Recommended by Reinette LeJeune

  •

    The odd and broken pacing at first is jarring, but the abstract manner in which these four characters exist perfectly mirrors the guilt and shadows that hang over them. This play mixes the absurdity of Beckett with the raw honesty of Sarah Kane. A wonderful play for four trans masculine people.

    The odd and broken pacing at first is jarring, but the abstract manner in which these four characters exist perfectly mirrors the guilt and shadows that hang over them. This play mixes the absurdity of Beckett with the raw honesty of Sarah Kane. A wonderful play for four trans masculine people.

  •

    This play is absolutely beautiful; the language dances between natural and poetic speech, the characters are all perfectly entwined in each other's business like an actual Mississippi parish. Conflicts and desires ricochet off one another, slowly building to the shocking and heartbreaking truth of it all. Bird is human and she's a survivor and watching her build this relationship with the newly arrived Alma Jean is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. I look forward to the day I get to experience this play in person!

    This play is absolutely beautiful; the language dances between natural and poetic speech, the characters are all perfectly entwined in each other's business like an actual Mississippi parish. Conflicts and desires ricochet off one another, slowly building to the shocking and heartbreaking truth of it all. Bird is human and she's a survivor and watching her build this relationship with the newly arrived Alma Jean is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. I look forward to the day I get to experience this play in person!

  •

    I’ve known Amy for a long time, and I remember their first full length play, and their incredible amount of growth as a storyteller is admirable - I actually got a little jealous of this play. It’s a fantastic ride that captures some of the under notes of life with a humorous and abstracted realism that has a nice bite. It’s a play with versatile possibilities, and I greatly appreciate all the silent symbolism that gives a good chuckle when you catch them!

    I’ve known Amy for a long time, and I remember their first full length play, and their incredible amount of growth as a storyteller is admirable - I actually got a little jealous of this play. It’s a fantastic ride that captures some of the under notes of life with a humorous and abstracted realism that has a nice bite. It’s a play with versatile possibilities, and I greatly appreciate all the silent symbolism that gives a good chuckle when you catch them!

  •

    What a wonderful and wild introduction to Azure's work for me. Ixchel and Nathanial's trip through a queer and multicultural rabbit-hole-fantasia swept me along in the first scene and carried me through to the end. These two friends are what anyone could hope for - a friendship built on the many foundations of love. As the surreal and hallucinatory chaos blended into the truth of Ixchel's quest to honor her Abuela, I found myself overcome with the desire to experience this play in a completely immersive environment, right alongside our two fabulous protagonists. (Especially Nathanial's big...

    What a wonderful and wild introduction to Azure's work for me. Ixchel and Nathanial's trip through a queer and multicultural rabbit-hole-fantasia swept me along in the first scene and carried me through to the end. These two friends are what anyone could hope for - a friendship built on the many foundations of love. As the surreal and hallucinatory chaos blended into the truth of Ixchel's quest to honor her Abuela, I found myself overcome with the desire to experience this play in a completely immersive environment, right alongside our two fabulous protagonists. (Especially Nathanial's big number)

    read more

  • I've heard this play's title floating across the lips of many colleagues over the years - and I can now see exactly why. The weirdness invites us in and quickly slams the door once we have stepped far enough inside the world of Guy Friendly. The characters are absurd, wacky, witty, zany and more - but as time passes, and we spend more of it with our weathered protagonist, we can only come to see him in his haphazard wholeness that can only be described as human.

    I've heard this play's title floating across the lips of many colleagues over the years - and I can now see exactly why. The weirdness invites us in and quickly slams the door once we have stepped far enough inside the world of Guy Friendly. The characters are absurd, wacky, witty, zany and more - but as time passes, and we spend more of it with our weathered protagonist, we can only come to see him in his haphazard wholeness that can only be described as human.

  • Reinette LeJeune: Can I Hold You?: A New Play on Asexuality by Kari Barclay
    “

    Such a wonderful and thoughtful exploration of some of the many variances of asexuality. I very much appreciate the messy ways in which these characters navigate their problems, misunderstandings, etc. Kari Barclay's humor is peppered throughout the serious moments, balancing the pace in an engaging, yet effortless manner. We are ushered in with a witty first scene, before delving deeper into the dense and rich conundrums of the play's heart with bittersweet glee. We need more theatre addressing such topics!

