Recommended by Emily Hageman

  • Emily Hageman: A Murther of Crows

    A really unique play that would be a delight to see staged. The dialogue is equal parts archaic and modern, which gives the whole thing a fun spin. The characters are charming--Sir is roguish, Kit is adorable, Ned is delightfully crusty, Edie is spunky, and Joan is a hoot. The fight scene would be exciting to see staged--and actors would enjoy chewing the scenery with meaty, dramatic scenes with laugh-out-loud humor sprinkled throughout. I can honestly say I've never read a play like this before--and I mean that as a compliment.

    A really unique play that would be a delight to see staged. The dialogue is equal parts archaic and modern, which gives the whole thing a fun spin. The characters are charming--Sir is roguish, Kit is adorable, Ned is delightfully crusty, Edie is spunky, and Joan is a hoot. The fight scene would be exciting to see staged--and actors would enjoy chewing the scenery with meaty, dramatic scenes with laugh-out-loud humor sprinkled throughout. I can honestly say I've never read a play like this before--and I mean that as a compliment.

  • Emily Hageman: CANOPY

    Oh, wow. This play completely caught me off guard in so many ways. I love the concept--the idea of changing actors so fluidly with completely random chance dictating who is who is completely innovative. But what I love most of all is that the content of the piece is so incredibly universal. Who hasn't heard an old couple talk like this before? I have literally heard my grandparents have these conversations. The language of Dana and Frances is sweet and soothing--its tenderness, patience, and familiarity feel like a warm, used blanket with Irish Soap beneath the comforter.

    Oh, wow. This play completely caught me off guard in so many ways. I love the concept--the idea of changing actors so fluidly with completely random chance dictating who is who is completely innovative. But what I love most of all is that the content of the piece is so incredibly universal. Who hasn't heard an old couple talk like this before? I have literally heard my grandparents have these conversations. The language of Dana and Frances is sweet and soothing--its tenderness, patience, and familiarity feel like a warm, used blanket with Irish Soap beneath the comforter.

  • Emily Hageman: INSERT TOKEN

    Timely and unfortunately believable, INSERT TOKEN is a strong duet piece that begs the question--what are we telling the internet when we use it? Burdick's relentless jokes are funny (I'll never look at Angry Birds the same way), but--as good comedy does--the show stings unexpectedly.

    Timely and unfortunately believable, INSERT TOKEN is a strong duet piece that begs the question--what are we telling the internet when we use it? Burdick's relentless jokes are funny (I'll never look at Angry Birds the same way), but--as good comedy does--the show stings unexpectedly.

  • Emily Hageman: THE PLATYPODES

    Everyone knows Wyndham as a master of the monologue, but in THE PLATYPODES, he proves that he is more than that. As is always true with Wyndham's writing, this heart-wrenching play is tender, funny, hopeful, real, and bleak. No one writes dialogue quite as realistically as he does--and in this play, it truly, genuinely hurts Each character is an incredibly unique person--and Vito is an absolute joy--which is why the truthful end aches even more. Creative, brilliant, and beautiful, THE PLATYPODES is the kind of play that stays with an audience for a long time.

    Everyone knows Wyndham as a master of the monologue, but in THE PLATYPODES, he proves that he is more than that. As is always true with Wyndham's writing, this heart-wrenching play is tender, funny, hopeful, real, and bleak. No one writes dialogue quite as realistically as he does--and in this play, it truly, genuinely hurts Each character is an incredibly unique person--and Vito is an absolute joy--which is why the truthful end aches even more. Creative, brilliant, and beautiful, THE PLATYPODES is the kind of play that stays with an audience for a long time.

  • Emily Hageman: Ripped

    This play absolutely destroyed me. We follow Lucy, one of the sweetest and most relatable protagonists I've read in recent memory, as she tries to piece together a terrible night that never should have happened. I hate the male characters in the play, but I know them. That's what makes this play so incredibly powerful. With sparkling dialogue, aching subtext, and careful precision, Bublitz opens up the dialogue about rape and all the gray--and the black and white--that come with it. This play must be seen immediately.

