Recommended by Olivia Matthews

Take My Wife! explores the rabid fetishism of capitalism and the rabid capitalism of fetish. The language is rich and leaves so much for actors/directors to explore. The premise, a vintage game show, feels very much like the film Network (a personal favorite): it’s biting and violent and humorous. Great for short play/one act fests.

In Fusion and Fallout..., Egdorf complicates the choices made by a young man by not only showing us the effect they have on his family but for the world for generations to come. The theatricalization of the coronet films makes it satirical yet haunting. As we weave in and out of time, we see Marcel's impassioned story serve as a warning for the bright and conflicted Ada. Seamlessly moving through the scientific and familial, Egdorf's storytelling is meant for the stage

In En Las Sombras, Ramirez Puckett weaves together a captivating myth and the real and defiant love between two young siblings Xenia and Luz. This play makes the poetic political and vice versa. With all of its heart, En Las Sombras demands to be performed soon and often, and any theatre should run to heed that call.

Sunny Days is delightful! Varga perfectly captures the voices of teens looking to belong while also giving them agency. The parents are well drawn, familiar yet complicated. The use of a sock puppet to portray a serial killer/forum avatar is some of the best theatricality I’ve seen onstage. This is a play that keeps you on the edge of your seat with danger but remains laugh out loud funny throughout. Please read, recommend, and produce. I wish more were plays about teens and this play is a strong, wonderful addition to the canon.

I cannot stress enough Egdorf's gorgeous and expert use of language and metaphor in her work, and The Evolution of Rattlesnakes is no exception. It is a testament to her amazing care for character- and world-building. While hearing this play, I was transported to the West, which is in some ways as wild as it was before with small-town gossip and men too powerful for their own good. The heart of this play lies in the relationship between Denni and Louisa, two women I can't help but root for.

Robinson Hillis balances the politics of gun control and grief masterfully in this play. The dialogue is rich and snappy while perfectly capturing frustration after a heartbreaking loss due to senseless violence. Her ability to channel the voices of Gen Xers, Millenials, and Gen Z is done so with care and authenticity. I had the privilege of seeing a reading but please someone bring this play to life in a production.

A powerful interpretation of beloved comic book characters. Seeing Lois Lane onstage with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn was the best thing I never knew I needed. The source material is rich soil for dramatic exploration and Robinson Hillis complicates these women further by examining their relationships with each other and the powerful problematic men who've historical gotten more screentime than them.

In a time where many of us are becoming desensitized by the tragic, traumatizing news hitting us through our phones and laptops, this play is more than necessary. Varga examines our current news and digital culture and the endurance of empathy through a savvy photojournalist and her childlike heart. Cora, the character, is not only theatrical but a study in humanity's capacity to feel love of all kinds. This play is dynamic: it is as joyful as it is heartwrenching and provocative.

Please read this play. It is such a delight on the page, the journey of learning a revered president's smutty past is a joyous discovery. In performance, Varga's cheeky language and characters bring you in as if a close friend is telling to a gloriously naughty 5-minute joke. I wish all historical theatre sounded like this.
Please read. Please produce. Please enjoy.

I had the privilege of seeing this devastating yet endearing monologue in performance. Porter captures the wistful nature of losing a loved one and trying to keep ahold of them as much as we can even if they are no longer physically with us. I'd have no problem encouraging actors of color to check out this dynamic piece.