Recommended by Nick Malakhow

A hilarious and sharp exploration of these four women and the particular sacrifices, privileges, battles, and more that they've had to navigate at their particular identity intersections. On a larger scale, it's also a biting critique of capitalism and of the ways capitalist systems oppress and shape and pit against each other those within them. Most importantly, it was really, really funny...while managing to be so intriguingly theatrical as it wound its way through time and realities. It ends with such a poignant and powerful stage image as well. I'd love to see this on its feet!

Really intelligent and startling speculative fiction that offers darkly comedic and pressing insight into the political woes of our current era. Pelsue explores American tribalism and what happens when actual discourse and progress are cut short by monolithic approaches to politics, justice, and the pursuit of what is 'right.' The world building unfurls at a judicious pace, illuminating the state of things in a way that feels organic and far from serving as simple exposition. The subtly rendered coda is a gutting epilogue. One thing Pelsue does excellently is dole out truths through both comedy and terror.

A highly original, super-theatrical play that makes bold and effective use of language, stage images, and the compelling and highly well-defined central relationship onstage. Dana's exploration of wounds and cycles related to family and addiction manages to be thorough and feel familiar while also being presented in such an unconventional manner. This play alternates between frenetic, absurd, abstract comedy; deeply felt pathos; and unsettling mental anguish related to this complex and harmful and familiar daughter-father relationship. Begs to be staged, and I'd love to see it in production!

A deeply disquieting and deeply human story that explores sexual abuse and the multi-armed impacts it has on survivors as they try to move forward with their lives. Rob is such a vividly rendered individual and his journey is compelling from start to finish. The way Pelsue plays with time, space, and double-casting in a highly theatrical but never gimmicky way is inspiring, as is the subtle way he weaves the rise of Trump as a thematic thread that provides context and shape without taking over. I'd love to see this poignant and powerful piece performed!

An incisive, sharp, and, funny piece about social media and influencing; the commodification of one's life for exposure, profit, and validation; and social media's impact on in-the-flesh relationships. Like all great satire, the tone pushes real concerns, issues, and archetypes to the extreme. I loved the theatricality of toggling between the "real world" and online world, the employment of three actors to recycle through and portray a variety of archetypes, and the fascinating final scene where Tucker and Tiffany confront each other and their relationship as humans vs as the commodities they have been to each other.

A powerful and tragic exploration of addiction and the ways in which the necessary resources for Tip's recovery are ill-equipped to serve his needs as a Deaf man. All of the characters were rendered beautifully--even and especially when they were being messy and complex--and I appreciated the way Zuercher examined so many of the characters' intersectional identities that illuminated how those divergent identities impacted their lives. The use of ASL, soundscapes, and transitions all help to serve the storytelling as well. I'd be excited to see this on its feet and in performance!

An intimate and tightly written solo show that explores the liminality of existing as a multiracial queer person. Hamashima tackles the assumptions, challenges, and roadblocks faced by Asian and Asian-American folks in the US and the manner in which multiracial people are encouraged in indirect and direct ways to assimilate and position themselves close to whiteness. They also so beautifully explore the impact of all those expectations on one's sense of self. All this is done in an engaging and theatrical manner that alternates moments of deep humor with moments of great pathos. I'd love to see this performed!

This is such a wholly inventive play that explores and explodes concepts around what to do with traumatic history of systemic oppression and violence and its inheritance and impact on present day to day life. Thomas utilizes sharp and incisive and dark humor and gets at the root of what people of all backgrounds zero in on and cling to when it comes to Confederate monuments and memorials. The three characters here are well-rendered and the theatrical mix of direct address, potent 2-3 person scenes, and bold stage images (such as the eye-moving portrait) are deftly used!

Wow! What an unsettling and on point exploration of a veritable hornet's nest of things...namely the monetization of awful things through technology, social media, and content creation; internalized and externalized homophobia; different ways young people have been/can be exploited, even by those railing against exploitation; sexual abuse; the obvious and subtle impacts of growing up as outsiders in a small town...the list actually goes on! Garcia has rendered some incredibly distinct characters in thorny situations here. The opening disarms with dark comedy before this piece heads to justifiably darker places to illuminate its broader themes. Very compelling!

A fascinating virtual play that elicited a visceral response for how well it captures the terrifying, unsettling socio-political and socio-cultural moment we're in. Vermillion looks at the intersection of media, content creation, politics, identity, and economics with a comprehensive, nuanced eye. The constellation of characters is well-chosen and recognizable. So much is tackled here in illustrating steps towards radicalization--the self-defeating ostracizing of potential liberal allies who don't pass the political litmus test, the welcoming of shunned liberals into far right circles by feeding their desire to belong/be validated, the dangers of being apolitical. On point work!