Recommended by Rachael Carnes

This play drew me in and wouldn't let go. At first, we might feel like we've wandered into something familiar, a setting out of Inge - then - steep angles and drop offs and we're racing to find out what happened and what happens. We're in this space where the writer takes daring leaps, disorganizing and then reintegrating what we think we know. No spoilers. But this work touches, ultimately, on themes that are prevalent and yet barely spoken about, even now. I look forward to reading more of Gross's work, and learned so much about *myself* in reading this.

Heck yeah, this is a gorgeous ten-minute play! No wonder it's so produced. Mullen has built great characters, a perfect moment and a wise, wide and relevant conversation. This play would anchor any festival with its intelligence and heart.

A wonder to behold! Hilarious and sharp, Gonzalez’s work here seems effortless, even though this zany piece is masterfully crafted, from its airtight dramaturgy to its amusing - yes, amusing - formatting. If you’re weary of theatrical sameness, read THIS and bask in the boundless possibilities zipping around in this uniquely fun play. Gonzalez has big, bold ideas, and the chops to get them on the page.

"Have, not got." - this space between what is supposed to be, and what is, is explored with deep intelligence and a well of emotions in this unique and resonant play. Hackler's story spans decades and sets us up to see the broken and the beautiful in these characters, whose richly-detailed world shifts and bends under the weight of memory. A wonderful work, with strong roles for women. No wonder this play's so highly regarded. With its time machine leaps, this would be a rewarding and exciting challenge for a creative team. I would love to see this onstage.

Krost has built a brilliant world here, for a family at loose ends to rattle around in, slinging barbs at each other, re-hashing the past, exposing vulnerabilities and not *quite* figuring out how to be there for each other in the present. This is spit-take funny, Krost has a great wit and pitch perfect rhythm, but it's also real and relevant, a crash of cultures and religions, a big, bubbly soup of wants and needs. This full-length play reads so fluidly, with compelling energy and dynamic language throughout. It would be a blast to see onstage.

I am here for Holiday plays without the saccharine, and Plummer's funny romp fits the bill nicely. Plenty of back and forth as the plot leaps in unexpected (and hilarious) new directions. This one would keep audiences for a holiday festival on their toes - and actors entertained as they play all the angles. Great fun!

This is just too funny! Martin's penchant for zippy dialogue is in full form here - I was even chortling to myself on the landing page. These bonkers characters leap from the Reality TV genre, and bat around each other like a pack of craven contemporary commedia del arte players. I heard the emcee as Chuck Woolery, and as I read, memories of thousands of hours watching shows like this came flooding in. What fun this would be for a creative team to sink their teeth into - tons of comedy fodder.

A holiday play for people who have had *enough* of the holidays. Sharp and funny, Dyball's humor comes through in the language and rhythm of this revealing, character-driven monologue. I'm a big fan of how the piece escalates, trapping the audience as the hapless partygoer, as we nod and listen and wonder if they'll run out of shrimp. Clever!

Beautifully complex in its crafting, and featuring Hoke's razor-sharp wit, TEACH explores the edges between what we think and what is — Digging into the way our perspectives and identities shift and tilt and bend. The piece features terrific contemporary roles for younger actors, but all the characters feel so developed and real. The whole world of the High School feels available: I can hear the bells, smell the cafeteria, see the shine on the linoleum floor... Within this familiar environment, Hoke exposes brittle politicking and boundary-pushing, within a system where powerful dynamics are at play.

And now I'm crying. What a gorgeous play! The relationship between these two brothers feels so rich and so real. I immediately connected with both of them, and hung on every single word as their dialogue played out. Goldman-Sherman discovers incredible theatricality within this realistic conversation. This play explores the space of not-knowing with tremendous creativity and heart. A terrific opportunity for two young actors to shine!