Recommended by Nick Malakhow

Dense and lyrical with extraordinary imagery and a visceral intensity that kept me engaged throughout. I love the way this straddled the lines between drama, mystery, and horror. The way that Baisch plays with time/space and winding back and forth through them is fantastic and adds to the tension and mystery.

Hilarious, biting sharp satire with a couple of profoundly poignant moments, "The Play You Want" is a spectacular piece that I hope to see have a long life. It manages to capture the very specific nuances and complexities of Bernardo's experiences as a playwright while also resonating with other folks from so-called marginalized identities who are forced to compromise aspects of themselves to succeed and achieve recognition in a white, Euro-centric society. The satirized real human beings are priceless (both funny to insiders and hilarious enough caricatures to entertain the masses) and the theatricality of act two is wonderful.

A fast paced and extremely unsettling and well-done piece of theatrical horror and science fiction. Its messages about cult personalities and fear of government overreach to the point of self-destruction are perpetually (sadly) relevant. Pazniokas manages to establishes a crystal clear world here without unnecessary exposition and with just a few well-chosen characters. This would be a blast for designers to dive into, and the roles are all well-rounded too, no doubt giving the actors who will play them much to work with! I hope to see this live and on its feet!

A beautifully realized and wholly unique theatrical world. Connections between existential dread of the present, the ubiquity of and dependence on and desire to escape from technology, and biblical allusions are complex and astute. This would be a fantastic ensemble piece to dive into as an actor, and the opportunities for designers and directors to shape this piece and create the world are infinite. I look forward to following this play's trajectory!

A complex, haunting piece that explores relationships, art, celebrity, and the challenges of moving beyond childhood traumas and regret. I loved the time I spent with Richard and Rachel, and their simultaneous journeys were powerfully realized. I appreciated the ways that mystery and hidden information was revealed as well as how much I was on the side of both characters and their at times tumultuous interactions. The dialogue felt natural and yet also had a beautiful and slightly heightened poetry that underscored the themes even as it still felt like two actual human beings communicating (or not communicating).

Brilliantly realized theatrical sci-fi whose world manages to be so richly rendered by the deft characterization of a small but eclectic cross section of folks. Finch manages to construct an entire reality through skillful showing, well-chosen scenes and relationships, and extremely human dialogue without ever falling into the trap of too much exposition. She explores gentrification and class divides, exploitative art creation, the stigmatization of sex work, identity, definitions of family, coming of age, and so much more in a propulsive and compelling read. I'd love to see this fully realized onstage.

Incredibly written, hilarious, and human piece that explores addiction and loneliness. The ways Nell's struggles are compared to and contrasted with Jeremiah's journey are nuanced and subtly detailed. Williams really conjures a sense of place in these people, and the town of Mystic is surprisingly well-rendered through the eyes of this small cross-section of people. All three characters are multi-dimensional and I loved getting to know them. I also appreciated how all of the dramatic action was based on these small tremors and shifts in lieu of "louder" theatrics. Beautiful, well-observed work.

A compelling and briskly moving piece that both serves as an astute character study and an engaging mystery. Darcy's entrance from the outset and meeting of Siobhan is a great hook for a more expansive and complex storyline about grief, family, forgiveness, and questioning how much you truly know about those closest to you. I enjoyed the theatrical conceit of roaming through time using the prison visitation recordings, and the melancholy and chilly atmosphere managed to be communicated well through action, pacing, tempos/rhythms, and word choice.

Truly exquisite work--lyrical and rich poetry co-exists here with extraordinarily naturalistic and well-observed speech. Levitsky-Weitz examines sexual violence against women and its intersection with family trauma and cycles, Judaism and its evolution, and identity. The storytelling here and the use of time and space is so theatrical and well-executed. The stage images and dualities of Lily/Lillith are haunting. The poetry, particularly a huge and sprawling moment of heightened poetry in the middle of the play, renders both rich internal and external life for Lily, Lillith, and Eleanor. I would love to see this piece performed live.

Beautiful historical work that honors and informs about a human being and a moment in time, while also taking full advantage of the theatrical form to dazzle, move, and entertain. Parks' journey is exquisitely told through a mix of skillfully written, natural scenes, and heightened moments of song. Harrison David Rivers' treatment of Gordon Parks feels much like the way Parks himself refers to Dorothea Lange, Jack Delano, et al's treatment of photographic subjects in the Depression and Dust Bowl--he shows the "difficulties and dignities" of Parks' life in a nuanced, well-rounded way. Gorgeous!