Recommended by Dave Osmundsen

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    A brief yet multi-faceted play that examines queer aging, coming out, disability, and the importance of queer elders. The play explores the relationship between two gay men as one ages down, the other ages up. What starts as a sexual encounter between two men of the same age becomes something deeper as the characters' ages begin to diverge. With each passing of the ages (so to speak), the two men become something new to one another, something they are craving for in their lives. Lovely work!

    A brief yet multi-faceted play that examines queer aging, coming out, disability, and the importance of queer elders. The play explores the relationship between two gay men as one ages down, the other ages up. What starts as a sexual encounter between two men of the same age becomes something deeper as the characters' ages begin to diverge. With each passing of the ages (so to speak), the two men become something new to one another, something they are craving for in their lives. Lovely work!

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    A sweet, tender coming-of-age play that gleefully and lovingly subverts the expectations and tropes of nerd/jock romance. Kenneth Jones writes his protagonists with great humanity, bringing into relief how their individual histories have informed their search for higher ideals. The supporting characters and their Machiavellian machinations are also fun to read. While you root for the two leading men to end up together, Jones leaves us with a more complicated, open ending that still satisfies.

    A sweet, tender coming-of-age play that gleefully and lovingly subverts the expectations and tropes of nerd/jock romance. Kenneth Jones writes his protagonists with great humanity, bringing into relief how their individual histories have informed their search for higher ideals. The supporting characters and their Machiavellian machinations are also fun to read. While you root for the two leading men to end up together, Jones leaves us with a more complicated, open ending that still satisfies.

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    A haunting, powerful, and somewhat twisted story about of loss, regret, and what to do when a marriage no longer serves you, “Barefoot on Gravel Roads” explores a few days in the life of one woman whose life is about to drastically change. Micaele Johnson writes not just plot and dialogue, but an entire environment through poetic and evocative stage directions, making the rural landscapes where her characters reside a character in and of itself.

    A haunting, powerful, and somewhat twisted story about of loss, regret, and what to do when a marriage no longer serves you, “Barefoot on Gravel Roads” explores a few days in the life of one woman whose life is about to drastically change. Micaele Johnson writes not just plot and dialogue, but an entire environment through poetic and evocative stage directions, making the rural landscapes where her characters reside a character in and of itself.

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    A horrifyingly brutal and visceral allegory for the horrors of war, "people" depicts a world where animals live harmoniously and comfortably. When Invaders barge in, the lines between prey and predator, between, actor and audience, and between play and event, begin to crash. The play continues its relentless string of horrors, resulting in a final devastating moment that perfectly encapsulates this play's willingness to make the audience uncomfortable and complicit. Powerful work!

    A horrifyingly brutal and visceral allegory for the horrors of war, "people" depicts a world where animals live harmoniously and comfortably. When Invaders barge in, the lines between prey and predator, between, actor and audience, and between play and event, begin to crash. The play continues its relentless string of horrors, resulting in a final devastating moment that perfectly encapsulates this play's willingness to make the audience uncomfortable and complicit. Powerful work!

  • Wilt

    by Baylee Shlichtman

    What a strange, fantastical, and shocking fantasy/horror this is! Shlichtman boldly and vividly constructs a world that reveals itself gradually, using fairy tale logic to build a landscape of whispering flowers, an obstinate kitchen, and a toy elephant. She has also written a haunting mystery that explores the limits of love, reciprocated or not, and deconstructs the persona of a "nice guy" to disturbing effect. Designers looking for a challenge will love this world, too. Haunting work!

    What a strange, fantastical, and shocking fantasy/horror this is! Shlichtman boldly and vividly constructs a world that reveals itself gradually, using fairy tale logic to build a landscape of whispering flowers, an obstinate kitchen, and a toy elephant. She has also written a haunting mystery that explores the limits of love, reciprocated or not, and deconstructs the persona of a "nice guy" to disturbing effect. Designers looking for a challenge will love this world, too. Haunting work!

