Recommended by Dave Osmundsen

I caught this play when it streamed on Playbill's Pride Plays and loved it! Such a poignant, compelling, hilarious, and heartbreaking exploration of how its FTM protagonist, Max, defines his gender and how he expresses it. It also explores how he operates in the world based on what is true to himself, and what the world expects of him. Intelligent dialogue and a brilliant cast of supporting characters makes this play a must-produce!

I listened to this play on the Parsnip Ship podcast. A lovingly crafted, compelling, and heartfelt piece that, on one level, explores the intersections of race and class. On a deeper level, this play is a moving exploration of ancestry, family, and how we have to confront the darker parts of ourselves in order to accept, and gain acceptance of, the ones we love. The conclusion is moving and touching.

A very sweet, light-hearted, and funny piece that captures the anxiety of waiting for a loved one you have't seen in over a year, and the relief when they finally arrive.

A very sweet, charming, poignant, and funny play about two characters navigating the rocky terrain of love, sex, emotion, guilt, desire, and what they ultimately want out of a relationship. Marshall and Rowdy are two characters with palpable chemistry--you find yourself rooting for them to find some sort of compromise to stay together, which keeps you on the edge of your seat. A light, yet substantial piece for two actors to really dig into.

An intimate, brief play that says so much about what we give to others who can't give as much to us back, whether that be due to reticence or simply not feeling the same way. Weaver visualizes how we leave marks on each other's hearts beautifully, and the simplicity of the language allows for plenty of subtext for the actors to explore. I love this play!

Immediately, I fell for the bold, funny, and theatrical voice on display in this piece. Park Ranger and Opposum have a deeply felt and genuine friendship-- you find yourself caring about them when things take a turn for the worst. The play also challenges its audience to think about their complicity in the destruction of the world around them. However, the play also acknowledges a harsh truth: That action is difficult, and sometimes humans fail. Despite this brutal honesty, the play ends on a hopeful note. Definitely check this one out!

With blazing honesty, Rosenberg explores the relationship between two young women over the course of nearly a decade. Gen and Vee are two distinct characters who grow and change as the play progresses. I also found this play very edifying in terms of asexuality, something I don't often see portrayed with much depth. I also have to commend Rosenberg on her tasteful, careful, and respectful depiction of eating disorders. I loved this funny and moving play!

A fascinating, terrifying, and thought-provoking story about the reverberations of oppression even in the most confined spaces. Although this darkly funny play only has one setting, it makes the reader think about how the enforced gender roles impacts all of us, perhaps most especially our children. Carnes's characters both play into and buck against the system, creating an intricate interplay of the ensemble cast. Great roles for women, and an important play in the ever-growing genre of speculative theatre.

Emma Goldman-Sherman is one of our bravest playwrights, and this play is an example of that. Deeply personal, unabashedly honest, and a great vehicle for three actresses of varying ages. The play reflects the fractured state of its protagonist-- a woman who is trying to tell her own story, but often gets in her own way. As memories and perspectives collide, a portrait of a woman coming to terms with her lack of control in life emerges, and what is an occasionally dark and heavy play becomes a glowing testament to the human spirit.

This poignant, devastating, and thought-provoking piece is a play that trusts its audience. The non-linear storytelling works in allowing the story and world-building to come out bit by bit, allowing the audience to put the pieces together. This accumulation of information makes for a satisfying theatrical experience. This play will get audiences thinking about the difference between living and existing, and should be an important conversation piece in the "right to die" dialogue. But it also has an intense humanity, because Frandsen clearly loves her characters so much.