Recommended by Nick Malakhow

Hilarious, theatrical, and blistering in its social critique, "Man + Wife" is an aesthetically offbeat-yet-cohesive piece that would be fun to act in, direct, or design. Reading it gave Christopher Durang meets Thornton Wilder vibes, but it's really more exciting and engaging than their oeuvres and totally its own thing at the same time. Goldman-Sherman manages to tackle a lot here--deconstructing gender roles and expectations, misogyny, homophobia and transphobia, marriage, and the socio-political zeitgeist--but it somehow doesn't feel overloaded. The focus on these two archetypes and a parable-esque format allows the big ideas to shine through.

What an exquisitely written coming of age story. Charly Evon Simpson captures the confusing and overwhelming developmental moment that is the cusp of teenagerhood by rendering all of her young characters like the multi-dimensional human beings that they are. She also explores the intersection of identity formation, growing up, and mental health in a way that is so delicately portrayed while also honest and real. To top it all off, the poignant moments punctuate some incredible hilarity that propels the piece forward, the humor always coming from circumstance and truth. I'd love to see this onstage!

This is a moving, poignant version on the "what could have been" narrative. Ryan uses ghosts (literal and figurative) to illustrate how permanently marked we are by regrets and past decisions. I also appreciated the theatricality of winding back and forth through time, and the melancholy final moments when James is brought back to the present after his nostalgic reverie.

I enjoyed this queering of the wedding/friends trip/beach house comedy genres. Using briskly paced banter and an eclectic ensemble of people, Matthews explores the ways people hold themselves back from self-actualization because of hang ups, prejudices, and neuroses. I enjoyed how things went from acidic humor to zany physical comedy to truly bizarre over the course of the wedding weekend.

An economically written, potent play that manages to explore huge ideas and events--survivor guilt, generational trauma, immigration, family, the legacy of Holocaust survivors--by focusing on a few key individuals. The piece is full of warmth and humanity while not shying away from the pain of grief and trauma survivors' struggles with mental health. Its chronological intricacies along with Freyda's direct address heighten the theatricality and serve to punctuate the beautifully naturalistic scenes. Fred the rubber tree is one of my favorite visual metaphors (used with pathos and humor) I've seen. Lovely work that needs to be staged!

An unconventional piece that straddles the line between musical, concert, spectacle, and intimately human naturalism. In always subtle and nuanced ways, O'Leary explores the anger and entitlement of white men and the way is threaded through all kinds of industries and social contexts. Ryan manages to be both a sympathetic/pathetic and toxic character whose inner life gives important insights into white male privilege and the deleterious effects of their fears and anxieties about inadequacy. All this is done with fine brushstrokes and subtle shading.

Spectacular and subtle world building here. Brilliant science fiction that you forget is science fiction until intentionally paced but potent reveals come into play. On the one hand, this is a truly fascinating narrative in and of itself. On an entirely different level, it's an incredibly thoughtful and complex discussion of toxic masculinity and its far-reaching/long lasting effects, gendered assumptions, sexual violence, and our current moment. Exciting and highly original work!

An unsettling, complex, and theatrically compelling piece that examines the intersection between Catholicism, shame, and identity formation. The two bookending segments that show us Colin and KJ's friendship and then the fallout of their youth are potent and moving to see paired with each other. The scene they sandwich is a really nuanced and complicated examination of masculinity, male identity, and a particular corner of kink. It's engaging and satisfying to learn the connections between the various characters and scenes and revelations come at powerful intervals. A sharp, tough play with a rewarding discussion on important issues.

This is a wonderful ensemble piece whose characters are all nuanced and have exciting, clear arcs. Audrey's exploration of mental health (in a variety of ways) and familial/generational patterns concerning mental health feels fresh and necessary. Here, she centers narratives about/for/to be performed by young women that need telling. She does so in a way that honors the specificity of these intersectionally rich humans' lives while still having universally resonant messages about relationships, family, fear, anxiety, and coming of age. It's all so beautifully rendered with fine and nuanced brushstrokes.

Really interesting piece that is both a unique and unsettling dystopic/sci fi piece and a sharp exploration of white people's fear of losing power, the toxicity and gaslighting that comes with "accepting" Black and brown folks into white spaces and power, and the frustrating idealization of cis-white-heternormativity. The story was both original in content as well as form, with the shifting chronology and direct address interrogation scenes and monologues helping to build tension, momentum, and suspense. The relationship between Jasmine and Marquise is affecting and heartbreaking to see evolve as Scott's toxic hold takes root. Fascinating!