    Such a wonderful and thoughtful exploration of some of the many variances of asexuality. I very much appreciate the messy ways in which these characters navigate their problems, misunderstandings, etc. Kari Barclay's humor is peppered throughout the serious moments, balancing the pace in an engaging, yet effortless manner. We are ushered in with a witty first scene, before delving deeper into the dense and rich conundrums of the play's heart with bittersweet glee. We need more theatre addressing such topics!

    ”
  • Reinette LeJeune: MEGA by Tim Errickson
    “

    This play starts square in the desperate actions of its characters: Kerry's situation is what I imagine every lottery winner may fear - suddenly everyone wants a piece of the winning pot. The sharp, peppered dialogue keeps the scenes quickly connecting from one to the other, carrying us along the ride with skilled simplicity. The dialogue is the important factor here - how the spoken words of these characters match up to their following actions. Tim Errickson has crafted a light and punchy drama about the many varying prices we pay in life to seek happiness.

    This play starts square in the desperate actions of its characters: Kerry's situation is what I imagine every lottery winner may fear - suddenly everyone wants a piece of the winning pot. The sharp, peppered dialogue keeps the scenes quickly connecting from one to the other, carrying us along the ride with skilled simplicity. The dialogue is the important factor here - how the spoken words of these characters match up to their following actions. Tim Errickson has crafted a light and punchy drama about the many varying prices we pay in life to seek happiness.

    ”
  • Reinette LeJeune: Endless Summer Nights by Tim Errickson
    “

    Half naturalistic rom-dramedy, half memory play - this play starts at subtle, humble speeds and steadily climbs its way up a mountain of heart. What would you do when your high school sweetheart returns to your sleepy New Jersey town? How much would those painful memories weigh on you, or would they spur you on? A tender boardwalk love-story about the everyday people of the Jersey Shores.

    Half naturalistic rom-dramedy, half memory play - this play starts at subtle, humble speeds and steadily climbs its way up a mountain of heart. What would you do when your high school sweetheart returns to your sleepy New Jersey town? How much would those painful memories weigh on you, or would they spur you on? A tender boardwalk love-story about the everyday people of the Jersey Shores.

    ”
  • Reinette LeJeune: Bereavement Leave by Daniel Prillaman
    “

    I think office space plays are a still under-utilized settings, and the opening stage/sound directions alone had me eager to strap in for the ride deeper into the world of this place. The dialogue is brilliantly monotonous and repetitive in their word choices and it compliments the air of this environment perfectly. The dark and subtle wit mixed with the slight absurdisms in and of the characters creates a wonderful white-collar horror comedy that (whether having worked in an office, or having been lucky enough to avoid such hells) will connect with the working class audience of the masses.

    I think office space plays are a still under-utilized settings, and the opening stage/sound directions alone had me eager to strap in for the ride deeper into the world of this place. The dialogue is brilliantly monotonous and repetitive in their word choices and it compliments the air of this environment perfectly. The dark and subtle wit mixed with the slight absurdisms in and of the characters creates a wonderful white-collar horror comedy that (whether having worked in an office, or having been lucky enough to avoid such hells) will connect with the working class audience of the masses.

    ”
  • Reinette LeJeune: A Touch of Cinema by Duncan Pflaster
    “

    Such a fun political drama - filled with wit, wonder, and so much delicious satire. The script is well balanced for a stage play about film; using the backdrop of a party to strip away tyranny's disguises down to its bare and terrifying essence. The laughs carried me all the way to the end. I would love to see this play on stage - its one of those stories you kick yourself for not thinking of first.

    Such a fun political drama - filled with wit, wonder, and so much delicious satire. The script is well balanced for a stage play about film; using the backdrop of a party to strip away tyranny's disguises down to its bare and terrifying essence. The laughs carried me all the way to the end. I would love to see this play on stage - its one of those stories you kick yourself for not thinking of first.

    ”