Recommended by Lainie Vansant

  • Lainie Vansant: DREAM HOU$E by Eliana Pipes
    “

    This is an incredible, fascinating piece about family, legacy, and "progress." It asks a lot of good questions that don't have clear answers and grapples with those issues without shame. Pair it with A Raisin in the Sun in a season and grow the conversation!

    This is an incredible, fascinating piece about family, legacy, and "progress." It asks a lot of good questions that don't have clear answers and grapples with those issues without shame. Pair it with A Raisin in the Sun in a season and grow the conversation!

    ”
  • Lainie Vansant: The Candidate by Stephen Brown
    “

    This play caught my attention and held it captive throughout. In it, Brown presents human characters with big needs and wants trying to solve a complex - potentially unsolvable - problem. It's sure to unsettle an audience in the best way - read and produce it now!

    This play caught my attention and held it captive throughout. In it, Brown presents human characters with big needs and wants trying to solve a complex - potentially unsolvable - problem. It's sure to unsettle an audience in the best way - read and produce it now!

    ”
  • Lainie Vansant: Tracks by John Patrick Bray
    “

    Tracks is a fascinating ghost story with beautifully layered culture specific to a region that doesn't get a lot of love. It's a story of loss and of tall tales, and Bray uses all of the myths and songs at his disposal to draw the reader/audience in.

    Tracks is a fascinating ghost story with beautifully layered culture specific to a region that doesn't get a lot of love. It's a story of loss and of tall tales, and Bray uses all of the myths and songs at his disposal to draw the reader/audience in.

    ”
  • Lainie Vansant: Unprotected by Jean Koppen
    “

    An interesting take on the different ways people react to trauma - the last image is particularly breathtaking. Give it a read!

    An interesting take on the different ways people react to trauma - the last image is particularly breathtaking. Give it a read!

    ”
  • Lainie Vansant: The PlayMakers by Julie Zaffarano
    “

    Zaffarano plays with theatricality in fun ways throughout this piece, which was a delight to read and is sure to be even more fun to see. There are great roles for older actors, a happy ending, and lots of flexibility - lots of good reasons to produce this script!

    Zaffarano plays with theatricality in fun ways throughout this piece, which was a delight to read and is sure to be even more fun to see. There are great roles for older actors, a happy ending, and lots of flexibility - lots of good reasons to produce this script!

    ”
  • Lainie Vansant: Flies at the Nativity by Matthew Weaver
    “

    Somehow Weaver has managed to convey the Christian outlook on Christmas and write a play about poop at the same time. This play is sweet, funny, and surprising, and it's sure to be a ton of fun for the actors. Check it out!

    Somehow Weaver has managed to convey the Christian outlook on Christmas and write a play about poop at the same time. This play is sweet, funny, and surprising, and it's sure to be a ton of fun for the actors. Check it out!

    ”
  • Lainie Vansant: Most Wonderful by Jennifer O'Grady
    “

    O'Grady neatly captures the struggle of creating your own independence but still figuring out what traditions are important to you as a person. Perfect for anyone with a found family and a touch of cynicism who just can't shake the Christmas cheer.

    O'Grady neatly captures the struggle of creating your own independence but still figuring out what traditions are important to you as a person. Perfect for anyone with a found family and a touch of cynicism who just can't shake the Christmas cheer.

    ”
  • Lainie Vansant: It's an Espresso Drink with Foamy Steamed Milk by Steven G. Martin
    “

    What can we do about our impending doom? Not much. We can, however, save the last of our favorite lipstick color, and the irony of this is highlighted and heightened in this delightful snippet from Steven G. Martin. These characters would be a ton of fun for actors and audiences alike!

    What can we do about our impending doom? Not much. We can, however, save the last of our favorite lipstick color, and the irony of this is highlighted and heightened in this delightful snippet from Steven G. Martin. These characters would be a ton of fun for actors and audiences alike!

    ”
  • Lainie Vansant: The OMNILVX Method by Taylor Sklenar
    “

    I had the pleasure of working with this script as part of the 2018 Mizzou New Play Series, and it is fantastic! The actors really enjoyed digging into their roles and finding the nuances in the piece, and Sklenar does a great job blending research with humanity throughout. This show deserves a full production, check it out!

    I had the pleasure of working with this script as part of the 2018 Mizzou New Play Series, and it is fantastic! The actors really enjoyed digging into their roles and finding the nuances in the piece, and Sklenar does a great job blending research with humanity throughout. This show deserves a full production, check it out!

    ”
  • Lainie Vansant: I Will Miss You When You're Gone by Jessica Moss
    “

    Moss's voice is clever and very entertaining, and this script has a lot of both depth and charm. It's about suicide, but it's also a romp, which seems odd but somehow works. There's a lot of fun work here for female actors as well, check it out!

    Moss's voice is clever and very entertaining, and this script has a lot of both depth and charm. It's about suicide, but it's also a romp, which seems odd but somehow works. There's a lot of fun work here for female actors as well, check it out!

    ”