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Straton Rushing

Recommended by Straton Rushing

  • Dolcevita OR The Clown Chorus of the Carnival del Dolcevita Proudly Presents the Sad Tale of the Turbinado Triplets by Briandaniel Oglesby
    19 Sep. 2023
    “ A great story is a great story. And ones like Dolcevita transcend time, place, and other restraints to show us humanity in its various forms. In this play, Oglesby builds a fascinating and rich world. It is rare to see a play that could easily see successful production at the youth, high school, college, community, or professional level - but this makes perfect sense anywhere. On top of that, it is written with the option to be produced as a promenade theatre piece but could be produced practically anywhere.

    A truly unique piece, in need of more productions. ”
  • Heart Stop or, The Obesity Play by Franky D. Gonzalez
    23 Aug. 2023
    “ If you're already a fan of Gonzalez's work, this piece is another "must-read". It is a deeply personal and difficult piece of theatre that feels alive and necessary in the way very few plays do. The moments of levity are hilarious, and the final section is downright unforgettable. I teared up reading it, and I imagine many other readers will too. ”
  • Every Living Thing by Leroy Hood
    26 Jul. 2023
    “ Perhaps it is a bit cliche to say well-written characters "feel like real people". But in the case of Hood's play, there really is not a more succinct way to describe this story's greatest strength. All three of these characters have fascinating layers that are slowly peeled back as the story progresses. This play asks hard questions of its audience about life, death, and the responsibility we have to one another.
    ”
  • Pyre by Tyler Joseph Rossi
    25 Jul. 2023
    “ One of my favorite horror plays of all time. Historically intriguing, yet somehow relevant to the modern day. It is truly an edge-of-your-seat thriller. It could be an excellent find for any theatre looking to fill the Halloween slot with something unique. ”
  • Lobster Man (Full-length version) by Jonathan Cook
    18 Jul. 2023
    “ Cook creates a wholly unique world that blends expressionism with the post-apocalyptic survival story. Within this place, he slowly unveils a deeply moving story about love, loss, and new beginnings. ”
  • Sitting Ducks on the Sitting Dock by Dane Futrell
    14 Jul. 2023
    “ "Sitting Ducks" is at once laugh out loud hilarious, and deeply impactful. It manages to meaningfully explore the struggles of the modern worker while allowing the audience the room to draw their own conclusions about the nature of this world they're seeing.

    The back-and-forth between Louis and Ricky adopts a deeply effective vaudevillian pitter-patter, which at times harkens to Godot, while still feeling wholly unique to this pair.

    Futrell's absurd post-capitalist tragicomedy absolutely needs subsequent productions. It is theatre doing what theatre does best. ”
  • Distance Blues by Dane Futrell
    14 Jul. 2023
    “ Futrell brings his signature absurdist style into a personal family drama that carries with it echoes of Shepard's "True West". I was lucky enough to see a developmental reading at Arizona State and it is rare to hear such audible reactions from an audience.

    The play is truly unlike anything else you'll find. Its blend of fantastical and deeply personal creates emotions that will stick with audiences well after they leave the theatre. ”
  • Class C by Chaz T. Martin
    5 Jun. 2023
    “ This play is the most effective use of dystopia I have read for the stage. Martin introduces what at first feels like a familiar hypothesis for (fascist near-future USA a la Handmaid's Tale) and then continues to expand it in all directions, giving it a new spin. The play is wryly funny at times but largely manages to keep you at the edge of your seat with constant distrust and tension. ”
  • Wheel of Fortune Reversed by Scott Sickles
    21 Dec. 2022
    “ Lovely piece that delves into a lot of rich thematic content in just 10 minutes. ”
  • Monsters Beyond the Midnight Zone by Lindsay Partain
    16 Mar. 2022
    “ The kind of play that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Deeply engaging and gut-wrenching by the ending.

    I would also recommend Gather by the Ghost Light's audio production of the piece, very well produced! ”

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