Recommended by Rachael Carnes

Such a lovely piece, a deep well of feeling, smartly crafted to offer breathtaking range for two young actors. Hageman's dialogue sings, bringing us close to a moment that is so familiar, yet approached with an honesty and emotional distillation, that we very rarely see. So much to admire in this work, that looks at mental health and asks us to explore how our simmering, societal constructs might contribute to the challenges we face. So much, in just a few pages. Wow. Just - Wow.

Is this a Saturday night salon at Gertrude and Alice's dinner table? Are we to enjoy more politesse, an uptick in civilité? As Proust says, "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy" — And few things could make me happier than Scott Sickles writing a play for and with and about Matthew Weaver. These bi-coastal besties are *leveling up*: Transforming NPX into a theatre of conversation and exchange rivaling the coffeehouses of England! Seeing Sickles offer a play to Weaver is like hearing that Rodin got a painting from VanGogh. (I mean, not exactly, but whatever!) BRAVO!

I've been wanting to read this play for months, and finally got the chance - And wow, it does not disappoint. Rios writes with a visceral truth, a tactile quality, that is impossible to ignore. Rhythm races here, content painful and resonant, a back and forth specific yet universal. This is a uniquely rich play, one that creative teams could develop with the intentionality and discovery process, often reserved for much longer works. I look forward to seeing this play onstage as soon as possible.

Poor Maury - he's tried everything. In this moment, a relatable conflict gets a theatrical work-up, for full comic potential and powerful effect. Calandrino's taut dialogue and quick pace build this two-hander to a frenetic place, in just a few short pages. A great arsenal for a creative team to explore!

Only the mind of Matthew Weaver could put Bigfoot on the Staten Island Ferry, with themes of "Law and Order" and — it all works! This ten-minute nugget is hilarious, physical (Um, BIGFOOT) and delightfully paced, with comedic pitches that take me right back to the cumulative months I've spent commuting on that damn boat. I can say, with good authority, that the actions depicted here are *not too outside of the realm of possibility* -- My only question is, how did Bigfoot (A Pacific Northwesterner) get to NYC? Maybe, like me, he rented a U-Haul? TWO BIG(FOOT) THUMBS UP!

This writing pulses with energy, an occlusion of recent history and the present, reaching in and out, up and down - It's language interweaves bilingual rhythms so effortlessly, in this deep, rich conversation about the meaning of art, appreciation, appropriation. I so admire Taveras' bold boundary-pushing around form! I've read (and written) plenty of plays that defy the typical and predictable arc, but Taveras breaks with traditional structure so darn well. This is a play to study, and a writer to watch.

I was so moved by the emotional cadence of this piece, and my connection to it was equally drawn towards its *stunning* poetry. When a writer can be both lyrical and raw, I lean in, I pay attention. I'm just so grateful to have read this play. It's an incredible contribution, and I'd be thrilled to see it onstage and printed in a literary journal.

Wow - a supercharged one minute play, calling on ancient mythology and thrusting us into a violent present. There are remarkable layers here, an opportunity to revive iconic characters from time immemorial and in so doing, to see our contemporary conversations exposed. Glad to discover this writer's work, looking forward to reading more.

Another perfect GEM from Asher Wyndham. So fun, so relatable, a fantastic introduction to an evening of comedy shorts. Or -- how 'bout as a PSA before all theatre always. Celebrating the form, with taut pacing and cracking humor, this nugget reflects the wonderful, creative ideas and flawless execution that Wyndham is known for. I LOL'd in my cubicle and I don't care who knows it. Thanks for the laughs, Asher!

A smart, multi-layered exploration into language and power and the way the subtleties of dysfunctional interpersonal dynamics can solidly into institutional inequalities. Bircher's world here is approachable and lively, the appreciative audience at the 2019 Samuel French Off Off Broadway Festival clearly resonated with its humor and as Bircher widens the lens, and new challenges come into focus, we're right with moment. A high-energy play, with deep, meaningful subtext.