Recommended by Nick Malakhow

Reading this was definitely a pleasant diversion from the existential dread of the current moment! I enjoyed the stakes that everyone had in the bakery (and each other) and the reveals, twists, and satirical tropes were both recognizable while still being original. Great to see a farce with contemporary sensibilities and some unique and funny visual and timing gags. I also loved how it escalated in act two.

A really compelling drama that manages to capture the tension and engaging reveals of a courtroom piece while telling a much more nuanced and subtle story about the function of journalism, gender expectations, and sensationalism. All of the characters are vividly rendered here, but the trio of Dorothy, Minnie, and Mrs. Hoey were particularly complex. I just loved their conversations that tackled the intricacies and limitations of being a woman so astutely and with a plausible naturalism. Dorothy's central arc is so very engaging. I'd love to see this onstage!

A highly original, extremely theatrical piece that explores the complex experience of parenting a child who doesn't meet societal expectations. The play treads this unique line between parable and dark satire and, all along the way, it manages to feel aesthetically coherent in all its beautiful chaos. Weitzman's use of language mirroring amplifies the themes of nature vs. nurture, social conditioning, and parental control anxieties. Watching the, at turns, hilarious, poignant, and disturbing development of seal boy provides theatrical and sharply observed commentary on the social, emotional, and psychological pressures on young folks to conform and be "normal."

What an exquisitely written portrait of two brothers. Mama and Papa are excellently rendered characters too, but at the center of this piece is a beautiful exploration of the tensions and closeness of Manuel and Augustin's relationship. Shlichtman's eye towards their intersectional identities is so nuanced and laser-focused. The language has a lyrical quality while remaining naturalistic and wonderfully observed, and some of the stage images and stage magic described were theatrical and a joy to envision in my mind's eye. I'd love to see this onstage!

I did not know I needed this fantastical, queer play involving puppets and a complex exploration of queer single parenting, adult identity, and search for meaning and purpose in life...but apparently I did! Oglesby creates such a cohesive yet unique theatrical aesthetic that brings together satire, modern-day fable, farce, and puppetry in an unexpected way. This play is utterly hilarious, has a real sense of place about it, and the characters, despite being heightened and satirical, are all engaging and human. The end is surprisingly poignant and potent. Wonderful, theatrical stuff!

A beautifully executed piece that offers a nuanced and complex window into one couple coming to terms with their identities as parents and caretakers and how that journey dovetails with their friend's own desire for meaning and fulfillment. Wonderfully rendered characters who make complicated but always understandable decisions that highlight their own humanity. This play manages to be both gently written and full of potent conflict and tension.

A beautifully crafted, unique, hilarious, and poignant piece about relationships and connection. As Roblan traces the evolving relationships of Anya, Alex, Justin, and Misty, she dives into several interesting conversations about and explorations of both conventional unconventional desire and fantasy and their intersections with and divergences from the need for intimacy, connection, and sense of purpose. All of these central characters are well-rendered, and I was so compelled by how atmospheric and well-established the environment was just through dialogue and the small window into these humans' day to day lives. The ending is satisfying, melancholy, truthful, and human.

A wonderful and nuanced piece that is so full of surprising revelation, tension, and character evolution, but all of this is done with incredibly deft brushstrokes and a light hand. Gabriel Jason Dean both illuminates a complex historical truth that asks questions of culpability and incitement of violence, while also telling a story of forgiveness, family, and identity. I'd love to see this intimate piece onstage, as it so wisely uses bold theatrical devices to heighten the storytelling.

This play is perfectly titled, as Esmaeili treats both of these characters with such great tenderness, even as their needs and desire bristle against one another. This isn't to say that the piece isn't full of conflict--on the contrary, the ever increasing, nuanced tension and rising stakes are palpable throughout. These characters, however charming they are, don't get let off the hook. Their chemistry is engaging; the conversations they have are illuminating, human, and, at times, painful; and they subtly give voice to universal sentiments of longing, home, loss, grief, connection, and defining family.

An innovative theatrical event that combines elements of musical theater, immersive theater, event/ritual, and Brechtian devices to create a unique and coherent dramatic world. There is much latitude here for a whole production team--designers, directors, actors--to make the piece their own. The text itself is a powerful exploration of violence in the US, issues of gun control, and the power of art and performance. The way it both utilizes and subverts "Our Town" is original and effective.