    This play absolutely destroyed me. We follow Lucy, one of the sweetest and most relatable protagonists I've read in recent memory, as she tries to piece together a terrible night that never should have happened. I hate the male characters in the play, but I know them. That's what makes this play so incredibly powerful. With sparkling dialogue, aching subtext, and careful precision, Bublitz opens up the dialogue about rape and all the gray--and the black and white--that come with it. This play must be seen immediately.

  • Emily Hageman: ELEVATOR GIRL

    In the stunning ELEVATOR GIRL, Hoke fearlessly takes on more issues than can be counted--rape, consent, body image, "good guys," feminism, misogyny, the patriarchy--but she does it with a feather light touch that later feels like a super-powered punch in the jaw. This is a play that needs to be performed on a REGULAR BASIS for people of all ages, all genders, and all races. ELEVATOR GIRL is the kind of play that will receive a standing ovation everywhere it's performed because audiences won't be able to help it--and then they will discuss it deep into the night.

    In the stunning ELEVATOR GIRL, Hoke fearlessly takes on more issues than can be counted--rape, consent, body image, "good guys," feminism, misogyny, the patriarchy--but she does it with a feather light touch that later feels like a super-powered punch in the jaw. This is a play that needs to be performed on a REGULAR BASIS for people of all ages, all genders, and all races. ELEVATOR GIRL is the kind of play that will receive a standing ovation everywhere it's performed because audiences won't be able to help it--and then they will discuss it deep into the night.

  • Emily Hageman: A New Play by Matthew Weaver

    An absolute delight from start to finish. If Weaver's tongue is any more in his cheek, it's going to get stuck there. The dialogue is hilarious, the premise is brilliant, and Weaver's wit shines through with absolute clarity. Every line is carefully crafted for maximum humor that is readily accessible for both the nerdiest of drama enthusiasts and your basic layman. The only downside is it won't be performed for the next seven thousand years.

    An absolute delight from start to finish. If Weaver's tongue is any more in his cheek, it's going to get stuck there. The dialogue is hilarious, the premise is brilliant, and Weaver's wit shines through with absolute clarity. Every line is carefully crafted for maximum humor that is readily accessible for both the nerdiest of drama enthusiasts and your basic layman. The only downside is it won't be performed for the next seven thousand years.

  • Emily Hageman: Unprotected

    An incredibly timely piece told with emotion, power, and aching vulnerability. Koppen uses razor-sharp dialogue and fast-flying wit to tell a story that is unfortunately becoming all too common. But the piece is driven by a powerful underlying theme that women should--and can--finally begin to have a say.

    An incredibly timely piece told with emotion, power, and aching vulnerability. Koppen uses razor-sharp dialogue and fast-flying wit to tell a story that is unfortunately becoming all too common. But the piece is driven by a powerful underlying theme that women should--and can--finally begin to have a say.

  • Emily Hageman: SOME KID: A MONOLOGUE (NOT REALLY, IT'S MORE LIKE A PLAY TITLED "ELECTION DAY" STARRING TOY FIGURES AS AMERICAN CITIZENS)

    This is the most adorable thing that I have ever read in my entire life--but more than that, it is incredibly important and accessible. As usual, Wyndham's writing is charming, energetic, and teaming with positivity AND IT HAS PICTURES.

    This is the most adorable thing that I have ever read in my entire life--but more than that, it is incredibly important and accessible. As usual, Wyndham's writing is charming, energetic, and teaming with positivity AND IT HAS PICTURES.

  • Emily Hageman: Gentle Strokes

    This is the best kind of comedy in that I'm equal parts laughing and groaning. Bultrowicz has created a play that teeters perfectly on the edge of being too real to be funny--Stanley repeatedly calling Emily by her name, telling her about herself, that condescending guiding tone that EVERY woman knows. I have never been happier to see someone get their comeuppance. Any woman who sees this will give in at least a mental standing ovation, while thinking, "Yeah, take THAT, Stanley!"

    This is the best kind of comedy in that I'm equal parts laughing and groaning. Bultrowicz has created a play that teeters perfectly on the edge of being too real to be funny--Stanley repeatedly calling Emily by her name, telling her about herself, that condescending guiding tone that EVERY woman knows. I have never been happier to see someone get their comeuppance. Any woman who sees this will give in at least a mental standing ovation, while thinking, "Yeah, take THAT, Stanley!"