Recommended by Rachael Carnes

A deeply-felt, heartbreaking and - amazingly - funny play, about the end of the world. Beardsley writes with finely-tuned dialogue and characters that come to life.

A powerfully-wrought sci-fi exploration, with tight characterizations centered on a devastating reveal. Partain builds a distant world so artfully, we *feel* like it's all happening right here, right now. Charging, yet sympathetic and profound. I'm going to be wrestling with this play's philosophical poignancy for a good, long while.

A universally-accessible conversation of that hinge-point, where an adult child becomes a care provider for their aging parent. Written with humor, heart and imagination, this finely-detailed piece rings so true.

I heard a reading of this zany play at the Mid-American Theatre Conference, and not only did it wake us all up from our mid-afternoon slump, it's just funny and sharp! Bogart's language play is deliciously weird, skimming the razor's edge between historical - a la Medieval Times? - and colloquial. It's a nutty ride, alt-theatrical, with big energy coming at you from all sides.

I heard a reading of this play at the Mid-American Theatre Conference. Funny and sharp, this play subverts the expected to create a world that's funny, organic and humane. McBurnette-Andronicos explores a rich conversation, building trust and rapport through exciting reveals and widening possibilities.

I heard this play at the Mid-American Theatre Conference, and was taken with the journeys the characters travel in away from each other and the possible futures that could have been. A nuanced, powerful exploration of centrifugal grief.

I heard a reading of this play at the 2020 Mid-American Theatre Conference, and I'm drawn to its tight structure, the way fear and trauma are externalized and internalized in the narrative, and throughout the dialogue that pulls and tugs at the intersection of competing power dynamics. Romero says so much, in this powerful short play.

After the almost-unbelievable experience of hearing Franky read this play live, I'm here to amplify my previous recommendation and say that this writer is a treasure, and this play a gift, interweaving the painful threads of intergenerational trauma, into a beautiful tapestry of life, death and second chances. Thank you, Franky, for this.

A sweet reflection on love and what lasts, as memory is fading. Rushton's dialogue draws delicate lines between the characters as they traverse their journey.

Awwwwww, yay! Another wonderful play for young thespians by Martin - With a recurring guest appearance by Kiki Pineapple! Martin's humor and warmth - and respect for the Big Grown Up issues we ask young kids to grapple with - is in full supply in this heartwarming play.