Recommended by Nick Malakhow

Miller establishes two really clear characters in a short span of time and gives us a potent and loaded interaction that eschews contrived theatrics for a subtle, nuanced story of grief, trauma, its after-effects, and moving on. I loved the irregular rhythms of the dialogue, and that the scenario is used as a conduit for the central action of the piece, which only comes to the fore when the two are ready to move on. Poignant!

A blistering, sharp dark comedy that explores in a complex manner the ways that toxic patriarchy pits women of various genders and femme-identifying folks against one another in order to maintain its insidious hold on the world. Lynett's characters are deftly written and, as always, her eye towards their intersectional identities provides an essential level of nuance that must be brought to the conversations and issues she holds space for in her pieces. The rhythm of the dialogue is on point, and the dissolution of the line between entertainment and indictment brilliant. The final moment is a gut-punching coda.

A beautifully nuanced and specific story that manages to capture broader themes of the loneliness and alienation of, and also fellowship between outsiders in a hostile environment. The way that Alex and Lamar's relationship, in particular, progresses is unique and natural, yet surprising, and the way both navigate concepts of assimilation vs. being true to oneself, escape, and identity is beautiful! The theatricalization of Lamar's spiritual journey with and connection to Shenden, coupled with images of physical fighting and discontent make for some bold and contrasting visual images which I would love to see onstage.

Cathro captures a super specific and, thus, universally resonant experience of emerging sexuality and identity with nuanced and on-point details. What is clever about this piece is that the portrait of Jake/Jacob's experience is so well-rounded by the theatrical usage of present-day narration and more abstract, dream-like past, so that we can experience those urgent adolescent feelings as well as an older, wiser commentary on them. The climactic moment at the bar mitzvah bathroom is unexpected and well-rendered in its humanity and oddity and as a subtle but seismic turning point. The final moments are poignant and satisfying.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this engaging piece and finished it in one sitting. Despite the fact that all sorts of alarm bells go off when you see the potentially salacious setup, this actually is a very human and nuanced story about relationships, connection, power dynamics, and love. It's also full of naturally doled out humor and light. Cathro mines the situation for truth and human growth, honoring the seriousness of the boundaries and the subculture explored. Langstrom's journey is full of surprises and the characters are all treated very tenderly and like the complex humans they are. Thought-provoking!

A wonderful anthology of shorts that are each potent and well-crafted in and of themselves, while also creating a gorgeous unified whole. With humor, heartbreak, and a slightly heightened and offbeat sensibility, Cathro explores fracturing and reassembling relationships, regret, identity, and mortality. There are beautiful human truths within each story, and we are introduced to a whole host of nuanced and well-defined characters. I also loved how queerness was threaded through each story in a way that normalized these narratives and lifted them up for their universality rather than as "special interest" stories. Lovely and producible!

This is a beautifully-executed adaptation that takes the source material and uses it to explore, with magic, humor, and poignancy, much larger ideas and themes. Each character is distinct and perfectly rendered, and the theatricality and stage magic both amplifies the text/emotional heart of the piece and also creates room for much visual, aural, and design creativity. I'd be excited to see the other one acts that eventually become a part of this play cycle!

A fast-paced, hilarious and poignant adaptation of Romeo and Juliet that satisfies a lot of itches--it's good for all ages, full of clever humor that would appeal to adults and those hard to pinpoint middle grade sensibilities, and breaks new ground with this text in an age-appropriate fashion. Oglesby's work manages to capture the frenetic pace and hilarity of plays written for middle schoolers, while bringing in an LGBTQ lens and focus that most middle grade playwrights shy away from. Educators take a look!

I absolutely love how this piece uses superhero tropes to explore trauma, PTSD, and the ways people navigate life in the aftermath of traumatic events. Hageman has given us an amazing ensemble of distinct characters who provide eclectic lenses and worldviews, and I was so appreciative to see such robust representation of different ways people internalize, become mired in, and move past trauma. The piece gives voice to young people who have experienced a number of devastating events, but in an age-appropriate fashion and in a way that doesn't feel exploitative. High school educators should definitely read!

I wholeheartedly enjoyed the quirky and offbeat sense of humor that pervaded this piece, as well as the theatricality and good potential for unique lighting, sound, and set design elements. Here, Bultrowicz explores familial discord refracted through an absurd and entertaining lens. The heightened world effectively reflects back the insecurities, longing, and loneliness at the heart of much conflict. I'd be interested to see this piece live and on its feet!