Recommended by Emily Hageman

  • Two Cats Explain the Monstrous Moth Group
    24 Mar. 2020
    Adorable and fun and surprisingly intellectual, it would be so much fun to see this play--especially if there were puppets involved! I love the different characters of the cats--Thal captures each of their personalities so effortlessly. A delightful little read full of tons of opportunities for laughs!
  • 38 Cookies, 39 Reasons [a monologue]
    1 Mar. 2020
    This play stings because it's so honest. It perfectly captures the reasons for overeating, in that sometimes, there is a reason, and sometimes there isn't, and it's something people do and we need to be able to talk about it instead of just shoving it down with milk. I mean, shame. Fantastic work by a great playwright.
  • Wings (short play)
    22 Jan. 2020
    Absolutely adorable and so, so genuinely real. The dialogue is very natural, and it's incredibly sweet. A lovely short piece of theater that perfectly captures life in such a special, small moment.
  • 10,000 Years
    30 Dec. 2019
    A beautiful, lyrical, experimental piece. No one is better than Partain in writing poetry that remains gorgeously theatrical. I always marvel at how carefully and seemingly effortlessly she balances the beauty in her language with moments of nearly jarring realism. This is such a wonderful piece--and it should be required reading for anyone who is stuck in a dead end relationship. A joyful, healing play.
  • Paletas de Coco or, The Letter Unspoken or, The Christmas Eve Play
    24 Dec. 2019
    It seems stupid to try to write a recommendation of this. It's so much more than a play, so much more than a piece of art--it is truly one of the bravest, most beautiful things I've ever read. It's a soul on a piece of paper, a story told with nothing but blinding honesty. It is gorgeous and sad and hopeful and bleak and I truly don't know what to say. This is a masterpiece. Thank you, Franky.
  • Confirmation Bias
    24 Dec. 2019
    A marvelous piece of theater. There is so much in this short play to unpack, so much that is said and not said. This is truly a masterclass of subtext and would be a beautiful play for two actors who want to be challenged. I am always inspired to see short plays like this that are so fearless and hard hitting. This gem needs to be produced, it's a wonderful, haunting, beautiful piece of life.
  • Bigfoot Does Ballet
    23 Dec. 2019
    This is absolutely adorable. Seriously, I cannot get over it--this may the the most precious play in existence. I need to see this staged like you would not believe. I seriously need to see Bigfoot in a tutu. This is one of the purest, sweetest, loveliest things I've ever read and I need to see it like yesterday. Make it happen. Produce it now.
  • I DREAM BEFORE I TAKE THE STAND
    23 Dec. 2019
    This is a jarring, incredibly powerful play. My jaw is on the floor. What a magnificent piece of art. This cost me something to read and it was ugly, but it was so, so well done. Incredibly timely and powerful, this play is under my skin and I don't think I'll get it out for a very, very long time.
  • Fridge
    23 Dec. 2019
    I absolutely love this play. It's smart, funny, and witty. The Fridge as a character is absolutely adorable and it makes me want to hug my own appliance. I would love to see this staged. It's one of those plays you didn't know needed to exist until it plopped in your lap and then you feel like, oh, of course. Another fantastic play from a tremendously versatile playwright. I'm such a huge O'Grady fan!
  • It's an Espresso Drink with Foamy Steamed Milk
    22 Dec. 2019
    So funny and timely, Martin knocks it out of the park again with his dry wit. One of my favorite lines maybe in a play ever--Iowa is where the dirt and farmers are. Brilliant, funny, and even a little poignant.

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