Recommended by Kyle Smith

Absolutely necessary for those struggling with mental Illness to hear. A lot of us have two channels, and it's a defining moment in our mental health journey when we learn how to defuse with one, and accept the other as our true self. This play, in the right hands at the right time could be life saving.

Light Switch is the play the Autistic community needs right now. Henry is a big R Romantic at heart, and in him, Osmundsen shines a light on what being Autistic is actually like. Henry is complicated, funny, loyal, loving, and stalwart in his beliefs, and through spending these 100 pages with him, I feel like I’ve grown accustomed to his charms. All I know is I’d want Henry as a friend!

Escobar’s Hippo is a timely adaptation of Ionesco’s timeless classic that deftly deals with big questions with even bigger humor. This play is wickedly funny, delightfully absurd, and oh so human.

Elle and Haley’s messy relationship is front and center in this affecting play. Camp’s crystal clear characters bounce off of each other, creating more and more mess, until there’s nothing to do but bask in the world ending, life shattering, yet ultimately fleeting heartbreak of Elle’s love that could never be.

This comedy is light fun and flirty, while counterbalanced with the weight of Emily and Jake’s fears and anxieties. The play bounces between laughs and heaviness, giving moments of levity between the real fears that many parents to be experience when considering children. A great choice for any theatre festival.

This play is gripping, thoughtful, deeply felt, infuriating, and so so hopeful. I couldn’t stop the torrent of tears from coming out when I got to the final scene and Ben’s powerful moment of change. This play is so necessary for so many reasons, and I will be checking frequently to see if and when this incredible play makes it to NYC.

This breezy play about coming of age and discovering sexuality is a true delight. This play is very relatable, not just because I used to be a water polo player experiencing my own sexual awakening at practice, but because the themes Cathro speaks to are truly universal. Reading this play, I was smiling ear to ear the whole time. Any theatre would be lucky to produce this.

This play felt like if a Chekhov play had been written by Maria Irene Fornes doing an impression of Ionesco. Absurd, bewildering, bewitching, foreign, familiar, and funny. Oh so funny. Well done.

Hilarious and, in the end, harrowing. This play is filled with big laughs, but ends on a note that is particularly poignant. How much do you know the person you love, and when do you know it’s the right time to get married?

Nell Dash flies at a mile a minute, with plenty of twists and turns to keep things fresh and interesting. Dickensian wit and a familiar cast of characters make for a hilarious and joyous ride with familiarity, plenty of laughs, and a lovely conclusion. Wonderful!