A superb, theatrical delight. Incorporating fantasy, ritual, black comedy, and incisive social critique, Christopher explores conversion therapy, homophobia, and misogyny in ways I've never seen it explored before. Perhaps most impressive is the way that this piece doesn't sacrifice nuance, intriguing relationships, and complex characters for style, despite the extremely heightened world these people are inhabiting. It would be a thrill to see this staged live!
  • Zero
    7 Oct. 2019
    A fast-paced roller coaster ride of a piece that uses exquisitely theatrical magic and compelling narration to explore mental health, trauma, teen relationships, and the puzzling and eternal questions asking us what are young people supposed to do with the anger and emotional weights that saddle them as they come of age and forge identities for themselves? I'm eager to see how this piece develops and hope to see its unique stage magic and narrative techniques come alive on its feet someday soon!
  • Can I Hold You?: A New Play on Asexuality
    6 Oct. 2019
    A tender and beautifully-realized play! Not only does "Can I Hold You?" capture an experience and voices truly not yet represented by the contemporary theater, but it takes that perspective and utilizes it to explore intimacy, friendship, and sexuality in a universal manner. Like the best "small stories," this play's specificity is its strength and the reason behind its universality. Barclay's characters speak with warmth and humor while navigating potent and complex conflicts. I hope to see this piece get developed and produced!
  • Pangaea
    3 Oct. 2019
    A fast-moving and absorbing piece! I love this small, intimate story writ large. The characters are all recognizable and human, and Champney breaks up realistic, humorous, and at times wrenching scenes with lyrical poetry. This use of a "chorus" of internal/external/everywhere-in-between thoughts both provides key insights into the characters' inner lives and propels the action forward. The cacophony that leads to the end of act one is invigorating, and the 11th hour revelations at the end of act two surprising and justified. I love how an unexpected (for me) character becomes the audience cipher as the play wraps.

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