Recommended by Nick Malakhow

This genre-bending, uber-theatrical play is a delight. Ami is a powerhouse of a character, and to see the world refracted through her perspective is kaleidoscopic, funny, and poignant. Keiko explores with such specific and nuanced brushstrokes the ways Ami is and her whole family have been made to feel othered as Japanese and Japanese Americans through both external and internal forces with such clarity; she also offers us a narrative that other folks who've been made to feel outsiders in "hostile territory" in the US can connect to so clearly. I'd love to see this living on its feet!

The use of memory here is effective--relationships and people we want to forget, choices we'd like to revise, and formative moments we want to relive or romanticize. King and Salmond utilize the musical form well to navigate the role of memory in a compelling fashion. I appreciated the well-defined central and supporting characters, and that BJ's journey and character trajectory is subtle and real while still being a clear seismic shift.

A super-compelling and unassuming piece whose tricks, twists, and turns were surprising yet always organic. The relationship between Wallace and Sandaker was so well fleshed out, as were the individual characters themselves. They felt so human, specific, and real, that all of the little dreamlike/mind-trip elements were all the more effective and startling. The pacing was excellent as well, both capturing the irregularities of human interaction while charging ahead at a steady clip.

A beautiful piece that centers around two human, lived-in characters and a touching, organically evolving relationship. I loved the combination of authentic humanity with lyrical language and moments of fantastical/theatrical visual storytelling. At the center of the piece is an exploration of the negative impacts of machismo/toxic masculinity, of how people struggle to avoid it, and of how it is passed down through generations. The historical context is also wonderfully threaded throughout, and I loved how richly built the world was with so few characters. Who we saw and who we didn't see were equally important.

A compelling and unsettling examination of confronting secrets, the complexities of small town life, personal and political power dynamics, sexual assault and its aftermath and impact on a person's relationships past and present, and the intersection of those things with race, class, and gender. All of the characters here are fully fleshed out and James, in particular, is an engaging central figure to track and trace. Threaded throughout are extremely effective visual/aural metaphors and some striking stage imagery! I'd love to see this in production!

A creative, subtle, and nuanced examination of grief and its shattering effects on a relationship. I was compelled throughout the entirety of this single, continuous scene and the circumstances were potent and realistic, and the way they unfolded organic. Lane writes with such sympathy and love for both characters, and also smartly threads humanity and warmth and comedy throughout the heartbreaking narrative. I'd love to see this piece--it's so engaging on the page and I can only imagine how much more so it would be performed live.

Stellar, and darkly satirical exploration of social justice movements, feminism, the responsibility of privileged onlookers to take a stand for justice, and what that "stand" might actually look like. Hanna Kime navigates the line between sharp black comedy and horror, wonderfully balancing elements of both in each act. The more lighthearted and farcical parade of women (and lasagnas) that invade Brenda's life in act one and the funny-yet-horrifying torture chamber of act two are the perfect foils to the stark and unsettling truths laid bare in act three. I'd love to see this piece in production!

A super compelling piece that explores the ways we use relationships--intentionally and not--to fill voids that need to be better addressed with self-reflection, healing, friendship, and honesty. Kam is a dynamic protagonist whose growing pains are well illustrated throughout. I loved the potential for impactful double casting of all of her lovers, exes, and friends. The thematic intersection of celebrity, queer identity and mental health, and the story being told through the lens of an entirely Asian and Asian American cast make for a complex and nuanced play. I'm eager to follow this piece's trajectory!

"Erastes" is a compelling collage that examines intergenerational relationships in queer cis male culture. Osorio does a great job of exploring the unique tensions and lines between friend, mentor, and sexual and romantic partner that are characteristics of such relationships. Using a mixture of mythology, archetype, and contemporary and specific humanity, he captures the distinct loneliness of these intersections and the frustrations of wanting to connect but justified wariness of young queer men trying to navigate actualization as adults in this harried and complex culture and environment.

A dynamic and funny ensemble piece that marries emotionally rich and human characters with ever so slightly heightened, sharp dialogue. Thomson explores, with an eye towards race and intersectionality, the ways women in sports are commodified, objectified, unhealthily idealized, and pitted against one another. To see examples of the teammates both overcoming these socio-cultural obstacles and falling down at their hand gives us a dose of warmth well-balanced with difficult truths.