Recommended by Dave Osmundsen

A wildly theatrical, unabashedly political, and daringly poetic piece of theatre that takes traditionally American myths and gives them a uniquely queer angle. The centerpiece of the play is Tamit, a young Native American gender non-conforming individual who is coming to terms with their identity. Around their emotional journey, the play deftly explores our relationship with our heritage, our history, and the very definition of "family." I can imagine a director having a field day working with the Magical Realism elements in Diaz-Marcano's script, and actors having a great time delivering his bold and profound dialogue.

A beautifully crafted story not just of being gay, but also the complexities of love, friendship, adolescence, sexuality, and how the past haunts us. DeVita's characters are some of the most believable, realistic, and human characters I've come across in a while, complete with flaws and humor. It was really easy to hear and see the dialogue being performed in my head. There is also a strong sense of the Long Island/Catholic milieu. The role that time plays in this piece is well-done through beautifully executed flashbacks. I can't wait to see this staged soon!

I listened to this play on the Parsnip Ship podcast. What a tender, touching, human play! Goldman-Sherman writes her characters with such care that you walk away understanding each and every one of them. Although it's a heavily political play, it also talks about intimate themes such as family, identity, and one's relationship with the past on a macro and micro scale. A heartfelt call for unity, "Abraham's Daughters" is the kind of play that will make you want to be a better person.

A thrillingly theatrical poem of a play that tackles head-on the bullies, the bullied, and the bystander. Hageman has a knack for writing sentences that punch you in the gut with their beauty and precision. The message is bittersweet-- that even taking a stand may not completely eradicate the hunters, but at least we don't have to face them alone. I love how flexible the staging for this play is--it practically screams to be choreographed! Check this play out.

Wow. Salsbury has written a really powerful piece here. Gorgeously poetic language that just wrings grief, sorrow, and devastation. There are glimmers of happier moments, yes, but that only makes the situation even more heartbreaking. The final moments--when it all came together for me--are simultaneously comforting and shattering. Read this play.

Phew! A ferociously dark, relentless, and brutal examination of trauma, self-image, and failed attempts at intimacy, both emotional and physical. In Spence and Marty, J. Julian Christopher gives the audience two characters to root for, even as the play reached its enthralling, horrifying, and disturbing climax. The resolution was bleak, yet realistic. Spot-on, breezy dialogue makes the play fly by as well. A fantastic piece of theatre all around that sheds a light on a sect of the gay male community we don't often see portrayed in media. Check it out!

A quirky, deft, and funny play that both celebrates and investigates the myth of the American cowboy, both how it empowers some while devaluing others (specifically women). At the same time, it's a touching coming-of-age story about how one teenage boy finds the strength to stand up for himself and those he loves while grieving for his father. The piece is also unabashedly theatrical--I was particularly struck by the astral projection scenes. I can see actors and designers having a blast with this play.

This short comedy is a frantic, anxious, and wild burst of energy! Spot-on dialogue and a situation that escalates in absurdity throughout the piece. Well-done!

A FABULOUS satire that has everything from Mormons to multi-level-marketing schemes to true crime podcasts to academics to corporate jobs to, yes, murder. Alternatively funny and horrifying, "MLM is for Murder" is a deceptively complex take on what happens when we choose to fight against the prescribed narratives of our lives. Bavoso is savvy enough to cast his story in shades of gray, highlighting the moral ambiguities of his characters' actions--when a character attains success, there are always consequences. A blast to read, and a play I can't wait to see staged!

Edward Albee meets Samuel D. Hunter. A wonderful play about the lengths we will go to to connect with others. The snappy, fast-paced dialogue and bordering-on-absurd premise has the ability to make you laugh one minute and hold back tears the next. Kaplan also does a great job of playing with the expectations of both the audience and the characters. By turns hilarious and pathetic, we root for them to connect while cringe at their faltering attempts to do so. I can't wait to see this play onstage!