Recommended by Nick Malakhow

Beautifully rendered intersection of three different stories that feel like a poignant, theatrical Venn Diagram. Each act works as a potent piece of storytelling in and of itself and, together, they paint a well-rendered mosaic of experiences and intersectional identities Cahill uses to examine the multitudinous impacts of war, trauma, and various kinds of violence on humans. I'd love to see a full production of this!

A beautiful, sprawling piece that balances sumptuous visuals and verbal lyricism with human interactions that crackle with all of the poignancy, humor, and fire of real and compelling conversations. Solana's journey throughout the piece and the parallels between her, Sierra, and Benita are so wonderfully crafted. The use of chorus is theatrical and widens the scope of the piece. All of the supporting ensemble is vividly rendered as well. The ending is both touching and potent. I'd so love to see this fully realized on a stage, and I very much hope to some day!

A poignant and sweet moment of humanity that also doesn't shy away from the particular existential dread and fear of those early days of the pandemic. Stoppard's play is the perfect thread/extended metaphor to highlight those fears and worries about the present and future. Annabelle and Max are vividly rendered arch nemeses whose relationship takes organic and plausible turns--their revelations and growing closeness feel well-earned. I'd love to see this performed!

A haunting piece about dementia, family trauma, race, identity, and secrets. The specters of Eller's past float in and out of the text in a way that heightens the theatricality of the play. Jaybo's complex relationship with his grandmother, his semi-absent father, and his own identity provide a perfect storm that keeps him trapped in its eye until the decisive final moments. Gabriel Jason Dean balances beautifully observed everyday speech rhythms with spare and lyrical text. I'd love to see a fully realized production of this!

This is a bombastic and intersectionally-rich exploration of how the societal worship of white cis het-acting toxic masculinity impacts queer men of color. The heightened theatrical world is amazingly immersive from the start. Haygen-Brice Walker tackles the intersection of queer male masculinity with desire, lust, trauma, pain and shame, self-hatred, self-esteem, emotional and mental cycles, generational differences...and really so much more. It's a propulsive and quick read that I couldn't put down once I started. The ending moments are harrowing, inevitable, and sad, and I appreciated the hope Devyn provided.

Complex, nuanced work that explores the intersection of faith, religion, trauma, healing, conversations of tradition vs. progress, and more. Zoey is a really compelling nucleus around which the play revolves, and to see her challenge and grapple other humans and her own internal conflicts is engaging throughout. I also just loved how Kira manages to hold her characters accountable while remaining empathetic to them from beginning to end. The contrast of the theatricality of some of the transitions and heightened moments with the hyper-realistic and poignant coda between father and daughter is super effective as well!

A super compelling piece that uses subtle horror to examine and explore family trauma, abuse, regret, religion/faith, societal expectations of women, and much more with a deft hand. Like a lot of excellent pieces from the "demonic" genre (thinking "Hereditary" + "The Exorcist"), this play is an excellent slow burn whose sense of mounting dread so all of a sudden comes to a head in a deeply unsettling grand gesture. Theatrical, thought-provoking, terrifying.

This is an incredibly complex exploration of kink, sexuality, addiction, intimacy in general, intimacy in the digital age, grappling with trauma, and much more. Each act is, in and of itself, a compelling individual story and arc, and the ways they work together to illuminate cycles and family relationships are so poignant as well. It would take a special production company to make this piece happen, and I imagine it would be a powerful, disarming, and unique experience to see live.

Really intriguing piece in which form/style is played with her tangibly but delicately. It has a deceptively straightforward premise that belies all of the nuanced and complex themes explored. Namely, intimacy in young adulthood; the intersection of emotional connection and sex; consent and its intersection with social norms and expectations particularly around gender; and much more. The offbeat hilarity of especially the first half is a super interesting foil to the fallout of Hal and Bev's interaction.

This is an incredible theatricalization of mental health struggles. The tightly-written, nuanced solo show is compelling and engaging throughout and was an ideal form for exploring Miles' mind in a way that left questions unanswered but still felt satisfyingly comprehensive, empathetic, and sensitive. The titular extended metaphor of the string that Miles describes is so beautifully written/explored through dialogue. Zubel writes such amazing pieces about the intersection of mental health, recovery, and care, and this one is no exception! I'd so love to see it performed live.