Recommended by Mark Loewenstern

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    Was fortunate to see a live production of this play and was much impressed with its depth and theatricality. It is an elegant reframing of what it means to act, to live, and to struggle with disease that many may find useful. Mazer uses loved ones as a metaphor to demonstrate the stages of grief in the deterioration of one's own body. Devastating, genuinely moving stuff.

    Was fortunate to see a live production of this play and was much impressed with its depth and theatricality. It is an elegant reframing of what it means to act, to live, and to struggle with disease that many may find useful. Mazer uses loved ones as a metaphor to demonstrate the stages of grief in the deterioration of one's own body. Devastating, genuinely moving stuff.

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    Sweet and fun. I was fortunate to see a live performance of this play and was struck by the layered physicality of two awkward, mature men rehearsing a love scene, how the painstaking direction of their pretended passion was necessary but excruciating but funny but also not funny at all -- all at the same time. The final moments are satisfying and earned, and the whole experience was a crowd pleaser. Deserving of many productions.

    Sweet and fun. I was fortunate to see a live performance of this play and was struck by the layered physicality of two awkward, mature men rehearsing a love scene, how the painstaking direction of their pretended passion was necessary but excruciating but funny but also not funny at all -- all at the same time. The final moments are satisfying and earned, and the whole experience was a crowd pleaser. Deserving of many productions.

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    This is a neat trick. A credible tale of meeting Death at the end of a difficult life which is affirming, warm, funny, even sweet. Sickles adds to the mythology of what is there with us at the very end and the effect is compelling.

    This is a neat trick. A credible tale of meeting Death at the end of a difficult life which is affirming, warm, funny, even sweet. Sickles adds to the mythology of what is there with us at the very end and the effect is compelling.

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    More than just a fascinating biography of a literary master. More than just a hilarious yarn about how Kafka's works came into our hands. Rich Rubin serves up a canny investigation, an entertaining demonstration, of the essence of kafkaesque -- the living nightmare that is so subtle we can't look away, and so darkly funny, so familiar, that we don't want to. It's rare theatrical accomplishment I don't recall seeing anywhere else. Would love to see this staged!

    More than just a fascinating biography of a literary master. More than just a hilarious yarn about how Kafka's works came into our hands. Rich Rubin serves up a canny investigation, an entertaining demonstration, of the essence of kafkaesque -- the living nightmare that is so subtle we can't look away, and so darkly funny, so familiar, that we don't want to. It's rare theatrical accomplishment I don't recall seeing anywhere else. Would love to see this staged!

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    Fun! Satisfying! Surprising! A lightning fast comedy with belly laughs and unexpected insights. Would love to see it staged.

    Fun! Satisfying! Surprising! A lightning fast comedy with belly laughs and unexpected insights. Would love to see it staged.

  • Mark Loewenstern: Sugar by Jennifer O'Grady
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    Not a beat is wasted in this elegantly written thriller of a 10-minute play. I was fortunate to attend a performance and SUGAR held the audience spellbound while it drew us a map to a necessary and real escape route. Wonderful, useful work! Deserving of many productions.

    Not a beat is wasted in this elegantly written thriller of a 10-minute play. I was fortunate to attend a performance and SUGAR held the audience spellbound while it drew us a map to a necessary and real escape route. Wonderful, useful work! Deserving of many productions.

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  • Mark Loewenstern: CREAK by Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn
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    We adults have been poor stewards of this world, and are leaving our children with a messy future. Floyd-Priskorn nails this reality with a seemingly effortless page of dialogue that makes fairytale monsters appear as quaint and reassuring allies against the horrors that are to come. An elegant and moving one-minute play.

    We adults have been poor stewards of this world, and are leaving our children with a messy future. Floyd-Priskorn nails this reality with a seemingly effortless page of dialogue that makes fairytale monsters appear as quaint and reassuring allies against the horrors that are to come. An elegant and moving one-minute play.

    ”
  • Mark Loewenstern: RESPECT THE NOSE -a monologue by Monica Cross
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    Respect "RESPECT THE NOSE." It's not just a fascinating exploration of clowning. It's also an inspiring anthem to self-expression, a useful meditation on finding your own voice that is distinct from the culture surrounding you. A great piece for young actors.

    Respect "RESPECT THE NOSE." It's not just a fascinating exploration of clowning. It's also an inspiring anthem to self-expression, a useful meditation on finding your own voice that is distinct from the culture surrounding you. A great piece for young actors.

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  • Mark Loewenstern: The Oktavist by Vince Gatton
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    Powerful and also subtle. Deeply moving and full of dangers and yet somehow also sweet and funny. In THE OKTAVIST, Gatton masterfully weaves many threads together to satisfying, compelling effect. Deserving of many productions. Bravo!

    Powerful and also subtle. Deeply moving and full of dangers and yet somehow also sweet and funny. In THE OKTAVIST, Gatton masterfully weaves many threads together to satisfying, compelling effect. Deserving of many productions. Bravo!

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  • Mark Loewenstern: The Time You Were Away (a monologue) by Scott Sickles
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    Exquisitely dark. Unquestionably funny. You may laugh, as I did, with a tinge of fear and hysteria. This unsettling play plants its horror in a novel location -- an innocent brain -- where the effects are ever-present and yet always out of reach. A wickedly brilliant betrayal that pays dividends over two lifetimes.

    Exquisitely dark. Unquestionably funny. You may laugh, as I did, with a tinge of fear and hysteria. This unsettling play plants its horror in a novel location -- an innocent brain -- where the effects are ever-present and yet always out of reach. A wickedly brilliant betrayal that pays dividends over two lifetimes.

    ”