  • Dave Osmundsen: Fran and Dad Are Here by Victoria Mack
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    One of the rare dementia plays I read that honors and centers the experience of someone undergoing dementia, "Fran and Dad Are Here" smartly avoids the common tropes of "burden" and "Don't you remember?" that are often attributed to these plays. Instead, it is warm, tender, and intimate. It gives the protagonist a strong inner life that honors the past, present, and near future. Beautiful play!

    One of the rare dementia plays I read that honors and centers the experience of someone undergoing dementia, "Fran and Dad Are Here" smartly avoids the common tropes of "burden" and "Don't you remember?" that are often attributed to these plays. Instead, it is warm, tender, and intimate. It gives the protagonist a strong inner life that honors the past, present, and near future. Beautiful play!

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  • Dave Osmundsen: Deep In Shallow Water - You'll Drown if you Don't Keep Your Head Up by Micaele (Mikaylee) Johnson
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    This play presents a group of people who feel like an organic friend group, complete with banter, history, and tough love. Going deeper, this play tackles how one person's decision impacts everyone others, whether it's others' business or not. Johnson displays a deep-seated empathy for all the characters and how they want to live their lives. Each of them are trying to live the life that has been prescribed to them, and grapple with the different decisions others make. A lovely play!

    This play presents a group of people who feel like an organic friend group, complete with banter, history, and tough love. Going deeper, this play tackles how one person's decision impacts everyone others, whether it's others' business or not. Johnson displays a deep-seated empathy for all the characters and how they want to live their lives. Each of them are trying to live the life that has been prescribed to them, and grapple with the different decisions others make. A lovely play!

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  • Dave Osmundsen: a witness by Jordan Bird
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    A potent portrayal of Autistic grief, "a witness" gradually reveals itself as a story of five funny, vulnerable, and lost people navigating loss and estrangement. Jordan Bird doesn't allow us a tidy resolution--she allows us to sit with the emotional carnage these people have created. Maybe they'll forgive each other, maybe they won't. But forgiveness isn't the point: It's seeing each other, understanding each other, despite our messed-up actions.

    A potent portrayal of Autistic grief, "a witness" gradually reveals itself as a story of five funny, vulnerable, and lost people navigating loss and estrangement. Jordan Bird doesn't allow us a tidy resolution--she allows us to sit with the emotional carnage these people have created. Maybe they'll forgive each other, maybe they won't. But forgiveness isn't the point: It's seeing each other, understanding each other, despite our messed-up actions.

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  • Dave Osmundsen: The Resolution by Daniel Prillaman
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    Erin is a Millennial Hedda Gabler. One day, she decides to become a darker and more sadistic person, claiming power in a society that denies her autonomy. How this impacts her caring and supportive friends is both horrifying and hysterical to watch (a box of "some old shit" comes into play). Prillaman's dialogue reads almost like a Yorgos Lanthimos film--precise, polite, yet with a Swiss army knife hidden in plain sight. This play will leave audiences beguiled and provoked. Brilliant work!

    Erin is a Millennial Hedda Gabler. One day, she decides to become a darker and more sadistic person, claiming power in a society that denies her autonomy. How this impacts her caring and supportive friends is both horrifying and hysterical to watch (a box of "some old shit" comes into play). Prillaman's dialogue reads almost like a Yorgos Lanthimos film--precise, polite, yet with a Swiss army knife hidden in plain sight. This play will leave audiences beguiled and provoked. Brilliant work!

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  • Dave Osmundsen: Tumbleweed by Marcus Scott
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    A hysterical and deeply layered family drama, Marcus Scott's "Tumbleweed" is also incredibly empathetic, smart, and compelling. Beyond the family dynamics, this play explores the place of Black men and women in society, particularly how they are judged through a white lens. Scott also creates a stunning character in Rebecca, a white woman who struggles to be the most affirming mother for her mixed-race daughters. The ending is brilliant and chilling. Fantastic work!

    A hysterical and deeply layered family drama, Marcus Scott's "Tumbleweed" is also incredibly empathetic, smart, and compelling. Beyond the family dynamics, this play explores the place of Black men and women in society, particularly how they are judged through a white lens. Scott also creates a stunning character in Rebecca, a white woman who struggles to be the most affirming mother for her mixed-race daughters. The ending is brilliant and chilling. Fantastic work!

    ”