Recommended by Nick Malakhow

A play as moving and human as it is hilarious and formally adventurous. "Family Weekend" explores addiction and recovery through the perspective of family members fumbling through supporting their addicted loved ones while learning to take care of themselves. All of these multi-layered and unique characters jump off the page and go through massive changes in beautifully rendered little seismic shifts throughout. I loved them all, but Carly's journey was particularly poignant. The final few scenes were an affecting coda that included a brilliant bit of double-casting and an achingly true moment of unresolved hope and change. Produce this!

A fascinating exploration of masculinity and male privilege, gender and social expectations regarding more expansively, multi-layered power dynamics, and the tendency for ostensibly liberal-minded communities and groups to erupt in conflict and stymie true progress and forward momentum. Rather than indicting "Oleanna" (a play I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of!), it continues the conversation on it in a complex and nuanced and exciting way. The role of media and publicity also played an intriguing part in the action. I'm excited to follow this piece's developmental trajectory and would love to see it on its feet!

A moving, expansive piece that uses time to illustrate cycles of abuse, harm, and adultification perpetuated against Black women, specifically in the music industry, in a way that always keeps the humanity of its characters in sight. I love how the idea of generational echoes existed not just between Etta and Belchan as characters but also in the ways that Etta felt Belchan's music from a decade and a half ago would resonate in the present. Beautifully drawn characters. Lovely incorporation of music. A moving balance of pain and hope. I'd love to see this on its feet!

A beautiful play that is gloriously theatrical and expansive while also being laser-focused on Cristina's moving, poignant journey. As she wades through grief, her evolving relationship with her father in the wake of her mother's death, figuring out her conception of home, and dreams of moving forward, Cristina remains a compelling and sympathetic protagonist. Iraisa's blend of comedy, fabulistic theater magic, and heartbreaking drama is balanced perfectly. The broader exploration of beauty standards and body image, Latinx identity, class, and more were all threaded seamlessly throughout a specific and nuanced story. I'd love to see this performed!

An unsettling, human portrait of grief, family, friendship, and cycles of abuse (and social forces that uphold abuse). There is a fascinating use of double casting here used to great effect, and the playing with time and space keeps readers/audience members on their toes. Rae is a sympathetic nucleus for this play, even as/especially as she makes questionable decisions. I'm eager to follow the developmental trajectory of this piece.

The way this play navigates time and space is truly magical and moving, and the whole piece is grounded in the nuanced, fully realized, and compelling relationships between Emi and Hara and Ant and Sylvie (and the parallels between both pairs). I loved the mix of speculative and historical fiction as well as the fabulistic Other Realm that threads the 1945 and 2045 timelines together. A poignant and at times hilarious exploration of humanity and human need ("Oh no, I'm doing the monologue from OUR TOWN aren't I?"). A fantastical playground for designers, actors, and directors alike.

An extremely inventive play that blends comedy, drama, and science fiction in an engaging way. Kuya's relationships with both his father and ex-lover Pono serve as compelling central conflicts for the play. I loved the highly creative video game elements--a designer's playground!--and the ways that Kuya's internal mental state and his family history and baggage were all illuminated through the game. This was a very original and specific exploration of family, family trauma and history, love, and loneliness in a post-pandemic world. I'd love to see this on its feet!

A tender, beautiful play that explores intersections of sexuality, masculinity/femininity, and race through the story of two men who were friends when young and reconnect in their adulthood and try to make sense of who they are to each other. I loved the use of the somewhat mythological, figurative theatrical world that punctuates scenes of gently observed naturalism between Marcel and Brandon and Marcel and Keisha. All the little seismic shifts in these characters' relationships felt well-earned and didn't rely on any kind of forced melodrama--character changes were organic, poignant, and complex. I'd love to see this in production!

A beautiful, nuanced play about vulnerability, intimacy, outsidership, and much, much more! Ayden and Jess are two highly sympathetic characters who clearly care greatly for one another...and it's amazing how Kearns really maintains the tensions between them throughout while never losing sight of that care. While the discussions around honesty, love and sex, and self-image are thorough and unique to Ayden's experiences as a trans man and Jess' as a cis plus-sized woman, anyone who reads/sees this would have something quite relatable to grapple onto in this wonderfully specific story. I'd love to see this staged!

A compelling constellation of multilayered humans grounds this moving play. John explores family, cycles of pain, motherhood, parenting, and grieving with a keenly observed eye that takes into account the unique identities of his characters. As much as it is about the elusive American Dream, it's also about the baggage of family history and immigrant narratives that make up our society. Well-rendered, naturalistic scenes are punctuated by some brazenly, magical, theatrical moments. I'm eager to see the development trajectory of this piece and to see it on its feet!