Recommended by Nick Malakhow

  • Nick Malakhow: Gummy Worm

    In "Gummy Worm," Nathaniel Foster captures the bravado and vulnerability of teens with incisive and satirical ease. Each of these characters has a powerful and different and unique arc, and to see the friend group splinter and then heal felt natural and well-earned. I also loved the natural-but-just-a-bit-heightened world of the play. It deals with sex, sexuality, and coming of age in a way that respects its protagonists but doesn't let them off the hook, all the while illuminating the social forces that stigmatize and prevent valid sex education in the US.

    In "Gummy Worm," Nathaniel Foster captures the bravado and vulnerability of teens with incisive and satirical ease. Each of these characters has a powerful and different and unique arc, and to see the friend group splinter and then heal felt natural and well-earned. I also loved the natural-but-just-a-bit-heightened world of the play. It deals with sex, sexuality, and coming of age in a way that respects its protagonists but doesn't let them off the hook, all the while illuminating the social forces that stigmatize and prevent valid sex education in the US.

  • Nick Malakhow: Degenerates

    Brilliantly observed and rendered characters here--Went shines a light on the humanity and internal workings of these individuals while not at all shying away from their problematic elements. They create such a visually rich world onstage--I would love to see this realized in production. While this is a gripping ensemble piece, Target's journey in particular feels like an anchoring nucleus that propels me through the story. It ends in such a messy and human place full of terror and a quiet, hopeful coda. I'm eager to follow the development/production life of this play!

    Brilliantly observed and rendered characters here--Went shines a light on the humanity and internal workings of these individuals while not at all shying away from their problematic elements. They create such a visually rich world onstage--I would love to see this realized in production. While this is a gripping ensemble piece, Target's journey in particular feels like an anchoring nucleus that propels me through the story. It ends in such a messy and human place full of terror and a quiet, hopeful coda. I'm eager to follow the development/production life of this play!

  • Nick Malakhow: The Family Saves A Life

    I loved the quiet and persistent escalation throughout and Miri's compelling journey in general. What a wonderful extended metaphor that the play built to a visual disaster onstage of both "Biblical" and climate change proportions--it hammered home the tensions within the play about faith, science, and religion. The interactions are spare yet revealing, straddling a well-drawn line between naturalism and heightened tragedy. Unsettling and a conversation-starter--I hope to see this piece developed and produced!

    I loved the quiet and persistent escalation throughout and Miri's compelling journey in general. What a wonderful extended metaphor that the play built to a visual disaster onstage of both "Biblical" and climate change proportions--it hammered home the tensions within the play about faith, science, and religion. The interactions are spare yet revealing, straddling a well-drawn line between naturalism and heightened tragedy. Unsettling and a conversation-starter--I hope to see this piece developed and produced!

  • Nick Malakhow: DIASPORA!

    A shape shifter of a play that wonderfully combines comedy, drama, and a bit of mystery/a ghost story of sorts (or at least an apartment somewhat haunted or impacted by its past). I loved the exploration of interracial relationships, heritage, family, and how all of those things are impacted by and impact one's identity. All of the characters go on unique and powerful journeys. I also enjoyed its sense of place and that way it tackles historical/present dynamics in Boston. Excited to follow the development trajectory of this one, and I hope to see it read and produced!

    A shape shifter of a play that wonderfully combines comedy, drama, and a bit of mystery/a ghost story of sorts (or at least an apartment somewhat haunted or impacted by its past). I loved the exploration of interracial relationships, heritage, family, and how all of those things are impacted by and impact one's identity. All of the characters go on unique and powerful journeys. I also enjoyed its sense of place and that way it tackles historical/present dynamics in Boston. Excited to follow the development trajectory of this one, and I hope to see it read and produced!

  • Nick Malakhow: Hairy & Sherri

    A superb piece whose dark, biting, comedic thread is as well-realized as the conversations it provokes around adoption, privilege, identity, and more. Hairy and Sherri are a perfectly rendered misguided-and-"uber woke" couple whose relationship uncovers its warts as they "nobly" take on the challenge of fostering Ryshi. The convention of Ryshi's dual portrayal so brilliantly theatricalizes the "adultification" and othering of Black children in a highly original fashion that I won't soon forget. The bookending of the piece with Vera in her office provides heartbreaking and poignant punctuation...

    A superb piece whose dark, biting, comedic thread is as well-realized as the conversations it provokes around adoption, privilege, identity, and more. Hairy and Sherri are a perfectly rendered misguided-and-"uber woke" couple whose relationship uncovers its warts as they "nobly" take on the challenge of fostering Ryshi. The convention of Ryshi's dual portrayal so brilliantly theatricalizes the "adultification" and othering of Black children in a highly original fashion that I won't soon forget. The bookending of the piece with Vera in her office provides heartbreaking and poignant punctuation to the rest of the darkly satirical play.

