Recommended by Rebecca Kane

Besides being a thoroughly interesting concept and a devastatingly well-executed comedic drama, I'm impressed with the respect and depth Portman showed for her characters' struggles. I've suffered from similar mental health issues as Boatswain and it means a lot to me to have him representing OCD and intrusive thoughts on stage properly. Thank you for the work you put in, Bridgette -- it pays off amazingly in this touching, layered play.

Everything about this play works, from the details dropped in anecdotes from the characters' histories that just devastate you, to the overall arc of a complicated friendship between two well-crafted women. Everett has an exquisite grasp on the pain of grief from multiple angles, but substantial moments of humor and love keep it hopeful. This play is a cathartic experience that I have a feeling we'll be seeing as a mainstay in theatres across the country soon -- and that day can't come soon enough for me as an audience member.

Every bit of this felt all too real. You can easily feel how overwhelmed this character is -- it would be a joy to see this performed live one day. I also loved the realism yet nice rhythm in the way a character this age and situation would speak.

Just had the pleasure of taking the version posted by the Talisman Theatre. The ending completely knocks the wind out of you in the best way possible. Talk about payoff! Thanks to Vivian for giving me a piece with so many different emotions tugging at my heartstrings (and in such an incredibly short amount of time, no less).

What a gem to find on the NPX homepage -- finally a play that attacks sizism with humor, frankness, and innovation. I applaud E.K. Doolin for such relevant and brave commentary, and for so skillfully weaving religion and some other beautiful themes and images into it.

What an incredibly interesting take on the afterlife, and so well-executed in less than 10 pages! I thought the idea and the dialogue were so clever, I would read a full-length of Cliff and the Second Keeper bantering. Who hasn't wondered what would happen to our favorite complicated rockstars when they leave this plane? Thanks to Cindi I know I have a credible, fun, satisfying answer.

I remembered seeing this play from the Orlando Shakes years ago and it's something I still think about all the time. With some of the most skilled, layered imagery I've ever seen along with unexpected wry humor and the role of a lifetime for whoever is gifted with playing Elizabeth, I can't recommend this play enough.

I read this play a couple years back, then thought of it out of nowhere and needed to come back and take another look. The final couple scenes still gave me goosebumps. That's the ultimate effect of this play, how the tragedy of the shelter isn't something that leaves you anytime soon. It's not all negative, though -- Miranda Jonte's clear love for so many things, from animals to humanity to Tessa herself, shines delightfully through the powerfully sad images.

This was the first time in recent memory I felt satisfied to read all 120 pages of a piece of playwriting! What an enjoyable smattering of bite-sized scripts. I was a particularly big fan of the quick & clever theatricality of "Screw the Critics!", the relatable humor in "Baby's First Kombucha", and all the monologues, at turns touching, funny, and biting. This was like going to a restaurant or bar and ordering a flight of Hayley St. James instead of whiskey or something -- and it was a very fulfilling order.

I applaud Hayley for managing to get so many layers into such a short play. The characters were engagingly realistic and the ending was satisfying and touching. When Luca said they just wanted to stay and look at the moon for a while ... who can't relate? Even without much familiarity with these characters, I hope they get the reunion they're wishing for, which speaks to St. James' ability to hook the reader in such a short time.