Recommended by Nick Malakhow

In this powerful two-hander, we come to see the evolution of the relationship between Caleb and Blake. Chronology jumps are used effectively and the irregularly paced mix of shorter and longer scenes give us the overall scope and impression of this relationship in a nuanced, thoughtful, intentionally constructed way. Coming out, conceptions of masculinity, friendship, and identity are all explored with a refreshing complexity. It's also wonderful to see a coming of age/coming out story about young cis men grappling with masculinity that doesn't resort to physical trauma, but rather focuses on smaller emotional seismic shifts.

This is a great ensemble piece that explores queer identity--I especially appreciate its exploration of coming out and bisexuality in fresh and novel ways that don't center and focus on trauma that characters inflict upon one another. Dylan's journey feels real and well-rendered, as does Logan's arc as he struggles with his self-image and the expectations and barriers erected around him as a gay man. Finally, I appreciated the straight character of Austin and the conversation he catalyzes about allyship and what that looks like.

An exquisitely told love story that explores both Nora and Stephanie's emerging relationship with one another as well as each individual character's conception of and relationship to themselves. Charming, naturalistic scenes that show the progression of the couple are interspersed with whimsical and fantastical elements in the form of Mrs. Hyena and her other guises and puppets. St. James has created a bold, aesthetic theatrical world that feels cohesive and compelling, and their focus on the key seismic shifts between and within Nora and Stephanie feels subtle, nuanced, and complex.

This manages to be a engaging, highly theatrical commentary on wellness, fad, and cult culture while also being a unique exploration of relationships--toxic and nourishing--and the ways we self-sabotage our own actualization as adults. The characters and connections explored here are fascinating and complex and Sievers' eye towards their intersectional identities lends nuance, specificity, and layering to a piece that also digs out some universal truths. There is a lot of interesting ensemble and design work to explore onstage as well! An offbeat and original piece.

This piece utilizes spare, economical language to tell a beautifully rich and layered story. The tightly written play keeps it momentum throughout and the small, subtle surprises lead to potent and seismic shifts in the story. There is a wonderful sense of change and evolution throughout this piece, and it all manages to come through these small, powerful moments rather than contrived theatrics. The unity of time and place keeps this feeling urgent as well. I'd love to see this realized onstage!

I loved the offbeat, whimsical, human, melancholic tone of this piece. The three central characters are so vividly realized, as is the dynamic supporting character, Susan. Sievers definitely captures the ache and longing these young folks are feeling at a destabilized transitional moment in their lives while also showing us their uncertain yet hopeful paths forward. The intergalactic, fantastical aesthetic of this piece adds another layer of theatricality that makes me yearn to see it onstage. The final scene is full of wonder, ambiguity, and beauty.

An incredible, theatrical, and richly layered telling of this modern mythology. The combination of music, fable, folklore, and dynamic and well-rendered characters kept me engaged throughout the entirety of this piece. The rhythms in Buckner's scenes capture wonderfully natural, human characters, and the use of heightened text, music, and supernatural figures combine with those more naturalistic elements to create an intriguing and coherent aesthetic whole. Robert's journey is compelling and so fully realized. I'd love to see, hear, and experience this staged.

A funny, empathetic, and insightful piece about a couple reevaluating and coming to terms with their own relationship as their daughter leaves for college. The use of the reality tv premise injects a whimsical dose of humor and a heightened aura to the human and warm heart of the piece. The theatricality of the mid-play house deconstruction and then tiny house construction is wonderful--a crystal clear and clever extended metaphor for Claire and Ben's ruminations on their marriage. This script would be great fun for actors, directors, and designers alike!

An awesome, exquisitely rendered theatrical portrait of depression, struggles with mental health, recovery, and connection. This piece contains a very human story refracted through the destabilizing and discomfiting lens of depression and anxiety. Zubel incredibly captures that very filter of self-doubt and "paranormality" characteristic of a battle with mental health using lightly absurd and surreal theatricality. I love how it ends messily but hope and images of progress.

An exciting piece with briskly moving dialogue and an ensemble of dynamic and eclectic characters. Moore explores celebrity and fame, the music industry, addiction and its manifestations in different people, and artistic integrity vs. selling out. I was really thrilled with the vivid sense of place established in this piece and the clear and powerful journeys of every single character--they all have wants, needs, and obstacles that make it compelling to watch them orbit around and collide into one another.