  • Nick Malakhow: What Happened While Hero Was Dead

    This play is absolutely hilarious and uses such sharp and biting satire to shine a light on the social structures that negatively impact women, on the ways society pits women against each other and themselves, and on the narratives told around female desire, intimacy, independence, and more. Super brilliant use of the source text that skewers its glaringly bizarre and misogynistic aspects. There are also these quiet and subtle moments of tenderness that break up the supremely well-paced hilarity throughout. I'd love to see this read, developed, staged, produced far and wide.

    This play is absolutely hilarious and uses such sharp and biting satire to shine a light on the social structures that negatively impact women, on the ways society pits women against each other and themselves, and on the narratives told around female desire, intimacy, independence, and more. Super brilliant use of the source text that skewers its glaringly bizarre and misogynistic aspects. There are also these quiet and subtle moments of tenderness that break up the supremely well-paced hilarity throughout. I'd love to see this read, developed, staged, produced far and wide.

  • Nick Malakhow: COURTSHIP

    A surprising, uber-theatrical treat. The breakneck speed of the sharp dialogue, the use of movement and super compelling and original stage images, and exploration of coming of age, identity, and competition all made for an engaging read. Drake combined biting satire with shades of body horror in a seamless way. I loved the juxtaposition of the negative impacts of this training on the athletes' mental, physical, and emotional well-being with tender moments of true and touching connection. I'd love to see this realized onstage!

    A surprising, uber-theatrical treat. The breakneck speed of the sharp dialogue, the use of movement and super compelling and original stage images, and exploration of coming of age, identity, and competition all made for an engaging read. Drake combined biting satire with shades of body horror in a seamless way. I loved the juxtaposition of the negative impacts of this training on the athletes' mental, physical, and emotional well-being with tender moments of true and touching connection. I'd love to see this realized onstage!

  • Nick Malakhow: Homesick

    Razor sharp and genre-bending satire that incisively explores the alienating, out of body experience that can be navigating family--especially as one grapples with their own identity and the parts of it that one's family is or isn't willing to confront. There are some spectacular and theatrical images here, some absolutely hilarious and mind-bending moments of comedy, and a poignant coda that looks at how siblings who have felt pitted against one another might join forces to confront (and maybe change?) cycles of regret and shame and silence.

    Razor sharp and genre-bending satire that incisively explores the alienating, out of body experience that can be navigating family--especially as one grapples with their own identity and the parts of it that one's family is or isn't willing to confront. There are some spectacular and theatrical images here, some absolutely hilarious and mind-bending moments of comedy, and a poignant coda that looks at how siblings who have felt pitted against one another might join forces to confront (and maybe change?) cycles of regret and shame and silence.

  • Nick Malakhow: Young Men & Recovery

    Compellingly theatrical piece that plays with naturalistic dialogue rhythms, dynamic movement, and these tiny, subtle transformative moments especially amongst the three boys at the center of the piece. The first two thirds of the play illustrates, without judgement, the dynamics involving socio-cultural issues and mental-emotional health in athletics, male relationships, and between mentors and mentees. The treatment of intersectional identity and issues not often discussed alongside sports--namely body image, sexuality, and mental health--is thorough and poignant. The final third is a...

    Compellingly theatrical piece that plays with naturalistic dialogue rhythms, dynamic movement, and these tiny, subtle transformative moments especially amongst the three boys at the center of the piece. The first two thirds of the play illustrates, without judgement, the dynamics involving socio-cultural issues and mental-emotional health in athletics, male relationships, and between mentors and mentees. The treatment of intersectional identity and issues not often discussed alongside sports--namely body image, sexuality, and mental health--is thorough and poignant. The final third is a chilling examination of the long-term fallout of toxic structures being ingrained in folks from a young age.

  • Nick Malakhow: ASS2MOUTH

    A genre-bending uber-theatrical treat of a play that combines horror, queer coming of age, satire, brutalism plus some heightened Gregg Araki vibes at times! I loved this exploration of identity, sexuality, gender roles, masculinity, and the ways that queer teens are forced to navigate the complex and murky waters of desire, discovery, internalized homophobia, and vulnerability oftentimes in hostile territory. Totally bombastic and I'd love to see a creative and daring production team take this on! The Second Swamp Slasher is a potent and well-utilized extended metaphor to help tell this tale.

    A genre-bending uber-theatrical treat of a play that combines horror, queer coming of age, satire, brutalism plus some heightened Gregg Araki vibes at times! I loved this exploration of identity, sexuality, gender roles, masculinity, and the ways that queer teens are forced to navigate the complex and murky waters of desire, discovery, internalized homophobia, and vulnerability oftentimes in hostile territory. Totally bombastic and I'd love to see a creative and daring production team take this on! The Second Swamp Slasher is a potent and well-utilized extended metaphor to help tell this tale.