Recommended by Dave Osmundsen

What a mess! I don’t mean this delicious play, which is tightly and precisely structured with delightfully unforced rhymes and the snappy pace of a restoration comedy. I mean the characters Sampieri depicts with a generous yet lacerating eye, who enter into a polyamorous arrangement for the wrong reasons, and whose relationship issues won’t be solved by the involvement of outside parties. An insightful and incisive comedy about love, revenge, and how we fit into each other’s lives, this play is a blast to read and will surely be a blast to perform/watch!

One of the most complex and compelling and thorny explorations of activism I've ever read, this sprawling play tackles not only what rights we have as humans, but also what sacrifices and compromises are necessary to obtain those rights. Through Wilkins' humanistic and nuanced writing, we learn that compromise isn't evil or even complacent--it's a matter of picking your battles so that you can make the most positive impact on the world. It's a play that will leave you with more questions than answers, and will make you reflect on your place in the world. Highly recommended!

“Sapience” is a boundlessly ambitious and sharply observed play about the intersections of science, neurodiversity, and the shortcomings of human communication. Burbano creates a compelling protagonist in Elsa, an Autistic primatologist whose struggles to teach an orangutan English are mirrored with her cousin Miri, whose non-speaking Autistic son also struggles to communicate. The final 35 pages are one gut punch after the next, as the metaphorical jungle Elsa creates for herself gradually overtakes the stage—a great challenge for designers. Finally, “Normal is a place to hide” may be one of my favorite lines in a contemporary play.

What sets “Romeo & Her Sister” apart from other historical dramas is the compelling and complex dynamic between the legendary Charlotte Cushman and her sister Susan. Their relationship starts with animosity, but develops into a deeply felt relationship between two women with uniquely different relationships to the society around them—both of them are misfits in different ways. With this foundation, Blevins spins an engaging and thoroughly entertaining yarn. A feast for actors (especially those who identify as female) and audiences alike!

This swashbuckling play takes the audience to the edge of sex and violence--incisively and hilariously exploring gender roles, identity, and sexuality. The tension between Andy and Mark effortlessly draws in the audience, resulting in a couple the audience can't help but root for. SMJ manages to keep the stakes high and the emotional core hot throughout. An erotic and exhilarating scorcher of a play!

Yarchun gives us a world transitioning into automatic trucking—what might life, both on the road and at home, look like if there are no humans behind the wheel? She populates this world with a cast of vibrant, complex characters whose hopes and heartbreaks feel palpable to the audience. Each of these characters wants to move forward, but doesn’t know how. And how can they, if the world they’ve been preparing for can change on a dime? With sharp, engaging, and layered dialogue, “Drive” is a glorious and devastating treat for actors and audiences. Excellent play!

"Razor-sharp" feels insufficient to describe this darkly hysterical satire. From the shocking opening moments, this play establishes a VERY specific tone, and miraculously maintains it throughout this delectably wild road-trip of a play. The story takes the concept of "Do we REALLY know who are co-workers are?" and turns it on its head, slaps it on its side, and rotates it around and around, remaining thrilling, unpredictable, and devilishly entertaining. Gatton has written some KILLER monologues in here, as well as juicy roles that allow actors to be broadly comedic and incredibly vulnerable. Brilliant work!

A thoroughly entertaining and devastating play that works on multiple levels. There is much overlap and conversing with Tennessee Williams’ seminal classic. However, A.A. Brenner has created unique, compelling characters here that stand on their own apart from “Streetcar.” More importantly, this play explores with keen insight the impacts of visible and invisibility on our lives without the characters being solely defined by their disability—they are rich, flawed, and complex human beings with the desire to be seen for who they are. The beauty of this play is that it gives them that space.

With shades of "Ordinary People" and "Rabbit Hole," "Saturday Mourning Cartoons" is a sly, yet tender exploration of grief, loss, and family. I've never heard the loss of faith as articulately or poetically described as I have here. This play also begs the question: When we experience a tremendous loss, how do we trust ourselves (or those still with us) to pick up the pieces? Even at their ugliest moments, I loved spending time with Reilly's characters, and wanted to see them through to the end of their healing journey. A gorgeous play that I can't wait to see!

Matthew Libby continues his exploration of the intersection of technology and humanity. Here, he gives us two sisters—one human, one a computer—and explores their complex and fascinating relationship over 90 years. Greta’s desire to be a human is heart wrenching, Matilda’s complex feelings about her sister, and the grief they both feel over the loss of their parents are explored with Libby’s trademark wit, incision, and compassion. Theatrically innovative, this play also manages to flesh out a full character without them stepping onstage. I look forward to seeing where this play goes!