Recommended by Dave Osmundsen

I saw this play at the 2019 Midwest Dramatists Conference, and it was easily my favorite play of those I've seen. This piece plays like the movie "Sausage Party," but with a much more existential and philosophical bent. The sheer audacity and creativity of the concept is worthy in and of itself, but that playwright Braverman has imbued his characters (who are hot dogs) and this world with such life and specificity and humor is truly an accomplishment. Directors, designers, and actors will have a blast with this hilarious play. Bravo!

I saw this at the 2019 Midwest Dramatists Conference. It is a gorgeously written, haunting, and intriguing piece that explores how the truth of tragic events often gets manipulated out of self-interest. Haller, with lyrical and poetic dialogue, unfolds her story with care and deliberation, keeping the audience involved throughout. HIGHLY recommended!

A sweet, tender moment between a gay couple who move to start a new life. Philip Middleton Williams writes beautifully realized dialogue that makes his characters feel authentic. His subtlety as a playwright-- he is not one who goes for melodrama or histrionics-- is well-employed in this play's devastating final moments. These two men have faced a lot together, and you get the sense that their journey is only going to get more difficult. But they are still willing to face life with each other, which is incredibly touching. Nice work!

In many ways, "Her Too" is a conventional family drama that converses with the #MeToo movement. But playwright Debra A. Cole sends out a very powerful and uplifting message with it: That what sexual assault survivors do with their story is entirely up to them. By having her characters withhold their stories, she allows them to have agency. This makes the play feel real and honest, rather than manipulative and exploitative. It's an effective approach to a hot-button topic. Well done!

A brilliantly clever pop culture satire centering on the obsessive fandom of Taylor Swift. The references to both the pop singer and George Orwell are beautifully woven in throughout, and I was kept in my toes in anticipation of the next Swift lyric reference. Well-done!

Three young women go camping in the woods and swap ghost stories. A simple concept, but executed with sharp dialogue and a well-drawn relationship between the three protagonists. In 10 minutes, Partain crafts a clever slice-of-life comedy about childhood fears and how they come back to haunt us when we're older-- regardless of how irrational they may be. Wonderful work here!

A delightful ten-minute comedy with a creative premise, spot-on dialogue, and distinctive characters. A great vehicle for comedic actresses to really ham it up!

"Women Wear White" starts out as a clever satirical piece about white supremacy in progressive political moments that only grows increasingly disturbing and horrifying. In a brief amount of time, Lindsay Adams deftly exposes the blind spots of any political movement, shining light on the ugly side of the deeply flawed people involved. This is a play that really makes you think about where we came from, and how not-very-far we've actually come.

A highly amusing romp through the decades from the Golden Age of Hollywood to the 1990s. Also a fascinating exploration of Hollywood mythology and how we may praise our grand dames of the screen, but don’t often give them the recognition they truly deserve. Sickles does a great job of both honoring and lampooning TCM specials. A great read for anyone interested in old Hollywood with some juicy roles for older actresses. Check this script out!

A lovely piece about a young woman confronting her past both literally and figuratively. Esposito deals with a variety of heavy emotions in this piece, such as grief and angst, yet does so with such a light touch so that the piece never feels bogged down.